Debate Syllabus

Bob Speirs

Debate

rspeirs@spearfish.k12.sd.us

(605) 717-1212 (W)

Course/Program Description

Debate is an elective that also serves as a replacement course for speech.

Debate is a performance course developing research, critical thinking, and speaking skills. Students will focus on debate as practiced as a competitive event within the South Dakota Activities Association and as Conducted under the National Forensic League guidelines and rules. Student numbers in each class will dictate additional areas of speech development also using competitive guidelines.

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Materials/Textbook Information

Current events research materials and debate handouts.

Course Requirements/Objectives

The Student will research, analyze, develop, and orally defend debate arguments as well and listen to, analyze, and critic, opposing positions.

Analyzing the arguments of differing positions, students will develop the critical thinking skills needed to select a superior course of action given two alternatives and defend their decisions in writing.

While researching and searching for evidence students will develop the skills to differentiate between superior and inferior forms of evidence.

Student Performance Objectives and Course Requirements

Each student will debate as a team member and as a solo debater.

Students will prepare written debate briefs.

Students will judge debates and submit written briefs and debate notes to support their ballots.

Class Procedures and Rules

Discipline and attendance issues will

Follow the student handbook

Laptop and Internet Procedures

As per student handbook

Homework Procedures

Late work may be reduced in value by one letter grade.

Assessment Plan

Student assessment will be based on written and oral debate performances as well as ballots and a course final.

Extra credit is allowed until midterm of each semester. No extra credit will be granted after midterm of each nine week period.

Letter grades for the course are determined by the school wide-grading scale outlined below:

96-100 A

92-95 A-

B+

86-88 B

83-85 B-

79-82 C+

76-78 C

73-75 C-

69-72 D+

65-68 D

60-64 D-

How is your grade determined?

Grade Rounding Policy:

Grades will be rounded based on a combination of attendance and extra credit if such rounding will improve the students’ grade on the school districts’ grading scale.