Student Evaluations of URNDI
Week One, 2007 & 2008:
Research Instruction:
2007
“…after this week, I think I can write my own cases!” – K. S.
“Impressive, more access to facililities than at other camps… and plenty of good sources were given.” –S. S.
“I enjoyed the research visits to the library because I feel like reading a book of evidence is important. I feel that it helped me improve in my source variation.” –W. B.
“Staff really helped us narrow search terms to find what we were looking for- the individual attention here was great!” –J. M.
2008
“Very helpful in teaching me how to find credible evidence, card, and index it. Good tips for me to bring home from this camp and pass on to others.” –T. P.
Room and Board Comments:
2007
“The facilities and food were very impressive… better than any other college that I’ve been to.” –S. S.
“Amazing, loved it all!” –J. N.
2008
“The campus is beautiful and the food was amazing… almost as good as my mom’s!” –A. P.
Specific Lab Leader Comments:
2007
“I appreciated Flemming’s explanations… and James gave me really good ideas and I think he has a lot of insight… Everyone was great, cool, really smart, and had good teaching and lecture strategies.” – K. S.
“Kelly, Kuswa, and Flemming left me speechless. They are amazing… and had very well structured lectures.” –S. S.
“All of my lab leaders and instructors were very good teachers. They knew what they were talking about, were very qualified, and genuinely wanted to teach the debaters.” –D. J.
“Everyone was awesome, and brought in their own personality, experience, and expertise… always willing to help and give advice.”
–M. M.
“Because most labs were one on two, or one on four, the education was fairly specialized to my needs.” –N. P.
“<faculty>definitely made the camp interesting and fun! He is very committed to individual attention and provided insightful comments and thoughts as to how I could improve. Definitely an awesome debate coach! <faculty>… is also an example of a great debate coach! I will remember him most for his energetic teaching style and his powerful views on the topics discussed.” –H. G.
2008
“I feel that I really improved my speed and our strategy in general. The constructive critiques from the judges were definitely helpful.”
–M. S.
“The faculty is brilliant, informative, and approachable. <Faculty member> gives wonderful explanations of rhetoric and critical theory.”
“Everyone was so enlightening and entertaining. They kept me awake at 4 a.m. Oregon time and that says something!” –Q. B.
“The staff was extremely professional, well informed, and concerned about the students, about debate, and especially about education.”
–J. P.
Quality of Evidence:
2007
“I found a lot of good information, finding abundance in the library.” – S. S.
“The evidence was very well laid out and produced very good arguments.” –D. J.
2008
“Evidence was great. I really haven’t been a part of debate for very long, but what I saw excited me.” –Q. B.
Content Instruction:
2007
“I enjoyed how we discussed the philosophy… it also made me think abut the specifics, which I have a tendency to overlook.” –S. S.
“I like the small class size because there was more individual attention.” –M. M.
“All of my questions were answered thoughtfully and thoroughly- couldn’t have been better.” J. M.
“I felt the philosophy and theory lectures were really great. They were an incredible source of challenge and inspiration to me.” –H. G.
Speaking Instruction:
2007
“The speaking instruction helped in my understanding of the difference of extraneous speaking and LD speaking.” –D. J.
“Learned that the best way to speak is clear, concise, and confident.” –M. M.
Practice Debates:
2007
“These were really helpful to me. They were judged well and I enjoyed them.” –K. S.
“100% impressed!” –S. S.
“Lots of practice debates, I learned new things every time, and it was good to switch up the debaters, the sides, and the judges.” –M. M.
“I can flow and be organized now! I finally found a method that works, and practice debated helped me to solidify my new process. The individual attention here was so incredibly beneficial.” –J. M.
2008
“Critiques, between and after rounds, represented positive feedback that was constructive rather than scolding.” –T. P.
Group Lectures:
2007
“I enjoyed the group lectures in which everyone wasn’t only policy oriented…made them interesting.” –S. S.
“They were so animated, interesting, and so hard not to pay attention to!” –W. B.
2008
"They were thoroughly interesting, not run of the mill lectures. They were great and touched on different spectrums of lectures… something for everyone!”
Other (best, worst, misc., etc.)
2007
“I love how the RA’s are friendly… and make you feel comfortable around them.” –K. S.
“The best aspects were the individual help, dedication, and the enthusiasm of the staff. But the worst aspect of the camp was the fact that I didn’t get to stay longer!” –J. M.
2008
“We had some work and also had some free time to relax and get to know the other kids at the camp.” –N. B.
Did you improve? If so, how?
2007
“Yes, I improved in my case writing ability…, my speaking and the way I rebut arguments. This really helped!” –K. S.
“I learned that specifics are necessary, instead of pure philosophy.” –S. S.
“I learned how to connect better (with people) and my debate knowledge expanded greatly.” –D. J.
“I now think more like a debater. My arguments are more strategic and focused. Thanks URNDI staff!” –J. S.
“I improved in my speech construction and development of arguments. Also, I gained a deeper understanding of philosophy and how that can be effectively applied in a debate round.” –H. G.
2008
“I learned a lot about technique and strategy of debating. I also improved in my ability to overcome public speech disadvantages.”
“I have improved a lot! Coming into camp, I had never done debate in my life, and now I’ve done two full and have really enjoyed it.”
“I now write better speeches and I have an improved idea of how to evaluate resolutions.” –M. M.
“I had a debate realization moment- and epiphany! I learned so much in the first week and how to apply it.” –E. R.
Would you consider returning and/or applying to Richmond?
“I never considered college debate, but the coaches and team here all seem very personable and friendly. The campus is awesome, and the school has specialties such as the Leadership Studies School which appeal to me.” –T. P.
Week Two, 2008
Cycle of Rebuttal Re-dos:
“I was dreading this process, but… that day I really learned how to construct good arguments and find weaknesses in evidence.” –M. C.
Room and Board Comments:
The dorm rooms were comfortable… the food was great, there was always something to eat, and it even had extensive vegetarian options.”
– M. C.
Specific Lab leader comments/ lecture comments:
“Callie’s lectures were awesome because I finally get how to dissect CP/DAS, James sparked an interest in philosophy, and Liz was very clear and provided a great example debater. Furthermore, Mr. <faculty> and Mr. <faculty> were always interesting and entertaining.” –M. C.
“The rhetoric lectures were absolutely fascinating. They opened up the possibility for future studies in Rhetoric during college.”
“All of the lectures and mini discussions we attended were great. Everyone brings such a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm to their discussions. I loved the constant emphasis on the big picture and how ideas and approaches connect together.” –J. P.
Quality of Evidence (Social Movements and Heidegger):
“The quality of evidence we received here is much better than that produced at other camps that I have attended."
Demo Debate:
“Really good and slightly philosophical. It expressed good energy, excitement, and passion.” –M. M.
“The Richmond team is full of very talented people and the amount of work put in is amazing.” –J. P.
Practice Debates:
“These opportunities get students to debate outside of a tournament, much like practice, but with and huge amount of assistance.” –J. P.
Recreation (trip to river, Frisbee, etc.):
“This was a great relief for the students, because they need some relief from a week of academic activities.” –J. P.
Did you improve? If so, how?
“I got faster, more organized, and learned tips to make my speeches devastating.”
“I learned so much about the elements of debate and I was thrilled that debate theory is so highly emphasized.” –J. P.
“I was able to understand K’s a lot better and I now know how to run them.” –S. M.
“The camp was memorable and I have really learned so many applicable skills.” –M. C.
More questions about the institute? Contact us.