<p>I want to start a debate club in my school next year. I like to argue, like a lot and I was wondering how to start. I guess they had one a couple of years ago but now it's gone. Any one else started a club? How did you do it?</p>
<p>I haven’t yet but I also plan to start a club next year, French club. I don’t know if this goes for all schools but at mine we have a form to submit to the school board about our intentions…</p>
<p>Sent from my Vortex using CC App</p>
<p>Most likely go to your school’s ASB; if your school does not have an ASB, I suggest contacting the administrators. So, you like debates? Then can you tell me why you want to start a debate club? I really see no other point than to look good for college.</p>
<p>What’s an ASB? I don’t get the acronym. And I just love to argue. In my health class we had a debate on legalizing a certain drug and it was the best. I could care less if it was about college. I just like to argue and win. I’m very competitive and making someone be quiet after a very good point is like me using said drug.</p>
<p>ASB is Assistant Student Body (so the student government) Secondly, I totally feel you. I love debating myself. However, I see making a club dedicated to debating counter productive. If you really want to debate, go up to your teachers and suggest a more “interactive” curriculum, where students have more time for discussions (I don’t mean chatting, but you know debates). Why I find it counter productive is that students have to go out of their own way and go to a meeting place during lunch or after school. Whereas, in a classroom, the students are conveniently placed right there. And it promotes critical thinking, an aspect that I find secondary education lacking. It just adds to the curriculum and does not take anything away from it.</p>
<p>Just to warn you, if you’re gonna do LD style formal debate, it’s not like what you’d expect. It’s not just arguing, but a very methodical system. I didn’t join my school’s debate team for that reason.</p>
<p>My school’s speech and debate class/team emphasizes the “speech” part, so that is why I did not join</p>
<p>@David, I think it would be more debate than speech because speech would scare kids away.
@giants I would want it semi formal, everyone gets to speak, but not everyone speaking at once.</p>
<p>IDK how you guys do it at your school but at our school we have to go to the dean and get a petition of 15-20 signatures :D</p>
<p>You need an advisor, a group of people who are willing to join, and NFL manual to learn the ins-and-outs of debate.</p>
<p>So just to start I should ask around school, and see if any teachers want to supervise?</p>
<p>Any suggestions for finding an advisor?</p>
<p>I’d suggest finding a teacher, probably a social studies or english teacher, that knows you and would be interested in sponsoring the club.</p>
<p>I’m in my school’s debate club, and there are a two popular formats for you to choose from:
- Lincoln-Douglas: one-on-one, with speeches lasting from 3 minutes to 7. This style usually covers more philosophical topics. It’s the format I usually debate in. I like it because to do well, you have to actually prepare, and can’t just bs your way through.
- Public Forum: two-on-two, with speeches lasting from 2 to 4 minutes. This style almost always covers current events. It’s much more popular than LD, simply because it’s usually less work to prepare for.</p>
<p>For example past topics from these, and more info, look at [National</a> Forensic League, Speech & Debate Honor Society - topics](<a href=“http://www.nflonline.org/StudentResources/Topics]National”>http://www.nflonline.org/StudentResources/Topics)
My school competes in a local debate league that follows the NFL topics. If you find an advisor, and can generate enough interest, definitely consider finding a local league.</p>
<p>I talked to my counselor, she said I need a sponsor and principle approval</p>
<p>My english teacher was the sponsor, the principle approved.
Bingo</p>