Advocacy for Speech & Debate

You may be asking yourself, "Why Speech and Debate?"  or "What benefits will my student receive from participation in this activity?"  These are valid questions.  Below you will find a brief listing of articles that outline the benefits of participation in competitive forensics.  As you can see, the benefits are broad, ranging from educational to emotional.  A large body of research exists supporting these claims.  

Through participation in Speech & Debate, your student will learn critical thinking, communication skills,  advanced research methods, problem solving techniques,and time management, all while exploring a vast array topics from government to philosophy.  Don't take our word on it, though - listen to the experts!  If you need more support, feel free to visit the advocacy page of the National Speech & Debate Association, where the below articles, and many more, can be found.

Competitive Forensics and Standardized Test Scores — This research documents the connection between forensics participation and quantifiable gains in writing and literacy.

Forensics and College Admissions — Yale University professor Minh A. Luong presents data which support the importance of forensics in the college admission and scholarship awarding processes.

The Benefits of Forensics to Community, Parents and Society — This piece discusses the importance of forensics on a broad level, covering such topics as emotional maturity, community engagement, political participation, productivity, and quality of life.

If those aren't enough, you can read many more articles about the value of debate HERE.