Novice Program
For students who are new or have little experience with Lincoln-Douglas debate (LD), the novice curriculum is based on introducing the concept of a formal debate round and teaching fundamental LD mechanics and procedures. This involves instruction on the format of LD, the general procedure to deliver speeches, and the method of argumentation used in debate. Afterwards, students will apply this concept by going through the process of researching, writing cases, and blocking arguments. Students will then apply skills in actual debate rounds moderated by staff members who will give advice both in rounds, or written ballots, and informally during the rest of camp.
To complement this education in formalized debate, students will learn a wide range of general knowledge that is crucial to becoming an effective debater. This includes a background in American history, international politics, and political philosophy. Novice students who attend PDI learn about the contemporary political debates in society and how to appropriately integrate knowledge of social studies into both extracurricular debate and inside the classroom.
Past novice lectures have included How to Make an Argument, Introduction to Philosophy in LD, and Cross-Examination.
In addition, novice students in the past have had nearly 20 hours of one-on-one time to work with instructors on writing cases and researching. Students also have ample opportunities to see demonstration debate rounds, practice flowing, and receive guidance from more experienced debaters.