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LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE WORKSHOP

10:00 AM-4:30 PM Central Time

$550 - Register before June 1st for early discount of $490!

July 29-Aug 2       

Project Dialogue’s Lincoln Douglas Debate Workshop teaches the foundations of effective communication and debate for beginner to intermediate-level students to be competitive at local, state, and national levels in one of the most common American debate formats. Our intensive one-week, full-day experience will accelerate students’ understanding of both debate fundamentals (refutation, cross-examination, research/case-writing, etc.) and contemporary practices in LD debate (DAs and counterplans, kritiks, debating issues of race/gender, etc.). Our curriculum is directed by a two-time national LD Debate champion based on current practices in nationally-ranked LD Debate teams, refined and tailored for beginner to intermediate-level debaters.

**We are no longer taking additional students! Please check back next year.**

LD Debate Workshop: What We Do

WHAT DOES OUR LD DEBATE WORKSHOP INCLUDE?

Although COVID-19 has presented exceptional circumstances for our typical in-person camp, we are excited to embrace the interconnectivity, flexibility, and collaborativity offered by a virtual experience where students from all geographies can attend. To impart students with a solid foundation in LD Debate, our faculty have designed a hands-on, interactive curriculum through training techniques commonly used in nationally-ranked debate teams and education-standard virtual connectivity software (Google Classroom, Zoom, Dropbox, etc.). 

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In addition to live video lectures and small group breakout sessions, our online curriculum emphasizes more flexible practice opportunities through pre-recorded and live electives, practice debates/drills, office hours, and an entire virtual debate tournament at the end of camp. Because we recognize the challenges of engaging students through a laptop screen, we will always have designated instructors available to answer questions during lectures and even after lab sessions. Students will have 1 on 1 time with instructors during office hours and drill sessions, as well as access to individual feedback after practice debates and during the tournament.

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We will guarantee a 6:1 student teacher ratio and cap registration to ensure all students of various learning styles can maximize interactions with staff. Based on the skill levels and students enrolled, there will be multiple, independent LD debate labs with separate online classrooms and tailored instruction, but the same, unified approach to debate theory and practice will be utilized; we will teach to all students debate fundamentals (case-writing, crystallization, extensions, refutation, research etc.) and skills to successfully navigate debate (debating policy and critical perspectives, cultural competency, self-improvement strategies, etc.). Crucially, students will leave our workshop with the knowledge, drills, and strategies to prepare for tournaments and improve their own chances for success.

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Last year, 94% of our students rated our workshop 8/10 or higher, and 75% said they strongly or somewhat agree that they “feel confident in their public speaking abilities” after camp, compared to only 52% before our debate camp. We are also pleased that 17.5% more students indicated they strongly agree that they “strongly identify with my heritage, family history, and culture” after debate camp. We hope to continue this record of success in 2021.

WHAT IS OUR TEACHING APPROACH?

Our workshop approach combines the national & international successes and personal experience of our staff instructors with an active and engaging teaching methodology. Our curriculum is designed by a two-time national LD Debate champion (TOC 2018 & Woodward 2017), and implemented by current debaters and rising stars in LD Debate to include the best and most up-to-date practices. ​

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We believe the best way for our students to learn is to actively engage them in both theory and practical applications of the material they learn. We recognize that rising 8th to 10th graders require unique support to continuously maintain their interest and inspire them to continue learning, and thus, we have built our curriculum around the attention and educational needs of our students. 

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Our lab time consists of a balance between lectures (content/teaching material), applications to debate (short drills, videos, skill-focused activities), and review exercises or additional reinforcement. We tailor our curriculum to each lab based on research in learning sciences and gamification, incorporating game elements and unique incentives to keep students engaged. Too often, other debate camps and educational institutions employ hour-long lectures without breaks or practical applications to activate the content that students learn. Rather than talk at students, we believe in working with and alongside our students. 

DO YOU HAVE A PREVIEW OF THE CURRICULUM?

Yes we do! Here are a few sample topics and electives from our curriculum plan:

  1. Debate Fundamentals
    1. Case-writing & Stock/Positional Debates

    2. Claim, Warrant, Impact: Structure of Argumentation & Refutation

    3. Research Techniques & Analyzing the Topic 

    4. Persuasion & Public Speaking Tactics 

    5. Cross-examination Strategies

    6. Word Economy & Efficiency

  2. Debate Theory 

    1. Writing & Answering Disadvantages 

    2. 1AR Speech Structure & Time Allocation 

    3. Introduction to Counterplans

    4. Introduction to Kritiks 

    5. Permutations & CP Theory

  3. Skills for Successful Advocates

    1. Cultural Competency in Debate: Navigating Race, Class, Gender, and Social Identifiers

    2. Asian-American Advocacy & Arguments in LD Debate

    3. The Path to Success: Tournament Preparation, Drills, and Self-improvement

    4. Debating Difference: Understanding Arguments from Multiple Perspectives

    5. Process & Product: Tournament Psychology & The Mindset of Champions

LD Debate Workshop: Schedule

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

August 9-13, 2021; All times in CST Central Time

10:00 - 11:35 AM

LAB SESSION 

Lab sessions each day will begin with a warmup/drill activity and quick review to reinforce previously learned material. Each morning session will introduce new content and material.

11:35 - 11:45 AM

MORNING BREAK

Although each lab session incorporates active questions, games, and practices to engage students, we know everyone needs a break every now and then. To keep students engaged online, we break up morning sessions and give students time to transition to the next activity and class!

11:45 - 1:00 PM

ELECTIVES

Students can choose from a range of electives every day, ranging from beginner-oriented drill sessions for refining foundational techniques to more advanced content & strategy topics. This is the perfect time to explore your interests and learn from a different staff instructor!

1:00 - 2:00 PM

A longer break to accommodate student and parent schedules around lunch – can't forget to eat!

LUNCH

2:00 - 3:00 PM

AFTERNOON LAB

The second lab session will emphasize learning and applying new content with a special focus on drill sessions and practice activities for all students to activate their new knowledge.

3:00 - 4:30 PM

PRACTICE SESSION

Getting tired? Can't sit still? That's why we end each day with applied content and practice opportunities! Each drill and practice debate will emphasize new content covered that day. Every student will have at least one practice debate per day.

4:30 - 5:30 PM

OFFICE HOURS

Students will have open access to individual instructors for questions, additional drills, or other assistance as requested. While not required, students have found this unstructured time to be helpful to personally connect with instructors and ask about a lecture, do drills, or talk about non-debate related questions!

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

All times in CST Central

10:00 - 11:30 AM

LAB SESSION 

Lab sessions each day will begin with a warmup/drill activity and quick review to reinforce previously learned material. Each morning session will introduce new content and material.

11:30 - 11:45 AM

MORNING BREAK

Although each lab session incorporates active questions, games, and practices to engage students, we know everyone needs a break every now and then. To keep students engaged online, we break up morning sessions and give students time to transition to the next activity and class!

11:45 - 1:00 PM

ELECTIVES

Students can choose from a range of electives every day, ranging from beginner-oriented drill sessions for refining foundational techniques to more advanced content & strategy topics. This is the perfect time to explore your interests and learn from a different staff instructor!

1:00 - 2:00 PM

A longer break to accommodate student and parent schedules around lunch – can't forget to eat!

LUNCH

2:00 - 3:00 PM

AFTERNOON LAB

The second lab session will emphasize learning and applying new content with a special focus on drill sessions and practice activities for all students to activate their new knowledge.

3:10 - 4:30 PM

PRACTICE SESSION

Getting tired? Can't sit still? That's why we end each day with applied content and practice opportunities! Each drill and practice debate will emphasize new content covered that day. Every student will have at least one practice debate per day.

4:30 - 5:30 PM

OFFICE HOURS

Students will have open access to individual instructors for questions, additional drills, or other assistance as requested. While not required, students have found this unstructured time to be helpful to personally connect with instructors and ask about a lecture, do drills, or talk about non-debate related questions!

"Too often, debate camps and educational institutions employ hour-long lectures without breaks or practical applications to activate the content that students learn. Rather than talk at students, we believe in working with and alongside our students."

LD Debate Workshop: Quote
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