Middle School Course Description

  • Grade 7
  • Grade 8
Competition Debate
Elective Course | Half semester | Open to grades 7–8 only

This advanced class grows students’ comfort with competitive debate, building on other debate classes to emphasize formal debate participation (one-on-one or with a partner). Attendance at at least one official tournament is required. The class reviews debate basics and introduces advanced forms of argumentation, including topicality, counterplans, disadvantages, weighing mechanisms, and frameworks. Students primarily research both sides of the official Utah debate resolution, but have later opportunities to conduct in-class debates on a topic of their choice. In addition to practicing constructive, rebuttal, and cross-examination strategies, students develop tactical skills, including evidence comparison, cost-benefit analysis, note-taking, and audience adaptation. While debate is competitive in nature, students are never graded on wins or losses, and the class works collaboratively to create and prepare cases against other schools.