Policy Debate

Policy debate is a wonderful experience. To start off with, I’ve found it to be an incredibly fun event. After I participated in it for nearly 2 years, I’m always excited more than ever for the next round or the next tournament. It’s hard to explain, but the excitement I get when I get into an elimination round, or the chance to debate about something that adults don’t even know about is just pure bliss. It may not seem that way, and I understand how you feel. When I was offered to participate in a format of debate where each round is 1.5 hours long about some random policy that the government should enact, I readily refused. But if you’re someone who enjoys learning about current events and arguing with others about them, I assure you that you’ll quickly start enjoying it.

Debate also teaches tons about the topic. In policy debate, we spend one entire year on each topic. At each year’s end, I'm pretty sure that I know enough to write a thesis on it. In addition to topic education, policy debaters are educated about governmental structures, politics, important issues like warming, and whatever else debaters might start debating about as a result of the topic. This vast knowledge taught by debate will make you seem smarter. You’ll be able to best your parents. It can allow you to make better decisions as a voter, an advocate, or maybe even a politician.

Debate doesn’t just teach you more about this world, it provides many skills. You’ll be great at research after a few years of debate because it depends on researching new arguments to read and finding more evidence to support your arguments or answer your opponents’ arguments. This can come up useful in school or work.

It also teaches critical thinking. Due to the length and complexity of each debate, each speech is always new, and there will always be times when you have to come up with analytical arguments on the spot. This kind of critical thinking can be hugely beneficial in making decisions.

Finally, it improves your persuasion skills. I started as somewhat of a shy kid, but after just 2 years of debate, I’m bold and eloquent. Some famous and outspoken people came from a background of policy debate (according to Wikipedia) like Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, and Brad Pitt.

- Devin Lai

Class 1: Introduction

Class 2: Basic Skills

Class 3: Disadvantages

Class 4: Research

Class 5: Criminal Justice Reform

Class 6: Practice Debate

Class 7: Topicality

Class 8: Counterplans

Class 9: Tournament!

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