Su
RSR Education
Public Forum Debate Camp
Scholarship Opportunity
Scholarship recipients will attend the following debate camp at no cost.
Read eligibility details, and more, below the camp description.
Level I Public Forum Debate Intensive
July 9-13, 2018
Five 8-hour sessions, 8am-4pm
Location: FUMC Carrollton, 2201 E Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton 75010
Limit 18 students. Includes snacks and lunch.
Recommended for Ages 12-17
Prerequisite: None
At the beginning of this camp week we use quick, fun, and creative games, activities, and debate sparring to learn the relevant skills and terms in Public Forum debate, a popular style of debate that focuses on current national events. Debate sparring sessions are short, fun, and easy singles or pairs debates on topics that don’t require deep research, e.g., cats vs. dogs, laces vs. velcro, Whataburger vs. In-N-Out, etc.
At this early stage, we use lots of fun and engaging activities to help instill skills like speaking clearly, note-taking (referred to as flowing), thinking on your feet, organizing your thoughts, being creative and adapting, and determining what is relevant in material. While all portions of a Public Forum debate will be covered, the emphasis will be put on structuring a case, known as the “Constructive,” and the concept of “blocks,” prewritten responses to anticipated arguments you would expect to come from your opponents’ side of the debate.
As the week progresses we teach research techniques and go deep into the development of Constructives, Rebuttals, and Crossfire questions, to help students deeply understand their case and their opponents’. Understanding and utilizing Framework (which they will learn about) is front and center during this camp.
We’ll begin to show students how to plan ahead for a coherent Summary and Final Focus in the challenging second half of a Public Forum debate.
In spite of greater challenges as the camp week goes on, we always make time for lots of fun and engaging activities to help instill the information learned. Some homework will be assigned and coaches evening online office hours will be available.
Demonstration debates and activities by the students will be held on the afternoon of the final day, with parents welcome to watch.
Don’t want to rely on getting a scholarship? Enroll immediately for the July 9-13, 2018 Level I camp by clicking here.
Debate Camp Full Scholarship Opportunity
DEADLINE JULY 6, 2018
Scholarship winners will receive:
Free admission to our July Level I Public Forum Debate Intensive Summer Camp (normally $695), held July 9-13, 2018 from 8am-4pm (includes snacks and lunch), at the First United Methodist Church Carrollton, 2201 E Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton, TX 75010.
Eligibility – Applicants should:
Be between the ages of 12-16, have an interest, but little or no experience in competitive debate, have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in school, be able to attend each complete day of the camp, and have access to a wi-fi connectable research device such as a tablet, smartphone, or computer.
How to enter:
Complete the online application on this page or by clicking here. Early submission will be a benefit as a limited number of scholarships will be awarded based on quality of entry and our expedited decision-making. (Successful applicants will be advised of acceptance within 72 hours of submitting their application.) While only one applicant per family can receive a scholarship, siblings (ages 12-16) of awardees can attend for $250.
Application Deadline:
July 6, 2018
Questions?:
If you don’t find your answer on this page, email scholarship@readysetresources.com.
The value of learning debate
These skills, loosely categorized as elements of emotional intelligence, include the capacity to persevere through setbacks (grit), the facility to bring existing knowledge to a novel situation (creativity), comfort in working with others and knowing when to lead and when to follow (collaboration), the capability to confront the seemingly infinite volumes of information on any topic and select the relevant data (research), and sensitivity to what a target audience is thinking so that such data can be presented persuasively (empathy). The debate curriculum teaches young people much of what they’ll need to know in these areas by active, engaging, and highly direct means. Click here to read the full article.
Both of my kids have benefited enormously from
being in Speakers League and Debate League.
Peggy W., Parent