Team Policy Debate (7th-12th)(12 Weeks)
Course Overview:
Welcome to the Team Policy Debate class, a dynamic and engaging 12-week course designed to enhance your critical thinking, public speaking, and research skills through the art of debate. In this course, you will research various policy issues, exploring both Democratic and Republican perspectives to develop a well-rounded understanding of current political and social topics.
Course Structure:
Each week, students will be divided into two teams. These teams will alternate between representing Democratic and Republican views on a selected policy topic. The first half of each class will be dedicated to debates, where teams will present their arguments, rebuttals, and conclusions. The second half of the class will be a collaborative research session, allowing teams to prepare for the following week’s topic.
Weekly Schedule:
- Week 1: Introduction to Policy Debate
- Course overview and expectations
- Introduction to debate structure and rules
- Assign first debate topic
- Week 2: Healthcare Policy
- Democratic vs. Republican views on universal healthcare
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 3: Education Reform
- Democratic vs. Republican views on school choice and funding
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 4: Environmental Policy
- Democratic vs. Republican views on climate change and regulation
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 5: Immigration Policy
- Democratic vs. Republican views on immigration reform
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 6: Economic Policy
- Democratic vs. Republican views on taxation and government spending
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 7: Criminal Justice Reform
- Democratic vs. Republican views on prison reform and law enforcement
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 8: Foreign Policy
- Democratic vs. Republican views on international relations and defense
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 9: Social Welfare Programs
- Democratic vs. Republican views on social safety nets and welfare
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 10: Technology and Privacy
- Democratic vs. Republican views on data privacy and tech regulation
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 11: Gun Control
- Democratic vs. Republican views on gun rights and regulation
- Debate session
- Research session for next week’s topic
- Week 12: Final Debate and Course Reflection
- Final debate topic chosen by students
- Debate session
- Course reflection and feedback
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Articulate and defend policy positions from both Democratic and Republican perspectives
- Conduct thorough research on various policy topics
- Develop strong argumentation and rebuttal skills
- Improve public speaking and presentation abilities
- Foster a deeper understanding of current political and social issues
Join us in this exciting journey of exploration and debate, where you will not only learn about policies but also sharpen your ability to think critically and argue persuasively.
