Debate Syllabus 2012-2013

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable. Coach John Wooden
What are the class requirements? Attend and compete satisfactorily in debate at The Rookie Rumble debate tournament in October and in individual events at one other tournament Learn how to properly write and format arguments Research arguments Prepare one speech for competition Learn debate theory and philosophy Take a few qui es and tests Prepare and research arguments !ork on spring pro"ects including #ock Trial$ Parliamentary %ebate$ #odel &nited 'ations$ and (tudent )ongress* What textbook do we use? The Art of %ebate$ +,th -dition by '* Andr. )ossette* /ou can use earlier editions of the book at your own risk* What are some goals and objectives of Debate? +* 0ain command of the fundamental processes of argumentation and debate ,* %emonstrate familiarity with the materials and methods of research 1* 2mprove your ability to think clearly$ critically$ creatively$ and analytically 3* %emonstrate effective oral communication skills 4* &se ethical standards in competition 5* 0ain knowledge and interest in political and social issues 6* )reate and organi e debate materials 7* -valuate debates and speeches of peers 8* %emonstrate oral communication that increases self9esteem and enhances interpersonal relationships What do we do all year? +st :uarter ; Proceed through The Art of %ebate* Learn the following<
=asic %ebate Terminology >undamentals of persuasion Logical >allacies %ebate Topic Analysis -vidence and Research =locking and =riefing Answering Arguments !riting =locks >lowing )ross9-?amination :uestioning =asic Rebuttal %ebating Then$ you choose which type of debate you want to do and read the corresponding chapters*

Take two e?ams< one cumulative e?am and one e?am about tournament logistics* @ave several graded practice debates to get ready for the first competition in late October* ,nd :uarter ; )ontinue practicing debate* Research and write more cases and arguments* %evelop an individual event to compete in by Aanuary* Learn )ongressional %ebate* 1rd :uarter ; The competitive season ends in #arch$ so in #arch we work on (pring Pro"ects including researching for ne?t yearBs topics* 3th :uarter ; (pring Pro"ects< 2ndividual -vents$ Parliamentary %ebate$ #ock Trial$ (tudent

)ongress$ #odel &nited 'ations*

Some frequently asked questions . . .

Debate is just about arguing, right? I should be good at that because I argue with my parents all the time
!es and "o< 2n %ebate$ we donBt "ust "ump up and argue* !e have to learn some techniques of speaking$ logical thinking$ asking cross9e?amination questions$ researching and writing arguments$ and answering arguments* T@-'$ we are ready to "ump up and debate well*

What do we debate about?

!e start off by debating topics that the students write* Then$ we prepare to debate the 'ational >orensic League national debate topics* 2n the (pokane area$ debate tournaments offer two main types of debate* 2n one type of debate$ the students argue about the same topic all year< this yearBs topic is about renewable energy policies* 2n another type of debate$ students argue about moral$ ethical$ and philosophical topics* The topic for this type of debate changes every two months$ and the first topic hasnBt been released yet*

Do we debate against other schools?

!es$ most of the high schools have debate programs* !e prepare our arguments and then compete against the other high schools in weekend9long debate tournaments* !e have tournaments throughout the year$ but you are only required to attend the Rookie Rumble Tournament in October and then another one of your choice* The best debaters get invited to be on the traveling squad and compete in tournaments around the 'orthwest and nationwide and even )anada* @owever$ some students "ust choose to do the two required tournaments*

Does winning and losing count in the grade?

"o /our effort at the tournament counts toward your grade* The debate contests are "udged$ and 2 look at the "udgesB comments on the ballots to see how well you did*

I heard Debate looks good for colleges

Is that true?

#pparently so (everal of our debaters have been accepted into the two top universities in the world< @arvard and Princeton* The @arvard student said that debate helped him because he was able to list all of his debate awards on his college application$ and during the college interview$ he was able to speak eloquently about a deep philosophical concept* )olleges like debaters because debaters know how to organi e their thoughts in written and spoken form and know how to research* )olleges also know that debaters tend to be good leaders* /ou can even get scholarships in debate*

$an I play sports and be in Debate?

!es !eCve had varsity sports athletes of all kinds* %ebate is primarily a winter sport$ so we might have to get creative to work around some winter school sports conflicts* /ou will need to sacrifice one >riday and (aturday in October and another weekend between 'ovember and >ebruary$ though*

What kind of students make the best debaters?

%ardworking, smart students make the best debaters* La y$ bright underachievers are the worst debaters because they are smart enough to think they know what they are doing$ so they donBt listen and donBt do the work* (o$ if you typically donBt do your homework$ get bad grades on tests$ and donBt study$ you and 2 will both be frustrated with your performance$ so go to your counselor and request to change your schedule and go into a different$ easier fine art* %ebate is the most academic fine art< we have homework and assignments$ but it wonCt have more homework than -nglish$ #ath$ or !orld @istory* Let me emphasi e this< to debate well requires

%#&D W'&( D' "') stay in this class if you thought it was going to be easy or it looked better than the other options* The best debaters have this< They have heart< the internal motivation to succeed*