Competitive Debate [HOTS]
Research. Collaboration. Public Speaking. Logical Reasoning.
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Children often learn the art of research, persuasion, and presentation by crafting, revising, and debating arguments about real-world problems. These critical skills are invaluable both in and out of a debate round. For example, honing public speaking skills can help a child to deliver a round-winning speech, or give a flawless school presentation. Debaters are also conventionally known to excel in business, law, and politics, but the communication and research skills they learn from rigorously investigating each topic are boons to work in STEM as well. And best of all, debate is fun: it combines learning with a competitive game format, fosters collaboration and lifelong friendships.
Aaraj, the founder of LFS debate, initiaited this program in 2019-20 with the aim of providing quality debate mentoring especially to students unable to avail this opportunity at their base schools. His semester long sessions build a strong foundation for aspiring students. For students who are unsure about debate, but interested in current events and effecting change in their community, the advocacy skills he teaches- will certainly prove to be very beneficial. Be it Public Forum, Policy, or Parliamentary/Middle School debate, your child will walk out confident and ready!
Aaraj competed in both high school and college debate on the national circuit for a combined total of seven years, and championed numerous prestigious tournaments including the 2019 Pennsbury Falcon Invitational, the 2018 Virginia State Championship, and the 2018 Washington-Arlington (WACFL) Metrofinals. To read more about Aaraj's debate journey, including a record of his national accolades, click here: http://mylearningfun.com/about-us.html.
Drawing on his own time in debate, Aaraj is experienced in coaching young debaters of various skill levels. Since graduating in 2019, Aaraj has continued to mentor TJHSST's Varsity Policy Debate teams. These teams have reached elimination rounds at multiple national debate tournaments including the Georgetown Day School Invitational in both 2019 and 2020, the New York Fall Invitational in both 2019 and 2020, and the Annual Harvard Forensics Tournament in 2020.
In winter of 2020, Aaraj also began coaching Rachel Carson Middle School's Parliamentary Debate teams. Preparing weekly lessons, editing cases, and running practice rounds, Aaraj led the RCMS team to repeated success on two competitive circuits. At the 2020 Nation's Capital Debate League Tournament, RCMS teams swept 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place. And at the 2021 New York Debate League Championship, Aaraj's students both broke to elimination rounds and won high speaker awards.
Topics & Highlights:
In addition, they have also been exposed to salient topics including, but not limited to:
Each semester, for the final wrap-up debate round, Aaraj invites a guest judge, a subject matter expert, in the related field. His students have the privilege of interacting with an esteemed federal district judge, a research analyst in economics, a law student and many more, thus gaining unique perspectives.
The young debaters find LFS debate engaging and rigorous -- in fact, many of them have expressed a newfound interest in pursuing careers in law and public policy!
Children often learn the art of research, persuasion, and presentation by crafting, revising, and debating arguments about real-world problems. These critical skills are invaluable both in and out of a debate round. For example, honing public speaking skills can help a child to deliver a round-winning speech, or give a flawless school presentation. Debaters are also conventionally known to excel in business, law, and politics, but the communication and research skills they learn from rigorously investigating each topic are boons to work in STEM as well. And best of all, debate is fun: it combines learning with a competitive game format, fosters collaboration and lifelong friendships.
Aaraj, the founder of LFS debate, initiaited this program in 2019-20 with the aim of providing quality debate mentoring especially to students unable to avail this opportunity at their base schools. His semester long sessions build a strong foundation for aspiring students. For students who are unsure about debate, but interested in current events and effecting change in their community, the advocacy skills he teaches- will certainly prove to be very beneficial. Be it Public Forum, Policy, or Parliamentary/Middle School debate, your child will walk out confident and ready!
Aaraj competed in both high school and college debate on the national circuit for a combined total of seven years, and championed numerous prestigious tournaments including the 2019 Pennsbury Falcon Invitational, the 2018 Virginia State Championship, and the 2018 Washington-Arlington (WACFL) Metrofinals. To read more about Aaraj's debate journey, including a record of his national accolades, click here: http://mylearningfun.com/about-us.html.
Drawing on his own time in debate, Aaraj is experienced in coaching young debaters of various skill levels. Since graduating in 2019, Aaraj has continued to mentor TJHSST's Varsity Policy Debate teams. These teams have reached elimination rounds at multiple national debate tournaments including the Georgetown Day School Invitational in both 2019 and 2020, the New York Fall Invitational in both 2019 and 2020, and the Annual Harvard Forensics Tournament in 2020.
In winter of 2020, Aaraj also began coaching Rachel Carson Middle School's Parliamentary Debate teams. Preparing weekly lessons, editing cases, and running practice rounds, Aaraj led the RCMS team to repeated success on two competitive circuits. At the 2020 Nation's Capital Debate League Tournament, RCMS teams swept 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place. And at the 2021 New York Debate League Championship, Aaraj's students both broke to elimination rounds and won high speaker awards.
Topics & Highlights:
- Summer 2020 - Resolved: The Electoral College ought to be replaced by a direct national popular vote.
- Fall 2020 - Resolved: On balance, standardized testing is beneficial to K-12 education in the United States.
- Spring 2021 - Resolved: In the United States, students should be guaranteed four years of free tuition to a publicly-funded college.
- Fall 2021- Resolved: The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income.
- Spring 2022- Resolved: The United States should increase its use of nuclear energy for commercial energy production.
In addition, they have also been exposed to salient topics including, but not limited to:
- Direct vs. representative democracy
- Checks and balances
- Gerrymandering and redistricting
- Constitutionality
- Zip code inequality
- Federal education funding
Each semester, for the final wrap-up debate round, Aaraj invites a guest judge, a subject matter expert, in the related field. His students have the privilege of interacting with an esteemed federal district judge, a research analyst in economics, a law student and many more, thus gaining unique perspectives.
The young debaters find LFS debate engaging and rigorous -- in fact, many of them have expressed a newfound interest in pursuing careers in law and public policy!
Program offered to Grades: Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Program Location: Virtual Live
Program Location: Virtual Live