Public Forum Debate Camp Session 1

This program will be online. Students will learn the basics of public speaking, argumentation, and how to rebut arguments. This class will focus on introducing students to various debate forms used around the country and the world including Spontaneous Argument Debate, Public Forum, and Middle School Public Debate. This fast-paced course will give students the chance to debate different topics including those on the economy, social issues, foreign policy, and education. Debaters will learn how to make an argument, speak in public, rebut arguments, and more in this summer week-long debate course. Daily format may be similar to this: 9-10: “Online” Morning meeting, usually an icebreaker or game, first lesson of the day 10-10:30 Break 10:30-11:30 “Online” group lesson, group activity completed together 11:30-1:30 Break time for lunch & independent work time. Students may choose to connect with partners to practice for their debates 1:30-3:00 Students or pairs will be assigned a 20-30 minute time slot between 1:30-3:00 to perform their debate to the teachers and be given direct and individualized feedback. The entire class does not have to be online during this time, only during their scheduled performance time.

This program will be virtual. This 3 week dynamic course allows students to explore the intricacies of the United States after World War II to the Obama Presidency. Using a variety of online resources and critical investigations, students will begin to appreciate the ways in which the US emerged as global player in the decades following the war. At the same time, we’ll probe the ways the US constructed new ways of thinking about itself and the people within it. Topics may include: 1. Political developments, including the Truman Presidency, the Eisenhower years, and the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, etc. The impact of international developments, the Cold War, the turbulent sixties, as well as economic realities like globalization will also be addressed. 2. Social and cultural shifts, including suburbanization, the impact of television, the modern Civil Rights and Feminist movements, and the impact of 1968 as a watershed year. More recent developments, including the impact of technological advances and the more recent rights revolutions, will also be addressed. Synchronous classes are designed to be varied and interactive, with opportunities for group work and debate (depending upon the size of the class.) Asynchronous work will take an inquiry approach, and may use the case study method to interrogate a range of events. We’ll make use of historic newspapers to take the pulse of Americans in various parts of the country as they experienced events in real time, and we’ll also have the occasional expert to work with us. Week 1 – The end of the war to the assassination of JFK. (Cold War begins, McCarthyism, Cuban Missile Crisis, etc.) Week 2 – Johnson to Reagan. (Great Society, Vietnam, 1968, Watergate, Rustbelt, Iran Crisis) Week 3 – Reagan to Obama (Reagan Revolution, end of the Cold War, Clinton years, 911, new realities.) This program will meet once a day from 1:00-2:30pm