BARBERS HILL HIGH SCHOOL
ELECTIVE COURSES
2007 - 2008

Debate

Debate 1
Debate 2
Debate 3
Debate 4 - Independent Study

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Counseling Center
Barbers Hill HS
Barbers Hill ISD

DEBATE 1 (DEBATE 1)
GRADE LEVEL: 9 (10-12 must be instructor approved)
One Year  
Prerequisites:  An 80 overall grade in all courses.  Concurrent enrollment in AA English I/AP/GT OR Teacher/Counselor recommendation.

Debate 1 is an introductory class to competitive, academic debate.  Course includes instruction in value and policy oriented debate with emphasis on basic debate and argument theory, strategies, and techniques including research, organization, listening, thinking, speaking, and argument construction.  Students are required to attend at least six after-school practices each semester, attend one weekend debate tournament per semester, and maintain an 80 average in the course.  Not meeting requirements may result in student withdrawal at earliest possible convenience.

DEBATE 2 (DEBATE 2)
GRADE LEVEL: 10
One Year
Prerequisites:  Debate 1.  An 80 overall grade average in all courses; concurrent enrollment in AA English II/AP/GT OR Teacher/Counselor recommendation.

Debate 2 emphasizes advanced debate and argument theory, strategies, standards, and techniques including specific issues in either value or policy debate.  Students must choose a specific area of study in either cross-examination format (policy) or Lincoln-Douglas format (value) debate.  Emphasis is placed upon critical thinking, writing and structuring arguments and briefs.  Students are required to attend at least twelve after-school practices each semester, attend a minimum of two weekend debate tournaments per semester, and maintain an 80 average in the course.  Not meeting requirements may result in student withdrawal at earliest possible convenience.  [top]

DEBATE 3 (DEBATE 3)
GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
One Year
Prerequisites:  Debate 2.  80 overall grade average in all courses; concurrent enrollment in AA English III/AP/GT OR Teacher/Counselor recommendation.

Debate 3 emphasizes argument analysis, adjudication theory including various judging paradigms including adaptation to different paradigms and adjudicators, research, writing and structuring cases, arguments, and briefs.  Students are exposed to tournament theory and administration with actual experience.  Students are required to stay after school for three hours one day per week,  attend a minimum of four weekend debate tournaments per semester (8 per year), and maintain an 80 average in the course. Students also participate in cooperative teaching of younger peers; this may include:  lecturing, testing, and leading discussions and after-school practices for Debate 1 students.  Not meeting requirements may result in student withdrawal at earliest possible convenience.  [top]

DEBATE 4 - INDEPENDENT STUDY (DEBATE 4)
GRADE LEVEL: 12
One Year
Prerequisite:  Debate 3.  Must maintain an 80 to remain in the class.

Independent Study Debate 4 emphasizes independent research on policy debate topics and issues that require construction of arguments, cases, and briefs.  Creativity is encouraged not only in argument development but also theory development.  Students have work with tournament theory and administration including actual tournament administration.  Students also have work on judging debates and arguments including oral and written critiques.  Students are required to stay after school for three hours one day per week, attend a minimum of four weekend debater tournaments per semester (8 per year), and maintain an 80 average in the course.  Not meeting requirements may result in student withdrawal at the earliest possible convenience.  [top]
 

Spring 2007, Barbers Hill High School, POB 1108, 9696 Eagle Drive, Mont Belvieu, TX  77580    (281) 576-2221