International/WSDC High School Debate
INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE – Debate Training in the World Schools Debating Championship Format and Integrated Audition for the US International Traveling Squad
As the official representative for US international debate programming (the Claremont Colleges Debate Union/John Meany is the US representative on the World Schools Debating Council, the sponsoring organization of the international high school debate championship), the Claremont program offers (1) the most rigorous training for international debating; (2) the opportunity to participate in 2013-14 tournaments and international debate exchanges in Canada, Mexico, Chile, Turkey, Korea, China, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Peru, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany, Romania, and Thailand; and (3) an audition for participation at the 2014 World Schools Debating Championship in Thailand and major regional events, including upcoming European, Eurasian, and Pan American championships.
The Claremont summer program offers much more than many other summer instructional sessions of 2 weeks or longer, including the following:
• 14 small group instructional sessions, including 3 student-selected elective sessions
• 10 full debates, critiqued by certified judges – debates include pre-announced motions and impromptu motions
• experienced debaters will work on debate theory and advanced refutation in supplemental seminars led by John Meany
• 10 hours of open forum sessions – students have the opportunity to discuss and practice any element of debate and argumentation theory, as well as arrange for additional speech and debate practice
• faculty are available for ‘table discussion’ during meal times – students may request a lunch or dinner discussion group on debate practice, topic preparation, research, subject-field issues (e.g., discussion on economics or international relations), current events, and more…guest faculty and field experts are often included in table discussions.
• support for student professional communication in open forum and ancillary sessions and materials on effective public extemporaneous speaking, roundtable discussion, and PowerPoint presentation
• meeting with college admissions staff for information on effectively navigating the college application process – the session includes but does not exclusively focus on admission to the Claremont Colleges or other highly selective liberal arts colleges; college admissions staff address selection and application to a broad range of colleges and universities, discuss the common application, and offer insight on academic and extracurricular evaluation, student essays, and developing strong teacher recommendations
• audition for 2013-14 USWSDC programming
• flex time with more than 40 hours of available meal and recreational time to visit with established friends and make new ones…the summer debate program is intensive, challenging, and fun.
2013 Session – June 22-29
Summer programs are for in-residence and commuter students. Students entering 9th-12th grades (ages 14-18) in Fall 2013 are eligible to participate. The session is appropriate for new and experienced debaters. Each session includes small group instruction, elective classes, and practice debates with certified instructors. Debating includes extemporaneous argumentation (advanced topic announcement) and impromptu argumentation (topic announcement one hour prior to a debate). Topics are announced in the Welcome Document and Schedule.
In addition to comprehensive training and practice debating in the WSDC format, the session will serve as the primary audition site for the selection of US teams for the 2014 World Schools Debating Championship (Bangkok, Thailand) and other international events, including the Pan American Debating Championship (Hamilton, Bermuda), the Pan Pacific Debate Championship (Honolulu, Hawaii), the Heart of Europe Debating Championship (Olomouc, Czech Republic), and the Eurasian Schools Debating Championship (Istanbul, Turkey).
The Debate Union is the official US representative on the World Schools Debating Council, the international organization responsible for organizing the world high school debate championship tournament. The Debate Union auditions, selects, and trains US secondary school students for WSDC format debate workshops and competitions. Students from other countries and those not participating in the audition process continue with WSDC training and practices during scheduled auditions.
In just 2 years, US teams will travel to workshops and tournaments in England, Czech Republic, Korea, Turkey, Qatar, New Zealand, China, Chile, Canada, Scotland, Thailand, Greece, as well as other events.
The national debate formats sponsored at other summer debate sessions (HSPDP/CHSSA) are similar to the WSDC model. It is possible for students to get additional training for their own preferred format by attending another debate session. For example, HSPDP debaters will improve their skills for HSPDP tournaments by attending the WSDC session.
2013 WELCOME DOCUMENT FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
2013 DAILY SCHEDULE
NOTE – Please review information in the Welcome Document for program preparation and any pre-announced topics and research.
I am a 20 year veteran debate coach (CX, LD, PF) from Washington State, but now teach in Sao Paulo, Brazil and am interested in getting students involved in WSDC style. In addition to any of my students attending this summer workshop, would it be helpful for me to come to learn this format? Do you offer session for coach’s training? Thanks
Thank you for your interest but there is no coach session for 2013. The coach session may return in 2014.
my son is interested in taking the high school debate camp as well as having the opportunity to try out for the world debate team. Could you let me know what the time frame for world debate team looks like. IF he tries out this summer as an incoming freshman to high school and is able to make the world team when would he need to travel for that team?
International events are scheduled as available. It is unlike national debating, with regular circuits and schedules. During some academic years, there are few opportunities for tournament debating and the US squad focuses on international educational exchanges. In other seasons, there are many tournaments and options for travel.