Policy Debate Overview 

Topic  |  Labs  |  Theory and Practicum  |  Research Skills  |  Technique  |  Electives  |  Files

Research, speaking, advocacy and passion for debate sit in a careful balance that emerges through a combination of careful reading and summarizing, crafting of arguments, presentation and delivery of an overall position, refutation and rhetorical packaging. This philosophy guides the Institute’s instruction modules.

The workshop provides serious debaters with the best that any institute has to offer. Students will have the opportunity to receive personalized instruction from top-notch faculty in intimate groups and benefit from all the amenities available to students at larger camps. Amenities include electives, practice debates, rebuttal re-dos, guided research, a starter set of evidence prepared exclusively for the camp, computer access, copies of camp blocks and recreational events.

Scheduling for the workshop includes research skills, group discussions, mini-debates and practice debates, theory discussions, electives and a tournament. Students will able to select some schedule features prior to the workshop.

Scheduling and organization will be a collaborative process, and the experience levels and needs of all students will be taken into consideration. The institute’s ultimate goal is to encourage a passion for research, strategy and debate that will translate into better study habits and an academic perspective that lasts a lifetime. The organization of the institute will include time for theory discussion, the development of research skills, knowledge and command of the topic, speaking skills and technique, elective classes and lots of practice debates. These skills will be fostered during lab time, theory practicum slots, negative research groups, big group lectures and one-on-one skills sessions.