<p>I am interested in politics and foriegn relations. What would be some good organizations to start in my school? </p>
<p>What about any programs or organizations/clubs/associations that is very good for someone who is interested in politics and foreign relations -- especially Mid East and Asian foreign politics.</p>
<p>I am mainly a republican, so maybe there are any republican based groups?</p>
<p>Any ideas?</p>
<p>EDIT: I also like to write, like editorials.</p>
<p>Does your school have Model UN?</p>
<p>Boy scouts worked best for one of my friends.</p>
<p>Join JSA - non-stop political debate.</p>
<p>oh man, JSA is so awesome. I love going to the conventions. You should really start the club. It's an nationwide club, where you can open up chapters in your own school. It stands for Junior State of America, and it involves every aspect of political debating. It sponsors conventions: Fall State, Winter Congress, and Spring State-- where members of the club can go and see the people who volunteered to debate. Now, it isn't back and forth debating, like you would think. Rather, one side presents, a question forum is brought up, then the next side presents, and questions are brought up again. It's really fun and really interesting for those who want to get into politics</p>
<p>Policy Debate is a lot about politics, and it's really fun and competitive. It's just like a sport except you use your mind. In policy debate, there are many disadvantages that regard politics. In fact, there is a disadvantage called a "politics" disadvantage.</p>
<p>I like JSA, I spent some time on thier site this past week, I am definately interested in thier summer program. :D</p>
<p>ABout thier club/chapter, it is on my list.</p>
<p>About MUN, we do not have such a thing. My gifted teacher mentioned to our class about Mock Trial, but not MUN. Does anyone know what are some steps I can go through to get one started?</p>
<p>Mock Trial, MUN, bleh. They're all the same. My former debate partner did MUN and JSA, and I myself has tried Mock Trial. Not to be offensive, and this may be different according to your state/school...but they're boring. :) Debate - Parliamentary or Policy - are both much much more intense. Mock Trial basically consists of memorizing speeches and presenting them as evidence - and does require a lot of logic/thought/whatever, but only for about the first week or so in getting the speech up, and then intermittent periods after that of editting. Other than that, in the actual 'mock trial' all you do is sit, give your speech, and sit some more. It is really boring. Just reciting speeches - not fun.</p>
<p>MUN is also more of a social/diplomatic activity. It is good because it also emphasizes the people relations of politics, but sometimes that goes too far. Essentially, unless your school is well-founded (has a good reputation for MUN) and you can get on the Security Council or whatnot, it'll be very boring, and less debate/politics than plain out...scheming. As in, I'll support your person's bill if you support mine, and you shy away from the people who have the good reps, or because they have good reps, they win. While I won't say this isn't a part of politics (it is), it is less...intellectual. </p>
<p>JSA...speaking for the LA chapter (and this is second hand) it was more of a rich kids play around and...yes, its not actual debate. Its more of a forum, which is good, but it way less intense and challenging than debate. </p>
<p>Debate is much more intense. I've had former debate partners that participated in all these events; my recent one founded the college MUN team at UCI and won awards at Berkeley tournament and had a chance to go to Harvard Nationals but was too sick to travel. She also won the Outstanding Delegate award at the Berkeley tournament (considered by some MUN people to be more competitive than the actual national tournament) in high school. She emphasized the social relations of MUN, but especially on the high school level (college is a whole different ball game), and unless you get into the more competitive, serious organizations (i.e. Security Council - keep in mind, when you go to tournaments, you get assigned positions so if you have no rep, you'll end up with something like...luxemborg or kajikistan) people will not take it seriously. </p>
<p>Debate is much more focused on the actual argumentation, logic, and politics. Its much more intense (and therefore a lot harder and more tiring) but definitely worthwhile.</p>
<p>so what you are proposing ebonytear is simply just a debate team? A simple, regular debate team not associated with any other national organization?</p>
<p>Please be more specific on how to start it and how it works. How is it different then the Lincoln Douglas thing I hear about?</p>
<p>debate will be associated with the National Forensics League and your local subcharter/league. If your are into politics then you should do policy debate because that has the most to do with politics and as ebonytear stated, it is very intense but very fun and reward. It may be kind of hard to start a policy debate team as opposed to other types of debate, since policy debate is so evidence based. basically since your team will be new, your team won't have the same resources as other well developed teams.</p>
<p>what region are you in? state? area? </p>
<p>if you want to do policy debate, the best thing to do is go to a debate camp this summer.</p>
<p>If you REALLY want to do some political, volunteer for a political campaign or for a local city official. That is the real world. And you will learn, have fun, meet influential people and see how politics are really done.</p>
<p>My D volunteers at our City Hall. And we have all volunteered on a number of campaigns. Talk about connections!!!</p>
<p>Junior Statesmen</p>
<p>Youth& Government - YMCA sponsored</p>
<p>Young Republicans ( for you)</p>
<p>if you don't have a Young Republicans or Junior Statesmen in your area you can start one and be the president.</p>
<p>Youth& Government should be near your YMCA. ask about it.</p>
<p>ebony, if debate is so intense, why dont you just start a JSA, use their resources, and the other goodies, and make debate activities which are just as intense? What would be the difference?</p>
<p>hey, that was a suggestion. you seem to be less 'wanting opinions' and more 'defensive' of stuff. JSA, what resources? There are ample resources in debate, you have to understand that there is a league for NFL everywhere. JSA is the same thing, you're going to be starting a completely new chapter. There will be the same amount of 'resources' for JSA as there will be for debate.</p>
<p>The format of JSA is way less intense. I think you have to do more research to understand the difference. They have a synopsium - basically there are a bunch of people, there is a topic selected, there is a pro speech, a neg speech, and then discussion in-between. </p>
<p>"Now, it isn't back and forth debating, like you would think. Rather, one side presents, a question forum is brought up, then the next side presents, and questions are brought up again."</p>
<p>Only the people who are speaking are put on the spotlight; and they don't even have to defend their views later on with other speeches. Debate, on the other hand is a team-on-team activity, and for LD, one on one - basically you must not only present your points, but defend them well. There is no random discussion, you are solely responsible for your team, and must participate. Participating in a JSA forum does not mean you have to say anything, if anything, the sheer amount of people may limit you, as an unknown and newcomer, to the role of a mere spectator - </p>
<p>"It sponsors conventions: Fall State, Winter Congress, and Spring State-- where members of the club can go and see the people who volunteered to debate."</p>
<p>Note that you go to see people who volunteered to debate - you don't debate yourself. And I doubt that they will let you 'volunteer' as a newcomer.</p>
<p>Debate, however, no matter how much of a newbie you are, you participate in all debates. You will always have a judge, and always have an opposition. It requires more active participation, more active research - and once again, what are the resources that JSA offers that are so much better than debate? There is nothing. JSA is a tempered-down version of debate, and really, Student Congress. </p>
<p>The difference is that you probably will only speak a few times in a JSA conference, much less if you are a newcomer, and will not have to be called to defend your views in terms of logic, argumentation, or persuasion. On the other hand, for debate, you are constantly put on the spot light. You give a number of speeches (2 for parli) each round and must not only present your view but defend it. Also, the teamwork required is much more intense; with so many people in JSA, you don't really get to know how to work intimately with another person, its like of filling in the gap and going with the flow. With debate, you're with ONE other person, and have to adapt to them and get to know them really well, in debate, and outside.</p>
<p>The JSA format is not conducive the intense debate of forensics. This is my opinion and my analysis, and is not meant for you to attack it. This is not a debate over which activity is better, maybe I was a bit aggressive, but I'm simply offering my experience and opinion. You may be enthralled with JSA, indeed, I was the first time I looked it up, and I applied and was accepted to the Summer School, but I ultimately decided not to go 1) in terms of finances and 2) because the experience offered just couldn't match up with semi-debate camp I could be going to. It may sound good on paper, but through experience, its not that great.</p>
<p>Also, don't be so aggressive if you're asking for help. I'm very much less inclined to help you later on. </p>
<p>"so what you are proposing ebonytear is simply just a debate team? A simple, regular debate team not associated with any other national organization?"</p>
<p>NFL. National Forensics League. There are numerous national organizations associated with debate, especially in college, there are at least four: NPDA, APDA, forgot what the policy one is, and Worlds. For high school, you open up a chapter under the umbrella of the NFL, and then your own regional league - which actually means you get 'more' resources, because instead of having to contact/coordinate with this big national organization, you only have to contact the regional league in your area. If anything, there will be 'more' resources.</p>
<p>lol, ebony, relax, I am not being defensive... you seem to be defensive. But overall, you made a good explanation there which is what I needed. I personally didn't understand what just 'debate' meant. Now you meantion the National Forensics League and I am beginning to understand more of what you mean. </p>
<p>What I am basically picking up is that JSA chapters are more of a forum, and NFL is pure debate (which is what I like too). </p>
<p>Would it make sense to start both? NFL being first? </p>
<p>Have you ever started an NFL chapter? Does the president/founder get to chose the topics... I am a bit confused, do you know how I can find out the details?</p>
<p>Also.... do you know any good debate camps that start around August 10th or so? Im going on vacation until then however I think that it would be ebst if I can get experience in debate before I actually start a club for it. </p>
<p>Anyways, yes, I appreciate the ideas, I just get confused a bit and need more explanation...</p>
<p>I was just hooked to JSA because of its summer program which I do want to join maybe when I am a rising Junior so I can take Political Philosophy or Foreign Politics.</p>
<p>Foreign Policy.</p>
<p>Your language was very...well, defensive. And of course, how else would I react? </p>
<p>if debate is so intense, why dont you just start a JSA, use their resources, and the other goodies, and make debate activities which are just as intense?</p>
<p>you use a qualifer - "if debate is so intense," suggesting you do not feel that way and want me to prove it, basically implies that you are already partial to the other side. "why dont you just start a JSA" this language is rude, " why not just start a JSA" is much more polite and PC. </p>
<p>Also.... do you know any good debate camps that start around August 10th or so? Im going on vacation until then however I think that it would be ebst if I can get experience in debate before I actually start a club for it.</p>
<p>most are already filled. I do college debate, so I wouldn't be able to help you with hs camps. </p>
<p>Would it make sense to start both? NFL being first? </p>
<p>I'd devote my time to one first and try to get that up and running. There is a lot of fundraising required to go to tournaments.</p>
<p>Have you ever started an NFL chapter? Does the president/founder get to chose the topics... I am a bit confused, do you know how I can find out the details?</p>
<p>No. You go to debate competitions/tournaments, where the other schools/universities that run them choose the topics. You don't debate in the club, or in the classroom, you essentially go to other universities/high schools to compete with other high school teams and you debate against them on topics ordained by the coaches of the team hosting the tournament. </p>
<p>Lol, you'd need to talk to someone from NFL. I think young_one is. I do NPDA, so could only help you there, and for that, you'd need to join a JC team.</p>
<p>I hear college is better then HS? Is there any requirements for me to join a local college NFL or debate team?</p>
<p>Well, you'd have to talk to your local community college about getting on the team. Some require try-outs, some do not. You also have to attend at least one class at the college, depending on its policies. I'd definitely check it out.</p>
<p>ok, well then what would be the best way to gain experience? Or to learn? Read a book? :-/</p>
<p>Would to actually participate in a debate. Check out the local college. Also talk to the league in your region. Maybe you can hop on with another high school next year and then start your own the year after that.</p>
<p>Be creative. :)</p>