Unger and Company - Policy Debate Blasts from the Past

Discussion - Policy Debate - Unger and Company Part 1 from Alfred Snider on Vimeo.

This is a discussion program that was made in 1992 featuring some of the most successful coaches of American policy debate. There are three 60 minute videos now available. Go to DEBATE VIDEO at http://debatevideoblog.blogspot.com/ and search for "Unger" in the search box at upper left and you will easily find all three.

The panelists are:
James J. Unger, American University (chair)
William Southworth, University of Redlands
Joel Rollins, University of Texas
Dallas Perkins, Harvard University
Jeff Parcher, Georgetown University

Issued discussed in this edition include:
Evidence, Topicality, Judging, Impact analysis.

James J. Unger has now passed away. You can see his tribute webpage at:
jimunger.org/index.html

Thanks to the Lynde Foundation and to the National Forensic League for these videos.

For more debate information, go to
http://debate.uvm.edu

Video processed by Alfred Snider, University of Vermont

Michigan Community College Uses Grant to Form Speech & Debate Team

From http://www.clarecountyreview.com/?p=3589

MMCC Receives MEEMIC Grant to Form Speech and Debate Team

In today’s economy, as workers are retraining and retooling for a rapidly changing marketplace, experienced workers and college students need to add new skills and abilities to land long-term employment. Public speaking is a vital skill with applications in nearly every job industry, but which ranks among American’s most dreaded topics in national surveys.

Mid Michigan Community College adjunct faculty member Mrs. Kira Gray saw a need for students to become better orators, public speakers and presenters.

To fill the need, Gray applied for, and received, a $1,500 mini-grant from the MEEMIC Foundation for the Future of Education to form a competitive Speech and Debate team.

“Several of our area colleges of similar size offer these types of programs and we felt that by creating an extracurricular Speech and Debate team we would prepare our students to become better communicators and listeners,” Gray said. “Thanks to the support of the MEEMIC Foundation, we will begin with a club and then form a competitive team that will help to draw people to the school and provide experiences in public speaking that will further the careers of MMCC’s students.”

New Study on Debate and Success Fuels Boston Growth

Nikquania Gamble of Roslindale, grade 9, and Tarahn Maxwell of Roxbury, grade 10, prepare their arguments for the debate team at Urban Science Academy in West Roxbury.

From http://www.wickedlocal.com/west-roxbury/news/education/x880807319/Students-who-participate-in-debate-do-better-in-school

Students who participate in debate do better in school

By Submitted by BPS

Sun Nov 08, 2009, 07:43 AM EST

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Boston -

A new study suggests that African-American students who participate in debate leagues earn better grades, are more three times more likely to graduate from high school than similar students who do not join their debate team, and are better prepared for college success.

Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools (BPS), has increased the district’s investment in the Boston Debate League (BDL) as a powerful tool for engaging urban students in academically rich activities during school, after school, and during the summer.

“Debate has quickly become an exciting way for Boston Public Schools students to learn and express themselves outside of the traditional school day,” said Johnson. “It’s rewarding to see the debate league help students improve skills in reasoning, argument, research, public speaking, and teamwork, and perhaps most importantly, build their self-confidence.”

The new study www.urbandebate.org/emergingresearch.shtml conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, examined 2,500 Chicago Public Schools students who participated in at least one debate tournament over a 10-year period, comparing their performance to about 10,000 other African-American students. The researchers found a direct correlation between a student’s level of involvement in debate and academic gains across several measures — including increased college readiness in English and reading. The study is published this month in Howard University’s Journal of Negro Education.

Volunteers started the Boston Debate League in 2005 with three participating schools. Last year, Johnson committed district funding to the league, enabling it to expand to eight Boston high schools. This year, with additional support from BPS, EdVestors, The Boston Foundation, The Shapiro Family Foundation, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, and Social Venture Partners (SVP), the league has grown to 10 schools:

Boston Latin Academy (Dorchester)

Brighton High School (Brighton)

Brook Farm Business and Service Career Academy (West Roxbury)

Charlestown High School

Dorchester Academy

East Boston High School

Media Communications Technology High School (West Roxbury)

New Mission High School (Mission Hill)

Quincy Upper School (Chinatown / South End)

Urban Science Academy (West Roxbury)

“This academically rigorous, peer-reviewed research coming out of VCU finally confirms what we have known all along: that debate can play a significant role in addressing some of the most pressing problems urban students face,” said Steve Stein, Executive Director of the Boston Debate League. “As the BDL expands to more schools and reaches larger numbers of students, we will see attendance, grades, test scores, and high school and college graduation rates go up, and dropouts and discipline issues go down.”

Hundreds of Boston public high school students participate, spending countless hours outside the regular school day researching, studying, and debating timely issues. Boston is one of 18 large cities affiliated with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues. BPS students have competed and earned distinctions in national tournaments.

Video - Chile defeats New Zealand 9-0 in Qatar Final

Debate - WSDC - Foreign Bribes - Qatar Mini-WSDC Final from Alfred Snider on Vimeo.

This debate in the World Schools Debating Championship format was held at the conclusion of the Qatar Debate Academy and the Qatar Mini-WSDC tournament.

This house believes that a country should not punish those who pay bribes to officials of other countries.

PROPOSITION – NEW ZEALAND
James Penn, Nicholas Orr, Tim Robinson,

OPPOSITION - CHILE
Domingo Carbone, Paulina Valenzuela, Valentina Salvatierra

Chile wins 9-0.

Qatar Debate Academy and Mini-WSDC was sponsored by QatarDebate with the cooperation of the University of Vermont's World Debate Institute as well as ZIP national debate program of Slovenia.
qatardebate.org/

Get more debate resources at
debate.uvm.edu

Video by Alfred Snider
alfred.snider@uvm.edu

IDEA News 06-11-09

Image via Wikipedia

In this issue...

* BFSU-IDEA Tournament registration
* Budva Open 2009 registration
* Macedonia Open 2009 registration
* IDEA Challenge approaching deadline
* IDEA Youth Forum calls for trainers and hosts
* IDEA position opening in Southeast Asia
* IDEA-NL "Debate in the Neighborhood" Update
* Debate tournament in Minsk
* Elearning Africa conference deadline


BFSU and IDEA to host international debate tournament next month

The annual IDEA-BFSU tournament is quickly approaching, and so is the registration deadline! Registration ends on December 5th. The tournament will be held on December 11- 13, 2009 at Beijing Foreign Studies University in the heart of China's capital city. This exciting tournament will feature English and Mandarin divisions in a four-team worlds-style parliamentary debate format, as well as a division of International Moot Court. Training sessions will also be provided for judges and debaters before the tournament, through which qualified adjudicators can become accredited trainers. The tournament also offers site-seeing of historic and modern sites of Beijing.
For more information, contact the tournament host Xi Li (pearlilysweet@gmail.com) or Robert Trapp (trapp@willamette.edu). Registration is free at IDEA's website. Students do not need to register as a team; they may register as individuals and IDEA will help find partners. Each university is limited to two English team entries, but can add an additional English team for each Mandarin team they enter.

Registration now open for the International Debate Budva Open 2009

On November 20-22, 2009, the Logos Center for Creative Communication will be hosting its third annual international debate tournament in Budva, Croatia. The Budva Open 2009 invites all debaters, coaches and international judges to participate. While guests enjoy their stay in this Mediterranean city, the tournament will also be held to help commemorate the Budva Municipality Day celebration.
The tournament will be held in English, and will be debated in Karl Popper and World Schools formats. Both debates will discuss the resolution, "The state should do more on the issue of Roma rights." Participation fees are 30 euros per person, which include food, acommodation and activities. To register for this event, send team information (names, preferred debate, and arrival time) to logosbudva@gmail.com. Hurry! Registration ends on November 17th.

Macedonia Open 2009 holds seventh annual international debate tournament

The Macedonia Open is an international debate tournament which takes place annually in Skopje, Macedonia. The seventh annual open will be hosted by the Youth Educational Forum from December 18-20, 2009, during which the organization will be celebrating its ten year jubilee.
The Macedonia Open offers an opportunity for guests to experience the culture and social life of the capital city, Skopje and the rich traditions of Macedonia. Held in English, the tournament will be conducted in Karl Popper debate format. The final debate is traditionally held at the Parliament building in Macedonia, where debaters are joined by high profile ambassadors, Parliament members, and other public officials. This year's resolution is "Intellectual Property Rights should be abolished." Last year, the tournament hosted more than 120 participants, from Macedonia, the surrounding countries, and from across Europe.
All interested debaters and coaches should apply no later than November 20th. To register, email either Petar Dimitrov (petar_dimitrov@mof.org.mk) or Sanja Stefanovik (sanjastefanovik@gmail.com). Participation fees of 25 Euros per person cover food and accommodations in Skopje. Visit the Macedonia Open 2009 Facebook page for more information.

Global Debaters: IDEA Challenge deadline fast approaching

On your way to the Global Debates grand prize, don’t miss out on the IDEA Challenge, a special contest this fall 2009. You could win participation fees for your team to attend the 2010 IDEA International Tournament of Champions at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, U.S., plus 500 points toward your Global Debates! Simply submit 2 essays summarizing the best arguments and evidence you gathered for your public debate. Essay #1 argues in favor of the resolution; Essay #2 argues against. Essays are due November 16th. Find out more here.

IDEA Youth Forum opens registration for 2010 trainers, and invites bidders for 2011

This summer, from July 22-August 4th, 2010, IDEA will host 200 young people from over 30 countries at its 16th annual IDEA Youth Forum, this time in the Province of Zeeland. The forum is a team debate event for high-school students which includes three debate competitions, along with a week of debate instruction and social activities!IDEA is looking for 21 trainers, who would be interested in teaching at the forum. Apart from having fun, and gaining hundreds of new friends, being a YF trainer offers the opportunity to develop training skills and employ them in a face-to-face week long debate instruction within an international setting. Download the application, and submit it to the forum director, Veronika (vvlckova@idebate.org) no later than December 15th.
IDEA would also like to invite organizations to co-host the 2011 Youth Forum. Apart from impacting youth from around the world, hosting the forum provides an opportunity to promote communication, debate and youth involvement among a greater number of people in your organization (debate) network, community, and country. This year's Forum is co-organized by the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) and Zeeland's Institute for Social and Cultural Development (Scoop), in cooperation with the municipalities of Middelburg and Vlissingen, the Hogeschool Zeeland and Roosevelt Academy. For more information, please contact the forum director (vvlckova@idebate.org).

IDEA seeks Southeast Asia Program Coordinator

The International Debate Education Association announces an open call for applicants for the position of Southeast Asia Program Coordinator. The position begins in January 2010. The contract period is for six months with a possibility of renewal. The Program Coordinator for this office will be based in Chiang Mai, Thailand and will be supervised by Robert Trapp in the IDEA offices in Salem, Oregon.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Manage a regional debate program.
2. Manage a Youth Action Fund that gives small grants to youth-driven projects.
3. Make site visits to establish local infrastructures for programs.
4. Coordinate debate workshops.
5. Supervise the development and translation of debate education materials into local languages.
6. Communicate with other IDEA offices and staff.
7. Network and establish relationships with local and regional partners.
8. Assist with additional events when needed.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
1. Must have the legal right to live and work in Thailand.
2. Must speak and write fluently in Thai.
3. Must speak and write fluently in English.
4. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
5. Debate training experience.
6. Flexibility and willingness to travel on short notice.
7. Excellent communication skills.
8. Self-motivation and efficiency.
9. Willing to be based in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Interested parties should send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references to Robert Trapp at trapp@willamette.edu, Lin Lu at llu@idebate.org, and Alisa Keetanitinun at akeetanitinun@idebate.org. We will begin considering applications on 30 November 2009, and will continue until the position is filled.

IDEA-Netherlands "Debate in the Neighborhood" program increases dialogue with youth

From September-December 2009, several activities focusing on debate have been planned in the Netherlands. All part of the "Debate in the Neighborhood" program organized by IDEA-Netherlands, these activities take place in the cities of Zeeland, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Recently, the program has worked in the community of Tholen to increase youth knowledge in policy-making. In addition, IDEA has worked to increase dialogue between youth and local police in Rotterdam.
On October 30th, Doutsen Langhout, the head of Dutch projects in the Netherlands, gave training to the local Youth Council on how to organize public debates for youth. Additionally, the council was given instructions and tools, like games and exercises, on how to develop debate and public speaking skills in students. The Youth Council will use this training to organize a Debate Battle competition for eighth graders and a Debate Festival in March for high school students. In March 2010, the Youth Council will also organize shadow elections for the youth on youth policy.
On November 9th, local youth in the neighborhood of Crooswijk, Rotterdam will meet with local police to suggest solutions for the growing tension between them. Doutsen recently organized a series of meetings with local youth and police force members in Crooswijk to help them resolve issues. Tension has been growing between the two groups for some time now. These youth, particularly a group of 16-25 year olds, are referred to as "Hangiongeren, which has a bad connotation that people associate with loitering and criminal mischief. While the youth do admit to committing some crimes, the police use their authority to fine and incarcerate the youth, so as to keep the neighborhood quiet — even in some cases where they would be overlooked in normal circumstances. Thanks to the "Debate in the Neighborhood" program, these two groups have agreed to adress this situation, in a cooperative debate.

Tournament in Minsk joins debaters from far and wide

On October 24th and 25th, debaters gathered from various regions to participate in the recent tournament held in Minsk, Belarus. Participants came from as near as Minsk, and from as far away as Grodno and Baranovichi, and other cities. A team from Yakutsk, Russia traveled 9,000 kilometers, not only to debate, but to also share some of their cultural traditions. At the tournament's opening ceremony, the team prepared a presentation of some of their national traditions, such as the Yakut dance, cultural songs, and their national instrument, the "Hamus."
The tournament discussed problematic issues of modern society, as participants discovered new ways of communicating across cultures. The debates were held in the Minsk Gymnasia #7, and discussed the motion, "Genetically modified foods are in the public interest." The finalists included a team from Minsk and another team from Borisov, Bulgaria. In the end, local participants, Kirill Burko and Irina Fedorova, from Minsk won the final debate. However, the enriching cultural exchanges at the tournament gave all debaters a winning experience.

Paper submission deadline for eLearning Africa conference

The fifth International Conference, ICT, for development, education and training will be hosted by eLearning Africa from May 26-28, 2010 in Lusaka, Zambia. It is the continent's largest annual assembly of e-learning and education professionals from Africa and beyond. The deadline for submitting papers is December 14th.
ELearning Africa continues to build and expand a worldwide network for people involved in all aspects of technology-enhanced education and training in Africa, including management and policy-making. The conference will once again be conducted in English and French.
For more information on the conference and details on paper submissions, visit their website at www.elearning-africa.com.

Official e-newsletter of the International Debate Education Association, November 6, 2009

Top Ten Speakers from Qatar Mini-WSDC

Thanks to Maja Cimerman for tabulating these results.

TOP TEN SPEAKERS:

1	James Penn	650.5	72.27777778
2	Alex Morris	647.5	71.94444444
3	Paulina Valenzuela	1079	71.93333333
4	Valentina Salvatierra	1072	71.46666667
5	Sophie Boot	642.5	71.38888889
6	Sara Smylie	641.5	71.27777778
7	Nicholas Orr	640	71.11111111
8	Sofia Bernier	851	70.91666667
9	Anirudh Sixaram	845	70.41666667
10	Kai Wang	844	70.33333333

Team China Makes Grand Entrance Onto World Schools Stage

From our correspondent Loke Wing Fatt:

Ms Tang Meng, Minnie, Winnie, Kevin, John, Carrie and Zhengbo and I were in Doha, Qatar, from 30th Oct to 5th Nov to attend the Qatar Debate Academy 20089 and to take part in the Mini World Schools' Debating Championships (WSDC) 2009 designed to help "New Countries" prepare for this prestigious global high school event which will be held from 8th to 18th Feb 2010 in Qatar next year. Mr TJ from Thailand and Mr Andrew Nishizaki from Japan were also part of the 10-Person Delegation from China a this event as our teacher-trainees.

Ms Tang, Zhengbo, Minnie, Winnie, Kevin, John, Carrie, Mr TJ and Mr Andrew Nishizaki underwent 4 days of intensive dawn to dusk debate-skill training at the 5-star Hotel Marriot and two Qatari high schools.

I was teaching a section of 200 students/teachers from Qatar and participants from the 10 invited countries as a faculty member of the Qatar Debate Academy.

The 10 invited teams from Chile, New Zealand, USA, Oman, Uganda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sudan, Lebanon, UAE and China, together with two WSDC Qatari Teams competed in a 5-round mini debate tournament over 2 days. In the Grand Final, Chile beat New Zealand on a 9 to 0 unanimous vote. Ms Tang Meng was a member of the Grand Final Panel of Adjudicators and became the first Chinese teacher to judge an international high school debate event outside China.

Team China emerged as the 4th Best Team behind Chile, New Zealand and USA, which are all "veteran" teams at the WSDC. Team China is the Best "New Countries" Team as it beat Sudan, Qatar and Lebanon and only lost narrowly to USA. It finished with a 3 wins and 2 losses record. Kevin from Team China was adjudged to be the 10th Best Speaker.

Attached are a number of pictures of the event from my camera. Among them are pictures of Tean China receiving their 4th Best Team medals and Kevin receiving his 10th Best Speaker medal.

Many thanks to all of you who have contributed significantly to the modest success of Team China this far.

As the coach of Team China, I have greater expectations of Team China in their first-ever participation in the Qatar World Schools' Debating Championships 2010 in Doha next February 2010 and will be looking to all of you for your continual support and help in achieving our goal of showing the world that "CHINA CAN DEBATE!"

Team China is very grateful to Dr Hayat Maarafi , Ms Kelley Bieringer of QatarDebate, Ms Bojana Skrt of ZIP and Dr Alfred Charles "Tuna" Snider of WDI for the opportunity to test themselves, the kind help and tremendous hospitality and encouragement during the entire process of this experience in Doha. We are indeed blessed by such good people who support our cause of promoting WSDC debating in China in the coming years. I would also like to thank TJ, Andrew, Zhengbo and my debate comrade-buddies, Apple, Omar and Sam Nelson for their practical and moral support.

cheers

Loke Wing Fatt
Coach, Team China for Qatar WSDC 2010
President, Society for Associated Inter-Tertiary Debaters (SAID)
Singapore

Yonsei Takes KNC Title in Korea

Image via Wikipedia

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2912236

Yonsei debate team takes KNC title Winning students say preparation was key to championship November 07, 2009

With the match on the line, several university students - hearts beating rapidly, hands sweating profusely - give it their all as they try to put away their opponents from a rival school in the finals. This isn’t a college baseball or football game. It’s the final round of the fifth Korea Intervarsity Debating Association (KIDA) National Championship, which was held this year at Ewha Womans University. To succeed in this competition, teams must present convincing, bulletproof arguments in English for or against a specified topic, persuading judges to take their point of view over the opposing team’s. The initial rounds of the competition, dubbed KNC, took place on Oct. 30 and 31, leading to the finals last Sunday. The championship debate came down to a “Yon-Ko jeon,” the name given to sports games between the longtime rivals Yonsei University and Korea University. The Yonsei team, called UU A, consisted of Jang Won-jun, Yoo Min-jae and Song Na-young, while the Korea A team from Korea University consisted of Kang Ji-su, Shin Jae-yong and Kim Eun-song. The debate topic revolved around the death penalty for sexual crimes committed against children - a timely issue in light of the controversy surrounding the case of Cho Du-sun, who brutally raped an 8-year-old girl. The finalists had to persuade a majority of the seven judges, which included senior members of KIDA and college professors, to side with their position. The Yonsei team argued in favor of the death penalty for sexual crimes against children, while the Korea University team debated against it. After a lively debate, UU A from Yonsei took the title in a nail-biter, receiving four votes versus three for Korea A. Members of the UU A team said a lot of up-front work helped them win the championship. “We spent a lot of time preparing for this tournament,” Song said. “We practiced not only individually, but we also prepared case files together and gathered as a team at least twice a week leading up to the event and every day during the week before the competition.” Getting to the finals, however, was still a difficult feat, as team members said this year’s competition was particularly challenging. “The overall standard and quality of the participants were very high,” Yoo said. “I was surprised because we had a very hard time in the preliminary rounds and didn’t even expect to make it this far.” Jang and Yoo from UU A are well known in debating circles, as they were representatives from Korea in international competitions during their high school years. They were even selected to go to the World Schools Debating Championship, where they made it into the late rounds before bowing out. The KIDA competition isn’t just for those who can speak English at a very high level or for those who have a long track record in debate. Rounds for rookies and those who speak English as a second language are also held. This year’s EFL round for those with limited English was between two Seoul National University teams, SNUDA B and SNUDA E. It focused on the issue of whether to raise the legal drinking age for minors. SNUDA E won the event. “The EFL and rookie rounds give hope for debaters like me,” said Na Duk-joong of SNUDA E, who is both a rookie in the debate world and also speaks English as a second language. “There are so many debaters who lived abroad and simply can’t compete as well because of the language barrier.” The Seoul National debate squads incorporate extensive education programs and group sessions along with teaching materials put together by members themselves, so even rookies and students who studied English domestically are able to learn about the “art of persuasion” that debate requires. “I joined to become more fluent in English before entering law school, but I gained so much more than just language skills,” Na said. “I was not only able to socialize with other students from various schools, but I even received an award. It was the perfect graduation present for me.” KIDA itself is exclusively focused on promoting English debating in Korea. Because it is organized and run by students themselves, there are plenty of social gatherings and after-parties to melt away the rigidness that typically accompanies these types of organizations. It can sometimes be challenging for those in charge of organizing the events. “The planning had to be very thorough so that none of the debaters or affiliated persons felt discomfort,” said Roh Doh-hee of the Ewha Debating Society and organizer of the fifth KNC. “I had to get the permission from not only our school for a place to hold the tournaments but also send out proposals and e-mails to get support and sponsorships for every part of the tournament, including the social events.” KIDA, founded in 2006, consists of more than 500 students from 13 universities and 17 debating societies from all over the country and continues to grow. As for the KNC competition, participants must follow strict rules and regulations. The distinct style used in the event is called “Asian Parliamentary Debate Style,” which requires three members of each team to fight for their position for or against a particular “motion.” This most recent event included 63 teams from 14 institutions. The next KNC will be held in the spring, though the host school has not yet been chosen. Ahead of that event, Korean debaters will participate in international tournaments such as the North East Asian Open, held in Beijing from Nov. 27 to 29, and the Worlds, held in Istanbul, Turkey from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3. For more information on the KNC and KIDA, visit www.aboutknc.org. By Hannah Kim Contributing writer [estyle@joongang.co.kr]

Nevada Students Build Critical Skills Through Debating

From http://www.rgj.com/article/20091104/NEWS02/911040403/1321/NEWS/Students-benefit-from-skills-learned-in-debate

November 4, 2009

Students benefit from skills learned in debate

BY CARLA ROCCAPRIORE
croccapriore@rgj.com

Debate is an extracurricular school activity that could take as much time as an academic subject, but some Reno High School students said it's expanded their minds and helped make their classes and assignments easier.

"Before I entered debate, I was all over the place, and it helped organize my thoughts and the way I do things," said Cory Nims, 16, a Reno High junior. "Essays are now incredibly easy to write, and many things we learn in class I've already learned from debate."

For example, Nims said debate required him to do research on alternative energy last school year. Then the subject came up in science class, and he knew it well.

Kelli Brill, a 16-year-old junior, agreed.

"When we talk about abstract concepts, such as patriarchy and socialism, we'll learn the beginning of these types of (movements) and when you talk about it in class, it refers back to debate," Brill said.

Nathaniel Haas, a Reno sophomore, said participating in debate has increased his confidence.

"I've become a more confident person and more driven to accomplish goals because of the work ethic it teaches and requires," said Haas, 15. "It teaches you to speak your mind, ask questions and engage."

Brill said debate has helped her in the same way.

"I was extremely shy," Brill said. "I couldn't talk to more than three people at a time without blushing. I then got better with public speaking practice."

Debate has enabled Nims to talk intelligently with others.

"I can have intellectual conversations with people because what I learned from debate," Nims said. "I also like to talk really fast and impress my friends."

Rebekah Foster, Reno's assistant debate coach and English teacher, said debate helps students with critical thinking skills.

"They become better writers, better students and learn how to lead and participate in class discussions," Foster said. "They learn to think on their feet and communicate with others."

Students often can be found practicing after school for their monthly contests that draw teams from around the region. Schools with large debate clubs, such as Reno High, can enter multiple teams in each event.

Reno High's teams took first and second in the policy debate during the October contest.

"Of all the high schools in the Reno area, they're the year-to-year ongoing top team," said Robert Wexler, who has been a high school debate judge for 52 years, almost 10 of those in Washoe County. "High school debate is the intersection of academic achievement and competition."

The subjects for debate changes annually. This year's topic deals with whether the federal government should increase social services for Americans living in poverty.

Students have to prepare to argue either side of a topic and must state evidence, citing authors and dates, when making points.

"I still have opinions but can see the different side of other opinions," said senior Jonathan McGuire, 17. "Debate really does help with everything. It helps in classes, in work and in life. It's one of the most beneficial activities I've ever been a part of."

Additional Facts

Up next

What: High school debate
Where: McQueen High School, 6055 Lancer St.
When: 3 p.m. Nov. 20 and 8:30 a.m. Nov. 21
Subject: Whether the federal government should increase social services for Americans living in poverty.
Admission: Free
Details: 775-746-5880

Global Debate WIll Return to Regular Coverage

After a busy week in Qatar at the Qatar Debate Academy and the Mini-WSDC tournament, Global Debate will be catching up this weekend with a spate of stories that have stacked up in recent days. Thank you for your patience.

I had a wonderful time in Qatar and was inspired by the Qatar students, international students, teachers, trainers, organizers and faculty members that I had a chance to work with.

Chile Defeats New Zealand for Mini-WSDC Title in Qatar

The team from Chile put on an amazing performance in Doha, Qatar last night as they took a 9-0 decision from New Zealand. New Zealand was proposition and Chile was opposition on the motion, THBT a country should not punish those who pay bribes to officials of other countries.

The supposed charges against British defense contractors as regards Saudi Arabia as well as oil companies dealing with the government of Guinea were discussed in detail.

Chile dominated every phase of the debate and was obviously a crowd favorite, although the team from New Zealand took the top two speakers in the tournament and put on a truly excellent performance. But, on this night there was no stopping Chile.

The Chile team is coached by Alvaro Ferrer and Catalina Bascur and is sponsored by Universidad Andres Bello Chile.

Video of the debate will be available soon, along with comprehensive results.

The tournament and the Qatar Debate Academy that took place before it was sponsored by QatarDebate with curricular assistance from the World Debate Institute at the University of Vermont and ZIP Slovenia national debate program.

QatarDebate Has 2nd Anniversary & Announces Arabic Debate Initiative

Dr. Hayat Maarafi, middle

From QatarDebate:

Dr. Hayat Maraafi Address

Executive Director

QatarDebate

Marking 2^nd Year Anniversary

Monday, November 2^nd, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Peace be upon you.

Good evening.

We meet today to celebrate the Second Anniversary of QatarDebate that emerged from the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, which is dedicated to developing human beings as the most expensive resources through a twofold mission: sowing education and knowledge and unlocking creative talents by promoting skills. Perhaps the most important skill that human beings acquire is the ability to express and interact with the opinions of others and not clash with them.

The goals on which QatarDebate was founded are of high importance for they build the integral personality of the individual through a standard set of skills which include the art of reading, researching, listening, negotiating, problem solving, adept rebutting, and scientific research. Contrary to the popular notion in the Arab world that debates are a simple process of listening and answering between interlocutors.

Two years ago, QatarDebate was launched in English in the aim of spreading our message around the world and participating in international championships to help our youth acquire better skills. The more we succeeded the more our ambition grew with the unlimited support of Qatar Foundation. Today, we are launching a unique experience in our region that aims at transforming debates into a teaching tool to help students engage in dialogue, acquire self-confidence and master scientific research.

Thus, we are pleased to launch QatarDebate Center, an unparalleled initiative in the Arab world, and the first debate organization in the region. This achievement is the natural product of the vision of Qatar Foundation and her constant support to raise the level of discussion and open dialogue among students in Qatar and across the Middle East and the world.

After wrapping up the Mini World Schools Debating Championships held in Doha, QatarDebate Center will organize debates in the Arabic language that will target the Qatari youth and the largest possible segment of the community in Qatar and the Arab world. This comes as part of an initiative to echo our national identity and Islamic and Arabic language—particularly the use of classical-standard Arabic—by cooperating with schools in Qatar, and organizing workshops throughout the year to train Qatari students to follow up on events in the world to be able to defend their opinion and learn from others. More than 8000 students and faculty members are expected to participate in these workshops organized by the Center in all schools and universities. The First step into this initiative starts here with you.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Center's activities aim at building a sustainable culture of student debates by holding national competitions between schools and universities, as well as selecting and training a debate team of Qatari students to participate in the World Schools Debating Championships.

In conclusion, allow me to assure you that our success depends on your support. The interaction of the media with our message and covering and following up on this pioneering initiative in the Arab world will help us achieve our desired goal.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

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To contact Dr. Hayat Maraafi by email: hmaarafi@qf.org.qa or by phone: 5052504

Day Two at Qatar Debate Academy

Alfred Snider, correspondent

With the very successful first day of the Qatar Debate Academy fresh in their memories, participants geared up for the second day of the training event for teachers and youth from twelve countries and from Qatar. The second day featured activities at three locations, including Amna Bint Wahab Girls Preparatory School, where the hoist was principal Hassa Hamed, Doha Independent Prep School for Boys, where the host was Gholoum A. Abdoulla, and the Marriott Hotel Doha. In the morning half of the visiting students went to each of the two schools for lectures, exercises, lunch and then a critiqued practice debate with an opportunity for students from each school to mix with them and debate with and against them. In the afternoon Qatar students came to the Marriott for lecture, exercises and preparation for future debates, while the visiting students used the time to prep for future motions, especially the motions that had been announced for the Mini-WSDC tournament that would be held at the end of the program. Visiting teachers received extension instruction at the schools in debate curriculum as well as training for judging. At the Marriott in the evening many Qatar judges came to judge training in the hope of judging at WSDC in February 2010, where 50 countries will be competing.

Everyone loaded up in the morning and headed out across Doha to their destinations. The ride made it clear that the country is experiencing a building and development boom in terms of highways, commercial establishments and many beautiful new homes. This country, which is very much in the “process of becoming” may have a few roads not directly corrected and there is some traffic snarls, it is clear that there is a master plan at work for the country. Both schools were fairly new, beautiful and well equipped. The students were there to welcome the visitors from so many different countries and the teachers and administrators were proud to share their schools as well as their many intelligent and articulate students. At Doha Independent the students participated actively in the lectures and exercises, and then debated against the visitors after lunch. At Amna Bint Wahab it was the same story, but a little different as it is an all-girls school and so there was some separation to make sure that normal classes were not disturbed. At Doha Independent there was a marvelous display of hunting falcons, and many had a chance to hold them and stroke the chests of these marvelous and beautiful creatures, as well as understand their role in traditional Qatar culture. The end of the sessions at the schools was a debate about banning gambling that features students from three different nations in almost every room, with the widely dispersed international faculty judging and critiquing the debates.

It was back in the buses and back to the Marriot. By the time people returned from the schools the training at the Marriott had already begun, with Rhydian Morgan lecturing on proposition case construction followed by extensive exercises in smaller groups. The previous day had been a success, obviously, because more students asked questions and posed issues, but another indicator of success is that more Qatar students showed up than had been there the day before. Qatar teachers at the same time received instruction from world champion coaches Debbie Newman of England and Bojana Skrt of Slovenia in organizing a debate club and training debaters. The visiting students got a brief time free (many took advantage of the pool) before they had organized preparation for the announced motions at the upcoming tournament.

There was another fantastic meal by the pool with good fellowship and an increased level of social mixing of the many different nationalities and customs who are at this event.

Bojana Skrt of Slovenia, one of the major organizers, called the beginning of the event quite a success. “People are anxious to learn,” she said, “and now some of their shyness has gone and there are more questions, more seeking of knowledge and assistance from the amazing faculty and a high level of enthusiasm among all the participants.”

Stayed tuned for the events of day three.

Qatar Debate Acaademy Opens

Bojana Skrt and Alfred Snider

Over 200 debaters and debate teachers from 16 countries gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Doha, Qatar for the first day of the Qatar Debate Academy. The program is designed to bring established debating nations together with a number of new debating nations and a sparking international faculty to expand debate into new places. Held under the auspices of QatarDebate, and with a curriculum designed in cooperation with the World Debate Institute at the University of Vermont and Za in Proti Slovenia, the first day went off spotlessly and had as a highlight the vigor and enthusiasm of the new debating nations.

The night before a barbecue dinner had been held at poolside for the delegates from arriving nations. The next morning an opening ceremony was held in the Al Fayrouz Ballroom at the Marruitt. After opening remarks by the director of Qatar Debate Dr. Hayartt Maarafi and one of the event organizers Alfred Snider of the University of Vermont the program began with a lecture on public speaking presented by Sam Nelson of Cornell University in his own inimitable and conversational style. Bojana Skrt of Slovenia, another of the organizers, then reviewed the schedule and everyone was off to many smaller rooms for public speaking exercises led by the faculty. Meanwhile, Chris Erskine and Erin O'Brien of Australia began their work with a group of local judges who hope to become judges at the World Schools Debating Championship to be held in February 2010 in Qatar. After the public spoeaking exercises there was an argumentation lecture and demonstration conducted by Mirandas Weigler before lunch. Througout the morning teachers and trainers fro every country received training from Alfred Snider in the basic debate components and an introduction to debate training exercises and regimens.

Lunch, as all meals in Qatar seem to be, was plentiful, delicious and full of variety. Immediately after lunch there was a break up into small groups for argumentation exercises. Meanwhile Loke Wing Fatt of Singapore worked with teachers and trainers of the construction of debate motions as well as helping students build proposition and opposition cases. After a coffee break everyoine gathered again in the auditorium as Debbie Newman, world champion coach of England, gave an introduction to the WSDC format and previewed the coming demo debate by the Qatar national team on the relative value of publicity and privacy for public figures. After the debate there was a review of the debate performance by Sam Greenland of Australia and Debbie Newman.

After another delicious meal by the pool it was time for the evening elective sessions presented by the faculty. Everyone was able to choose which session they would like to attend. The elective sessions consisted of the following offerings:

Using One Hour to Prep – Loke Wing Fatt ROOM A
A look at how the 5 debaters ought look at the debate motion being given in an Impromptu Debate in order to anticipate and prepare for the potential issues/questions inherent in the topic area given. A brief discussion on "giving what the judges want" will be held to give students a sense of how the average, reasonable person ought to be regarded in the WSDC style of debating.

Speaking for a Full Eight Minutes – Debbie Newman ROOM B
When you're starting out, speaking for eight minutes with little preparation can seem daunting - in this session, we'll cover tips to make sure you speak for your full time.

Non-Verbal Communication – Sam Nelson ROOM C
Non-verbal communication (the way you talk, use your hands, face and body) is often as important as what you say in persuading the audience. This presentation will help you understand this process and avoid making critical mistakes that could cost you points with your audience.

Fixing Problems with Your Style – Erin O’Brien ROOM D
Every single speaker has a style problem that seems impossible to fix. Do you say 'um' too often? Are you too quiet? Too aggressive? This workshop will give you strategies to help solve your style problems, and talk about some of the dos and don’ts of debating style you need to follow to sound more confident and persuasive.

Working Together as a Team – Omar Salahuddin ROOM E
It is fundamental to debate (in any kind of forum) to recognize that it is a team activity. In other words, teams win debates, not individual speakers. Working from this platform, there are strategies that work and some that do not work as well. We will be focusing on developing teamwork strategies that are useful in classroom learning as much as they are valuable in competitive debating.

Debating When English is a Foreign Language – Bojana Skrt ROOM F
It is difficult to debate, but even more difficult to debate in a foreign language. Learn some strategies and tactics to improve your debating and your English in order to compete successfully in debate and in life.

Giving the Reply Speech – Rhydian Morgan ROOM G
How to summarized the entire debate in the four minute reply speech by discussing major disagreements, agreements and issues in the debate as well as using rhetoric most effectively to claim the win for your side.

Note Taking and Speaking from Notes – Alfred Snider ROOM K
You need notes that indicate what you should say without having to read them like a script. You need different kinds of notes for different things you will do ion your speech and in different speaker positions. Learn all of these in a very practical workshop that will improve your speeches.

Basic Case Construction – Piyanart Faktangporn ROOM H
In order to do well in the debate you need to be able to construct a coherent and well-organized case. This workshop will provide you with a simple model that will help you to construct a case on almost any motion.

Tomorrow students will break into two groups and go to two Qatar schools for instruction along with Qatar students before having a practice debate. Then, in the afternoon Qatar students will return to the Marriott for additional instruction.

At the end of the week a Mini-WSDC tournamnt will be held.

Former Debaters Shine in Obama Administration

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

From http://debatekc.edublogs.org/2009/10/29/%E2%80%9Ccompetitive-and-slightly-unhinged%E2%80%9D-why-college-debaters-dominate-washington%E2%80%99s-political-scene/

“Competitive and Slightly Unhinged”:

Why college debaters dominate Washington’s political scene

By Sophie Gilbert

from Washingtonian Magazine, November 2009, pp. 66-67

© 2009 Washingtonian Magazine, Inc.; used by permission.

When Politico ran a front-page story about Austan Goolsbee, the headline was DEBATE CHAMP GOES POPULIST FOR OBAMA’S PLAN. The story noted how “silver-tongued” Goolsbee–recently appointed to the President’s Council of Economic Advisers–had been a national debate champion at Yale.

“Goolsbee’s emergence has come at the right time for Obama,” wrote Ben Smith, who speculated that Goolsbee’s skills as a talker might help compensate for the unpopularity of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and National Economic Council director Larry Summers.

But Summers was a debater at MIT–renowned, according to Harvard debate coach Dallas Perkins, for his ability to exploit his opponent’s mistakes for his own gain.

It’s nothing new for debaters to go into politics: More than half the members of Congress have high-school or college debate experience, as do most Presidents and Supreme Court justices.

Within debate circles, some see the prominence of Goolsbee and Summers as a sign that the Obama administration is more open to discussion about policy.

“It’s been interesting, the role debate’s started playing,” says George Mason University debate coach Warren Decker. “I’ve heard rumors that Obama and Larry Summers have actually organized debates about policy issues so they can really get to hear both sides.”

The presence of two former debaters in Obama’s West Wing shines a spotlight on what has typically been a low-profile extracurricular school activity.

Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at the online magazine Slate and Goolsbee’s former debate partner at Yale, believes there’s a natural progression from college debating to running for office: Debate is often a path to law school, which in turn can lead to politics. Says Lithwick: “There’s something about being that competitive and slightly unhinged, which often leads to a career in either field.”

Debate seems to attract students with an interest in politics, and it provides them with lots of information. At the same time, it teaches an automatic answer to every question and often requires memorizing arguments rather than thinking them through–something seen often in Washington.

Fellow students remember debaters John Kerry and Karl Rove as having strong political commitments at an early age.

Keith Roark, a lawyer in Idaho, debated with Rove–who went on to be George W. Bush’s top political adviser–at Olympus High School in Salt Lake City in the late ‘60s. “I never knew Karl to have a passionate view on any subject or issue,” Roark says. “It was more this complete commitment to the Republican Party. I don’t know that I’ve ever met anybody who was as single-mindedly devoted to politics. He was fascinated by it–not really by policy topics but more how you get elected, stay elected.”

Tales of Rove’s early intimidation tactics abound–one is that he would bring boxes of index cards to debates, all of them blank. “I’m not sure to what extent that’s true or whether it’s legend invented by Karl,” Roark says. “When I knew him, he was this diminutive guy with a high-pitched voice and horn-rimmed glasses who couldn’t intimidate a cocker spaniel. None of us took him seriously, but you could tell he was going to be a great debater because he was very energetic about it.”

A Weekly Standard article in 2004 said senator and former presidential candidate John Kerry “was always a dove–starting in college,” and it reported on his time as head of the Yale Political Union. Kerry’s interest in debate has continued, along with his liberal politics, through his career.

Reverend David Gray, a director at the New America Foundation, was president of the Yale Political Union when Kerry returned to speak years later. “The two of us snuck out of the reception to talk, and I ended up working for him for a summer,” says Gray, who also partnered with Austan Goolsbee on the debate circuit at Yale.

Yale’s debate team has a rich history when it comes to shaping politicians. In 2004, during the Bush/Kerry presidential debates, it became known that both had taken classes with oratory teacher Rollin G. Osterweis, the university’s longtime debate coach. Kerry went on to debate for Yale; Bush did not.

Politicians without debate experience often find themselves at a disadvantage when elections approach, so some call in the experts. Republicans count on Brett O’Donnell, the former Liberty University debate coach who has helped candidates George W. Bush, John McCain, and Sarah Palin prep for national debates.

In 2004, O’Donnell met Karl Rove when Rove spoke at Liberty; O’Donnell jokingly suggested that the Bush campaign hire him as the President’s debate coach. A week later, it did.

“I equate coaching political candidates to coaching novice debaters,” says O’Donnell. “Initially, people who did debate preparation focused on policy, but it quickly became obvious that debates are won and lost on performance, not on what a candidate knows about a particular policy. So that’s when folks like me started getting involved. I really look at it like preparing an athlete, because it is a game–except that the stakes are a lot higher.”

O’Donnell is reluctant to talk about former vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin’s debate preparation except to say she was very disciplined. “In political debate, you can’t have an answer for every question because you could never be prepared for everything that might come up,” he says. “So you develop a set of answers and you figure out how to apply those to every question and still advocate your message. She was very good at doing that. She executed the strategy for her debate almost perfectly.”

Lithwick isn’t surprised Goolsbee became an Obama adviser. “He had such a profound talent for politics,” she says. “Everyone at Yale knew he was incredibly smart, but he was also great at connecting with people and talking to them. One of the reasons he was such a phenomenal success as a debater was because he perfected this super-casual approach. He never looked like a preppy, Ivy League prig–he just went out there and had a good time.”

David Gray–who calls Goolsbee as substantive as he is funny–says debate experience clearly confers an advantage in Washington: “Debate emphasizes communication and relationship-building, and there are a lot of people out there who went to the same summer camps, the same colleges, the same law schools and who are now involved in the same political stuff. You see them in DC at parties.”

Assistant editor Sophie Gilbert (sgilbert@washingtonian.com) was a high-school debater in Britain mostly because the Scottish boy debaters were cute.