Debate as Curriculum

I remember joking around with people I went to college with that I wanted to start my own charter high school where all of the curriculum matter revolved around the high school debate topic for the year.  It would be the perfect way to solve the competition between homework and debate research – they would [...]

Series: Web 2.0 for Forensics – Part I

I’ve been trying to incorporate a little more of the web 2.0 programs in my academic life, and this has led me to consider the way these same programs can be used for forensics.  So, I am going to start brainstorming ideas for using different tech to make our forensics lives easier and turn them [...]

The importance of paying attention to the “big picture”

Thought this was a great visual example of how easy it is to miss things, even when you’re paying close attention.

Competition or Education – A response to SoCal-LD.net

An interesting and challenging question was posed over at SoCal-LD.net on the Teleology of Debate.  I have struggled with this in my own coaching, not only in debate but also in IEs.  After all, everything we do in forensics is highly formulaic and not necessarily what works best in the “real world”.  But, I think [...]

Debatepedia – Take a look!

This message appeared on edebate this week and I thought I would pass it on to those of you who may not be on that listserv.  I took a look at it and I think it would be helpful for your classes, parliamentary debaters, as well as novice policy debaters!  Thanks Brooks!
I would like to introduce to [...]

Economist online debates

Looking for a way to get your debaters and/or argumentation students involved in a debate outside the walls of the classroom or tournament setting?  The Economist is hosting a series of online debates between experts and inviting online readers to participate in the debates as well as the evaluations of those debates.  The current debate [...]

Get your students judging!

I am a staunch believer in the power of judging as an educational tool!  This weekend CSU Chico will be holding its Rookie Tournament and everyone on the team is required to judge.  In addition, I strongly encourage my students to judge high school speech and debate competitions whenever possible.  The p0wer of perspective can [...]

BBC Middle East Debates

Although this series of Middle East Debates from the BBC is a little old, it has some great material for background on the Israel/Palestine issue as well as other areas of Middle East foreign policy.  I always like to have multi-media information in my argumentation and debate class, but I also realize that students may be [...]

Request for help…memorization

This is a post requesting information rather than giving it.  I have a student this semester who has some speaking talent, but has a really, really tough time memorizing his speeches.  I am wondering what strategies all of you experts out there can offer on this skill.  I never had a problem memorizing speeches, so [...]

Online Resource – PBS Point of View series

I am searching for interesting material to use in my Argumentation and Debate class next semester and came across the PBS website for their Point of View series.  I’ve used Frontline material in my classes before and thought it was great, but I haven’t used any of the POV stuff.  But, it seems perfect for [...]