W23 - Winter Debate - Tuesday

Middle School Debate: Tuesday, 4 to 6 PM from November 7 to February 6

Unlock the power of debate at New England Academy! Our program welcomes students of all ages and engages them in argumentation, refutation, and confident speaking. Students enhance these abilities while composing logical, evidence-supported arguments. This prepares them for competitions, including the Orange County Debate League (OCDL) Tournaments.

Class Details:

• Schedule: Tuesdays, 4 to 6 PM
• Duration: From November 7 to February 6
• Open to: Students in grades 5 through 8, with the option for gifted 4th-grade students to participate.
• No Experience Required: The class is open to students of all ability levels, including those with little or no prior debate experience.

Highlights:

• All Skill Levels: This 10-week course is open to students of all levels. Whether new to debate or experienced, we work to help each student improve.
• Foundational Learning: Novices dive into the basics of argumentation, refutation, and persuasive speaking. They practice understanding and writing logical arguments, setting  the groundwork for improved thinking.
• Advanced Skills: Experienced students sharpen their skills, refining introductions and conclusions, dissecting opponents' arguments for weaknesses, and constructing varied and complex responses to those arguments. As needed, we expose students to advanced concepts like logical fallacies, topicality issues, frameworks, and more.
• Debate Practice: All levels join forces, engaging in multiple debates on diverse topics, preparing them for the OCDL Tournaments. The topics we tackle are relevant, academic, and often connected to real-world issues.

Tournaments available with the class (Included in Tuition):

• OCDL Holiday Tournament: Scheduled for December 16
• OCDL Winter Tournament: Scheduled for February 10

No classes held Thanksgiving Week (November 21) nor Winter Break (December 19, 26, and January 2)

Eligibility:

This class is designed for students in grades 5 through 8, and exceptionally gifted 4th graders are also welcome. Join us in this exciting journey to become confident, persuasive, and articulate communicators.