2006.12.10: December 10, 2006: Headlines: Debate: Expansion: Speaking Out: Baltimore Sun: This year, policy debate leagues across the country are using a resolution that the U.S. government should substantially increase AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America and/or the armed forces
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2006.12.10: December 10, 2006: Headlines: Debate: Expansion: Speaking Out: Baltimore Sun: This year, policy debate leagues across the country are using a resolution that the U.S. government should substantially increase AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America and/or the armed forces
This year, policy debate leagues across the country are using a resolution that the U.S. government should substantially increase AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America and/or the armed forces
Experienced teams have varsity members who can teach and act as role models for the newcomers, he said. 'When it's the first year, they are like deer in the headlights,' Bratt said. The key, he said, is to 'get students to the first tournament and see who is motivated.' After that, they understand how it works and whether or not they like it, he said, so it's easier to teach.
This year, policy debate leagues across the country are using a resolution that the U.S. government should substantially increase AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America and/or the armed forces
Debate a winner at high schools
Baltimore Sun
By Sandy Alexander
December 10, 2006
Kevin Li was ready for passionate arguments and contentious opponents when he joined Centennial High School's new debate team, but he says he was not really prepared for the filing.
'I thought it was going to be: 'These are my beliefs and I am going to defend them,'' said Li, a sophomore. 'It's definitely more analytical. Everything has to be backed up, everything has to be proved and supported.'
That means many hours reading and organizing hundreds of pages of support - including academic studies and government reports - so that they can be used at a moment's notice.
[Excerpt]
This year, policy debate leagues across the country are using a resolution that the U.S. government should substantially increase AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, Senior Corps, Peace Corps, Learn and Serve America and/or the armed forces.
Depending on the round, the two-person teams have to be prepared to argue an affirmative or negative position, cross-examine their opponents, offer concrete disadvantages to the other team's plan and make rebuttals to their opponents' criticisms.
Students have to be intimately familiar with their prepared arguments and the contents of their piles of evidence, said Christina Lee, president of the Glenelg team. And that means hours of reading, highlighting and labeling.
'When I started doing this, I didn't realize how much work goes into preparing for a tournament,' Lee said. 'But it really paid off. By the end of the third round, I was really getting into it. ... I like getting my voice heard - and my opinions.'
Eric McCullin, a Reservoir High School sophomore, agreed that knowing the ropes is important. But so is thinking on your feet so you can pull out the right arguments and evidence, he said.
'One of the biggest things is to keep open ears and an open mind,' he said.
Bratt, who previously coached a debate program at Catholic University and started a high school summer debate institute there, has been working with the county's coordinator of English departments to bring the activity to Howard schools.
The challenge, he said, is building an infrastructure.
Experienced teams have varsity members who can teach and act as role models for the newcomers, he said. 'When it's the first year, they are like deer in the headlights,' Bratt said.
The key, he said, is to 'get students to the first tournament and see who is motivated.' After that, they understand how it works and whether or not they like it, he said, so it's easier to teach.
But even getting to the first tournament is difficult without knowledgeable coaches, making Bratt's role a key one.
'This is all new to me,' said Lisa Mariner, an English teacher and debate coach at Reservoir High School. 'The first time I watched [a debate round] I was really confused.'
Now, she said, she is learning the rules and terms along with her students and is excited to see the program gaining momentum.
It is also hard for a team to build its research from scratch. As a coach and through the Capitol Debate Web site, Bratt connects the novice teams with a pool of research largely compiled at debate institutes across the country.
That allows novices to go to a few tournaments and learn the ropes before they start doing their own research, he said.
Centennial English teacher and debate coach Judy Ryan said she has been impressed with students willing to put in the time and mental energy.
Because they have challenging course loads, 'you'd think they'd get enough of that,' she said.
And, she said, it is a great opportunity for students to have a competitive experience using academic skills, not just athletic ones.
sandy.alexander@baltsun.com
Copyright © 2006 Baltimore Sun, All Rights Reserved.
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Headlines: December, 2006; Expansion; Speaking Out
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Story Source: Baltimore Sun
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Debate; Expansion; Speaking Out
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