Summer Academic Enrichment Eligible Programs

Goals

Most debate competitors from well-resourced suburban and private schools are expected to attend debate camp, where they can build skills and knowledge over the summer that will allow them to take a running start to the upcoming season. We designed the Minnesota Debate & Advocacy Workshop as a low-cost, high-quality alternative for students who want a rigorous but fun camp experience in the Midwest. Our goals revolve around community-building, skill-building, and forging connections between high school students and mentors in the area.

Participants in this camp will become successful in Public Forum Debate. Students will:

- Learn the fundamentals of the Public Forum Debate activity, including building cases, cross-examination, responding to arguments, and learning how to respond to multiple angles of an issue. - Be exposed to sample public forum debate topics and have the opportunity to craft cases in response. Independently build cases in response to the contemporary issues they are most passionate about. - Choose a partner and learn strategies for working together effectively.

These skills are core to success in Public Forum Debate, but also remain useful in the classroom and as students pursue leadership positions in their own communities. Students will learn not just how to win debates, but also how to adapt while incorporating feedback, work closely with a partner, use evidence to support a case for policy change, and weigh the potential impacts of policy action for various interests.

These skills and content knowledge directly translate to essay writing and analysis in social studies courses. Public speaking, argumentative writing, and deep reading of non-fiction texts prepares students for success in their English coursework and Advanced Placement/IB courses.

Activities

The core principle of MDAW is that debate is best learned by doing. Students will have a practice debate almost every day at camp. MDAW is where we learn new arguments, research new topics, and try-on new ideas.

In Public Forum Debate, students must respond to a new topic each month and build affirmative (pro side) and negative (con side) cases about each area. For example, the current Public Forum Debate February topics are: “Resolved: On balance, Turkey’s membership is beneficial to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.” and “Resolved: In the United States, the benefits of increasing organic agriculture outweigh the harms.” Students must learn fundamental knowledge about international relations and domestic political structures to prepare for the changing topic each season. Our experienced Public Forum coach, Deserea Niemann, will help students become flexible and knowledgeable in approaching topics through individual, large-group, and small-group discussions. Debate games and drills will help students gain fluency as public speakers, while dedicated reading and research time will help students gain the content knowledge they need to succeed in this dynamic activity.

While much of the day will be spent undertaking rigorous study and skill-building in debate, students will have intentional time for building relationships with others through free time and fun debate games. In-person campers will have the opportunity to take breaks to do fun activities like roasting s’mores, tie-dyeing T shirts, making craft projects, or simply playing frisbee on Augsburg University’s lawn.

The final day of camp will culminate in a Public Forum Debate tournament, where students will present the strongest cases they created over the course of camp. Students will gain feedback from judges and receive awards for their work.

Program Dates

This camp lasts from 06/27/2022 - 07/01/2022 M - F, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Can students reside on campus? No

Can students commute to campus? Yes

Can students take online classes? Yes