DL North OC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange County Homeschool Debate League 

 

Orange County Debate League

Meets: 2nd and 4th Fridays, 10am-noon (Sept. thru May), plus Annual Conference second Saturday in June. (Instead of meeting during Thanksgiving and Christmas week, we hold a double meeting at the first meeting of the month.
Screen Shot 2015-12-23 at 6.29.21 PMPlace: First Christian Church, 109 East Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832
(Take Harbor Blvd. off the 91 and head North. Go a couple of miles into the heart of downtown Fullerton and turn right on Wilshire and park in the parking structure on your right. The church is across the street from the parking structure.)
Ages: Recommended for ages 12-17 (capable younger children may join on a provisional basis).
Tuition: Click here for the tuition schedule. Financial aid available.
How to Join: Click here to start the registration process.

Debate League FAQs
Debate League Videos

What happens at  meetings?

Meetings vary, in terms of the format, but, in Debate League, we use games, activities, and sparring to learn the relevant skills for debate, including speaking clearly, note taking (referred to as “flowing”), thinking on your feet, organizing your thoughts, and determining what’s relevant in material. Debate sparring sessions are short, fun, and easy debates on topics that don’t require research, e.g., cats vs. dogs, laces vs. velcro, homeschool vs. public school, etc.

DSC_4108We also prepare for, and conduct, full, competitive team debates and tournaments. The specific style of debate we focus on is “Public Forum,” a type of debate based on current events. We examine propositions, determine the issues at play, structure arguments and rebuttals, learn about effective cross-examination, conduct evidence research, crystallize/summarize the state of a debate, cite impacts, learn how to identify and combat logical fallacies, and understand the elements of judging. Members are usually called upon to debate BOTH sides of an argument and must prepare for both.

Debate League holds two major inter-club tournaments – the Winter Classic, held the second week of December, and the SLAM tournament, held on the second Saturday in June.

Additional debate tournament and scrimmaging opportunities may be made available based on interest.

 

Alex (left), from the Orange County club, went undefeated in the Winter tournament, and took first place. The topic was whether state issued photo ID should be required to vote.
Alex (left), from the Orange County club, went undefeated in the Winter tournament, and took first place. The topic was whether state issued photo ID should be required to vote.

 

 

This is the parking structure on the south side of Wilshire, across from the church. Plenty of free parking.
This is the parking structure on the south side of Wilshire, across from the church. Plenty of free parking.
This is the entrance to the church office area. Do NOT enter here, but rather through the metal gates fifty, or so, feet east of this entrance.
This is the entrance to the area where we meet.
Enter through the glass doors. (Ring doorbell, if locked.)
Enter through the glass doors. (Ring doorbell, if locked.)
Once you enter the glass doors, turn right. The room is on the right across from the church reception area.
Once you enter the glass doors, turn right. The room is on the right across from the church reception area.
This is our meeting room.
This is our meeting room.

National Speech and Debate Association logo

 

Orange County Debate League

Meets: 2nd and 4th Fridays, 10am-noon (Sept. thru May), plus Annual Conference second Saturday in June. (Instead of meeting during Thanksgiving and Christmas week, we hold a double meeting at the first meeting of the month.
Screen Shot 2015-12-23 at 6.29.21 PMPlace: First Christian Church, 109 East Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832
(Take Harbor Blvd. off the 91 and head North. Go a couple of miles into the heart of downtown Fullerton and turn right on Wilshire and park in the parking structure on your right. The church is across the street from the parking structure.)
Ages: Recommended for ages 12-17 (capable younger children may join on a provisional basis).
Tuition: Click here for the tuition schedule. Financial aid available.
How to Join: Click here to start the registration process.

Debate League FAQs
Debate League Videos

What happens at  meetings?

Meetings vary, in terms of the format, but, in Debate League, we use games, activities, and sparring to learn the relevant skills for debate, including speaking clearly, note taking (referred to as “flowing”), thinking on your feet, organizing your thoughts, and determining what’s relevant in material. Debate sparring sessions are short, fun, and easy debates on topics that don’t require research, e.g., cats vs. dogs, laces vs. velcro, homeschool vs. public school, etc.

DSC_4108We also prepare for, and conduct, full, competitive team debates and tournaments. The specific style of debate we focus on is “Public Forum,” a type of debate based on current events. We examine propositions, determine the issues at play, structure arguments and rebuttals, learn about effective cross-examination, conduct evidence research, crystallize/summarize the state of a debate, cite impacts, learn how to identify and combat logical fallacies, and understand the elements of judging. Members are usually called upon to debate BOTH sides of an argument and must prepare for both.

Debate League holds two major inter-club tournaments – the Winter Classic, held the second week of December, and the SLAM tournament, held on the second Saturday in June.

Additional debate tournament and scrimmaging opportunities may be made available based on interest.

Alex (left), from the Orange County club, went undefeated in the Winter tournament, and took first place. The topic was whether state issued photo ID should be required to vote.
Alex (left), from the Orange County club, went undefeated in the Winter tournament, and took first place. The topic was whether state issued photo ID should be required to vote.