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In this Edition!
CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Event Name
NYC Tournament #6
Summer Debate Camps
Undisputed College Champions
Debate Rap Video
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Volunteers Needed!
Summer Debate Camp
NYC Debate Centers
Debate Curriculum
Sign Up Now!
Debate Calendars
2013-2014 Topic
Bronx Grant
Join Our Mailing List
2012-2013 NYC LOCAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
 
Below is our schedule of local NYC debates that we host. All grade levels - Elementary School, Middle School, and High School divisions. Everything is free (registration, breakfast, lunch). Debaters should arrive 9:00am, registration closes at 9:30am. 

9/15 - Mini Debate Camp 

10/13 - Tournament #1 

11/10 - Tournament #2 (Institute for Collaborative Education). 

12/1 - Tournament #3
Park Slope Collegiate HS, John Jay Campus. 
Click here for invitation
Click here for Park Slope HS information.

1/5 - Tournament #4 (Brooklyn Tech)
Click here for invitation
Click here for Brooklyn Tech information.

2/21 - Tournament #5 - 
Click here for invitation
Click here for Institute for Collaborative Education information

3/9-3/10 - New York State Championships

4/6 - All City Debate Championships!
Click here  for registration!

May (TBA) - End of the Year Awards Ceremony & Banquet!
 
7/29-8/10 - New York Debate Institute
Click here for brochure
Click here for application

Trophies
Yale 2012 Tournament
 
2012-2013 
NYC TRAVEL TEAM TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
 
Schools interested in travel to out of state debate tournaments each month can join our Travel Pool program. All travel and housing provided by the NYC Debate League and member schools! Contact [email protected] for more information.

9/21- 9/23 - Yale University  
Click here for invitation.
 
10/5-10/6 - Monticello

11/2-11/3 - Vassar College

12/7-12/8 - Ridge Debate Invitational (New Jersey)
Click here for invitation

1/18-1/21 - Big Lexington Invitational (Boston)
Click here for invitation

 

2/1-2/2 - Newark Debate Invitational (New Jersey)
Click here for invitation

2/15-2/18 -  
Click here for invitation

3/1-3/2 - Lakeland Invitational (New York)
Click here for invitation
 
Georgetown Tournament 2012
Georgetown University 
2012 Tournament
 
2012-2013 
VARSITY NATIONAL CIRCUIT TRAVEL TEAM TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
 
For our top teams in the Travel Program that qualify for the Tournament of Champions, we support to travel to the nation's top tournaments. Contact [email protected] for more information.
 
9/28-9/30 - Georgetown University Invitational  Click here for logistics.
 

10/19-10/21 - New York City Invitational

Click here for more information. 

 

11/2-11/3 -  University of Michigan Invitational 


12/1-12/3 - Scranton Invitational & Round Robin



3/22-3/24 - Novice & Junior Varsity National Championships at Woodward HS, Georgia




5/24-5/26 -
(Philadelphia)

(Birmingham, Alabama)
SHARE YOUR WORK!

Calling all debate students, parents, teachers, coaches, volunteers - if you would like to be featured in our next NYC Great Debaters Weekly Newsletter, please send any photos, articles, poetry - anything debate related to Erik Fogel, [email protected]. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work!

QUICK LINKS

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

We could not offer a debate league for all of New Yorkers without the generous support of so many!  And if interested in sponsoring a tournament, awards ceremony, debate trip.  Please contact us at [email protected]

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR GREAT DEBATERS!
 
Bickel & Brewer
Brown Rudnick
Celebration Law Review
Donors Choose
Fish & Richardson
Ford Foundation
Fried Frank
Generation On
Jenner & Block
McCarthy Dressman Foundation
MCU
National Association Urban Debate Leagues
NY General Contractors
NY Council for the Humanities
West Harlem Development Corporation
White House Youth Awards
Women Sports Foundation
YSA 
 
THANK YOU TO OUR INDIVIDUAL DONORS!

Eric Aboafe

Stefan Bauschard

David Budinger 

Caitlin Dean

Buskaret Family 

Fogel Family

Catherine Gardner

Victoria Henderson

David Hung

Demetrius Lambrinos

Marisa Perry

 

THANK YOU TO OUR COLLEGE PARTNERS! 

 

Baruch College

Columbia University

CUNY 

Hunter College

Institute for Urban and Minority Education

New York University

St. John's University

Teachers College

 

THANK YOU TO OUR IN KIND SUPPORTERS!

 

Bid Round Briefs

Champion Briefs

The Forensics Files

Foundation Briefs

PFD Debate

Planet Debate

Victory Briefs

West Coast Briefs

 

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS! 

 

Bella Azbug Leadership Institute

Boston Urban Debate League

Center on US-China Relations

Citizens Committee for New York

CUNY Debate Team

Dallas Urban Debate League

Dream Foundation

Good Shepherds

Harlem Children Zone

Harvard University

Harvard Alumni Association

Institute for Collaborative Education

International Debate and Education Association

Jewish Community Relations Council

KIPP Academy

Math for America

National Association of Urban Debate Leagues

National Forensics League

New Jersey Urban Debate League

New Visions

New York City Center for Charter Schools

New York City Department of Education

St. John's University Debate Team

Urban Assembly of Schools

Women's Sports Foundation

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SCHOOLS FOR HOSTING!

 

Achievement First High School

Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice

Brooklyn Tech High School

East Bronx Academy

Institute for Collaborative Education

John Jay High School

NYC iSchool

Simon Baruch

 

THE NEW YORK CITY
GREAT DEBATERS 
WEEKLY 
"Be Great! Be a Great Debater!"
New York City's Most Rigorous and 
Award Winning Academic Program!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
State Championships! City Championships! 
National Championships! High School Championships! Middle School Championships! College Championships!

Debate Awards
Greetings!

In our last edition we celebrated the incredible achievements of New York City's Great Debaters at the New York State Championships where our debaters swept nearly every division and every award!  This weekend we celebrate the New York City Debate Championships! 100 of the top debaters from across the city will compete for the title of City Champion!  While this will be our final NYC tournament of this school year - our top debaters will be competing at National Championship tournaments in Kentucky (Tournament of Champions), Alabama (National Forensics League Championships), Washington D.C. (National Urban Debate League Championships), Pennsylvania (National Catholic Forensics League Championships), and Tennessee (National Debate Coaches Association Championships)! And at the college level of the National Debate Tournament Championships and the CEDA National Championships, history was made by former urban debaters - and our alumni! 
 
And that's why we are New York's most rigorous academic program! You wont find more national champions!  You wont find more alumni national champions!  You wont find more awards and honors anywhere in New York!
 
So everyone is invited to our Saturday City Championships Tournament!  Send your rsvp to [email protected]!  We need judges! We need supporters!  And all our Great Debaters are invited!  Thank you to all of New York City for supporting the city's most award winning academic program!!!!!

BE GREAT! BE A GREAT DEBATER!
 
Sincerely,
Erik Fogel, Executive Director
The New York City Urban Debate League
Twitter: @nycdebateleague
Phone: 917-455-1079
Citizens Committee
CITY DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!
APRIL 6TH!

You are cordially invited to attend the New York City Debate Championships - the most competitive tournament in New York State!  Only the top two teams from every school are invited to compete!  Every school in New York City is invited to compete!  And as always - all our programs are free for all schools!  Click here for registration!  Contact [email protected] if interested in judging!  And come celebrate the achievements of our city's top debaters!
 
Tournament Registration: click here or http://goo.gl/wWDqR
 
Tournament Location: The Institute for Collaborative Education, 345 E. 15th Street, New York, New York
 
Tournament Times: Saturday, April 6th, Friday, 9am-6pm
 
Registration Costs: Free!

Tournament Meals: Free!

Tournament Admissions: Free!  Only requirement is to support our Great Debaters!

Public Forum Debate Schedule (estimated times!)
10:00am-10:30am - Round 1
11:00am-11:30am - Round 2
12:00pm-12:30pm - Round 3
12:30pm-1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm-2:00pm - Quarterfinals
2:30pm-3:00pm - Semifinals
3:30pm-4:30pm - Final Round & Awards Ceremony

High School Policy Debate Schedule (estimated times!)
10:00am-12:000m - Round 1
12:00pm- 2:00pm - Round 2
2:00pm - 3:00pm - Lunch
3:00pm-5:00pm - Round 3 (Final Round)
5:00pm-5:30pm - Awards Ceremony

Middle School Policy Debate Schedule (estimated times!)
10:00am-11:000am - Round 1
11:00am- 12:00pm - Round 2
12:00pm - 1:00pm - Lunch
1:00pm-2:00pm - Round 3
2:00pm -3:00pm - Final Round
3:30pm - 4:00pm - Awards Ceremony
Debate Con #3
 
MARCH 22ND!  
NO SPRING BREAK FOR DEBATE! DEBATE CON #3!!! 

While most NYC students headed off to Spring Break - not our Great Debaters!  Our debaters gathered for Debate Conference #3 at PS 278 in Washington Heights.  Thank you to all our guest speakers from the Committee on US-China Relations and the St. John's University Debate Team.  The evening was devoted to the study of the upcoming debate topic at City Championships as well as debate skills in research, evidence and rebuttals.  Thank you everyone for attending!
UDL #6
MARCH 16TH
NYC DEBATE TOURNAMENT #6!

Every month the New York City Debate League hosts a free tournament for all NYC students!  All grade levels! Record breaking attendance each tournament!  Everyone from the community invited!! Our high school policy debaters addressed the issue of transportation reform.  Our high school public forum debaters debated the issue of health care for all.  Our middle school debaters argued the issue of US- China Relations.

Thank you to all our judges, volunteers, teachers, parents, alumni and all our supporters for coming out on a Saturday and supporting all our Great Debaters!
NYCDI - NYC picture
 
THE SUMMER OF DEBATE!
APPLY NOW TO OUR FREE 
NEW YORK DEBATE INSTITUTES!....

The Manhattan Debate Institute (MDI)
The Brooklyn Debate Institute (BKDI)
The Queens Debate Institute (QDI)
The Bronx Debate Institute (BXDI)
The Harlem Debate Institute (HDI)
The Staten Island Debate Institute (SIDI)
 
The New York City Urban Debate League hosts the only free summer debate institutes in the state of New York!  We are also the only debate institute that serves all New Yorkers from across the state!  We offer an intense debate programs in each borough.  Breakfast and lunch are served.  Students are trained in all debate events including Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, public speaking, rhetoric, current events, political science and philosophy.  Our staff includes some of the top debate instructors and debaters in the nation.  Click here for a sample brochure from our Manhattan Debate Institute.  Click here  for our online application.  Click here for our application in Microsoft Word or here for our application as a PDF. Contact us at [email protected] for more information or call 917-455-1079.  You can email completed applications to us at [email protected] or mail them to Attn: Erik Fogel, 244 E. 163rd St., Bronx, New York 10451.  Or simply complete our application online! Thanks and see you this summer!

The Manhattan Debate Institute (MDI)
Location: Hunter College  695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065
 
Dates: July 29th - August 10th (2 weeks)
 
Times: 9:00am-2:30pm
 
Manhattan Summer Debate Tournament - August 10th (Saturday)

The Brooklyn Debate Institute (BKDI)
Location: Achievement First Charter School, Brooklyn, 1485 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216
 
Dates: August 19th - August 8/31 (2 weeks)
 
Brooklyn Summer Debate Tournament - August 31st (Saturday)
 
The Queens Debate Institute (QDI)
Location: TBA
 
Dates: August 26th - August 31st
 
Queens Summer Debate Tournament - August 31st (Saturday)
 
The Bronx Debate Institute (BXDI)!
Information Coming Soon!

The Harlem Debate Institute (HDI)!
Information Coming Soon!

The Staten Island Debate Institute (SIDI)!
Information Coming Soon!

EMPORIA
 
URBAN DEBATERS BECOME THE FIRST UNDISPUTED COLLEGE DEBATE CHAMPIONS IN HISTORY BY WINNING BOTH COLLEGE DEBATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS!!!

The Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) tournament is the largest college debate championship of the season and is typically called "The People's Tournament" due to its large size.

The National Debate Tournament (NDT) is the most prestigious tournament of the debate season where only the top 78 teams in the United States compete.

Elijah Smith and Ryan Wash of Emporia State University WON BOTH tournaments, making them the FIRST UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS OF COLLEGE DEBATE!! 

They are the SECOND all-Black team to ever win CEDA and the FIRST all- Black team to ever win the NDT.  For the CEDA National Championships they defeated our own NYC debate alumni team of Damiyr Davis and Miguel Feliciano of Beacon High School, who took second place in the entire country!  Damiyr and Miguel also reached the Quarterfinals of the NDT Championship!  At the NDT National Championships, Elijah & Ryan defeated Northwestern University!

"This debate typified a clash of civilizations in the pedagogical approach to competitive academic debate," Omar Guevara, the Weber State University director of forensics said.  On one hand, he said, ESU used a critical, philosophical approach, and on the other hand, Northwestern University used a traditional-policy approach to the debate route.  "So you had a clash of demographics and identity, you had a clash of institutions, and you had a clash of pedagogical styles," Guevara said. "It was truly a beautiful moment. And the debate was decided on a 3-2 decision, the most narrow of margins."


For additional articles about the historic tournament, click here.

The final round at NDT, which took more than two hours, can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.justin.tv/gtdebatestream/c/2102713.

 

CONGRATULATIONS FOR MAKING HISTORY!

INDIAN DEBATE RAP VIDEO










   
INDIAN DEBATE RAP VIDEO "TALK IT OUT" GOES VIRAL!

Abhaey Singh, a British-Indian debater created a promotional video for his Indian Debating Union (IDU).  The video became an instant hit and starting the Debate Music Genre!  "We had to propagate this message of civil debate which says that all the problems that we have in our democracy can be sorted out through polite debate. Our Indian Debating Union has been working on it but the song has taken it to a larger audience," Abhaey said. 'Talk It Out' is the first song to be released as part of Abhaey's debut music album 'Salvo!', produced by his independent music label, Kauzala Music.  Click here  or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFQRYcTznKQ to watch the video.

LD Debate
NYC LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE IS BACK!

For years the JP Morgan Chase Foundation's Lincoln Douglas debates were one of New York's most premier debate events and a flagship program in our local urban debate league. Unfortunately, the debate program ended several years ago.  But that will soon change! Beginning Summer 2013, Lincoln Douglas Debate is back!  The Lincoln Douglas Debate program will kick off at our summer debate institute and will continue with monthly workshops and tournaments.

For those unfamiliar with the Lincoln Douglas ("LD") Debate format - LD debate is one of the three largest debate formats in the United States (Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Lincoln Douglas Debate).  LD debate is distinguished from other debate events in that like the historical debate it is named after between Abraham Lincoln and Steven Douglas - it is one on one, and over bimonthly topics in philosophy.  Whereas policy debate is based on on a year long public policy topic, public forum debate is centered on monthly current events, Lincoln Douglas debate is based on philosophical inquiry, readings, discussions, and debates!  For more on Lincoln Douglas Debate click here or visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln-Douglas_debate. 

For more information on how your school can get started in Lincoln Douglas Debate, please contact us at [email protected].  Thanks! 
Judges_volunteers
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
As the city's free debate league for all students, we rely on an incredible network of volunteers - students, alumni, parents, teachers, and everyone passionate about education, debate, civics and providing the best opportunities for New York City youth! We need judges for each of our monthly tournaments. No experience required, we provide a training session, breakfast, lunch and incredible debates!  So please contact [email protected] or please complete our judge volunteer form.  We would love to have you at our fourth tournament, January 5th!  Thank you so much for supporting all our students to become Great Debaters!
Summer Camp
SUMMER DEBATE CAMP OPPORTUNITIES!

Why You Should Apply for Summer Debate Camp!

- if you like debate, then no experience beats debate camp!

- learn from the best debate coaches and debaters!

- looks great on college applications!

- fun!

- food!

- friends!

- trophies and tournaments!

 

THE NEW YORK DEBATE INSTITUTE (NYDI)

New York State's only debate camp serving all students from across New York State! This is a 2 week program for all grade levels.  Click here for Day Camp brochure.   Click here for our application in Microsoft Word or here for our application as a PDF. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.  

 

BELLA AZBUG LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Every summer the New York City Urban Debate League partners up with the Bella Azbug Leadership Institute (BALI).  BALI hosts a leadership training and debate institute for young women.  Click here for more information.

 

XYLUM DEBATE INSTITUTE 

Xylum debate institute is a summer debate institute for high school students that seeks to offer a unique immersion experience for critical debate learning

XDI brings a unique approach to debate teaching that focuses on persuasion, ethos and word efficiency over incomprehensible speed and pointless technicality.  Our curriculum will engage with the most pressing ethical questions in US foreign policy with Latin America by emphasizing critical research on the histories of the topic countries and US policy.  If critical debate is your friend, love thy friend.  If critical debate is your enemy; know thy enemy.  Click here for more information.

 

HARVARD DEBATE INSTITUTE

The Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshop strives to surround students with the highest quality staff any camp can assemble. In 2011 the Workshop boasted student to staff ratios of 2:1, the best of any debate workshop in the country by a wide margin. Students at the workshop will have the opportunity to work with some of the top debate coaches in the country.  For more information, visit https://www.hdcworkshops.org.  


GEORGETOWN SUMMER DEBATE INSTITUTE
The strength of our institute is our staff. Our teaching staff consists of coaches whose teams have won the National Debate Tournament, The Tournament of Champions, The CEDA National Tournament, the NDCA tournament, the NFL tournament and virtually every other major college and high school tournament in the nation. During the institute our staff are committed to providing the best possible educational environment. Location  For policy debaters there may be no better place to be than in Washington DC. Our proximity to the Capitol give our students access to opportunities no other debate camps can provide. In the summer of 2012 many of our students had the opportunity to be present at the Supreme Court for the announcement of the health care decision. And although we cannot guarantee that events like that happen every summer, we are committed every year to having experts on the topic visit the camp and give our students insight into how policy making works. For more information, visit http://georgetowndebate.wordpress.com.

FOUR STAR LEADERSHIP WITH GENERAL TOMMY FRANKS (50 Full Scholarships Available)

Four Start Leadership is a world-class summer leadership program that allows 50 of the top high school students in the US to have a face-to-face experience with national and international leaders.  Click here for more information.

  

THE DARTMOUTH DEBATE INSTITUTE (DDI)

The Dartmouth Debate Institute is a rigorous program for beginners - advanced high school debaters on the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Recognized as one of the top debate institutes in the country.  Features small classes with labs capped at 24 students and 1:8 teacher-student ratio.  Teaching staff are some of the top debate coaches in the country.  Argument diversity - instructors that specialize in policy, critical, and non-traditional arguments.  Elective classes that students can choose.  Skills and Strategy - the DDI's unique competitive lab structure promotes constant strategizing against other labs' arguments before and during the tournament. This year, we're adding even more early and structured skills practice with immediate feedback.For more information, visit http://www.ddidebate.org.  Scholarships available!


EMORY NATIONAL DEBATE INSTITUTE (ENDI)

ENDI takes place at Emory University in Georgia.  The Institute offers 2, 4, and 6 week programs.  Emory is home of the urban debate league movement!  For more information, visit http://emorydebate.com.  Scholarships available!


GONZAGA DEBATE INSTITUTE (GDI)

Located in beautiful Washington State the GDI has trained students in policy debate for over 20 years.  Debaters of various diverse backgrounds and skill levels from across the nation seeking a challenging, rewarding, competitive, and enjoyable summer institute have found that experience at the GDI. These alumni have consistently achieved success at the highest levels in both high school and college debate. Students will engage a rigorous curriculum of skill, theory, and practice from one of the top faculties in the nation while working in state of the art classrooms and facilities.  We hope you'll decide to be part of the GDI experience. Visit the links at the bottom of this page to learn more and to apply for the 2013 GDI.  For more information, visit http://www.gonzagadebate.com/GDI.htm.  Scholarships available!

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DEBATE INSTITUTES

Students at the Michigan Debate Institutes are instructed by the nation's most accomplished and experienced workshop faculty. The faculty is comprised of national champion high school and college coaches and outstanding intercollegiate debaters. In the past decade the faculty members of our workshops have coached numerous college and high school national championship teams. Several of our faculty members are Emory University Barkley Forum Gold Key Coaches. Several have coached Tournament of Champions winners and NFL National Champions. The one attribute the members of this faculty share is a commitment to providing a constructive and stimulating educational environment for students of the Michigan Debate Institutes.  For more information, visit http://www.gonzagadebate.com/GDI.htm.

 

THE NORTHWESTERN DEBATE INSTITUTE

The Northwestern Debate Institute is an unequaled living-learning experience for high school debaters.  The institute will provide an intensive and comprehensive summer debate experience that will prepare debaters for next season and beyond.  Northwestern University's Debate Team has an unparalleled record of success based on the foundations, fundamentals and techniques taught at the Northwestern Debate Institute.  Learn the debate principles that led to 13 NDT championships, 15 final round appearances, 6 top speakers a record of success unmatched in college debate.  Come join our program for rising Sophomore, Juniors and Seniors to learn with and debate against the best competition in the country.  Alumni of the Northwestern Debate Institute have gone on to win every major high school tournament.  For more information, visit http://www.northwestern.edu/nhsi/debate/index.html.  Scholarships available!

 

CAL BERKELEY DEBATE INSTITUTE (CNDI)

The Cal National Policy Debate Institute brings together some of the brightest and hardest working high school coaches, college coaches and current college debaters to provide students a variety of educational perspectives. The institute has a strong commitment to maintaining a low student-to-staff ratio that ensures individualized coaching. A special emphasis is placed on helping students refine their speaking and argument techniques through a number of practice debates and speeches, as well as an end-of-camp tournament. Students will be provided with a diverse set of affirmative and negative arguments when they arrive so practice debates and speeches can begin on the first day. Finally, participants have access to the facilities and resources of the country's leading public university to help them develop their research skills.  For more information visit http://caldebatecamp.com.  Scholarships available!

 

STANFORD DEBATE INSTITUTE

The Stanford National Forensic Institute offers a unique national caliber program conducted by the Stanford Debate Society of Stanford University, a registered student organization of the Associated Students of Stanford University.The SNFI Policy camp offers two, three and four week options.  Special Programs within the three week camp includes the Sophomore Scholars lab for rising stars with widely acclaimed instructors  jon sharp and Judy Butler, and the Critical Argument Lab with Dr Shanara Reid-Brinkley. The SNFI Policy camp, in each of the programs, has received extremely positive feedback from past attending students. In particular, over the last three years, over 95% of attending students said that they would recommend the program to others, and more than 90% of students have rated the quality and effort their instructor made on their behalf as a 9 or 10 out of 10 on their end of camp evaluation forms. For more information visit http://snfi.org/camp/category/14/policy-debate.html.  Scholarships available!

 

TEXAS DEBATE INSTITUTE

The University of Texas debate program is a highly competitive program geared towards competing at the National Debate Tournament (NDT) and Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) national tournaments.  The Texas Debate Institute is considered one of the top debate institutes in the country. For more information, visit http://utdebatecamp.com.

boroughs_nyc
DROP BY YOUR DEBATE CENTER!
We offer debate centers in each borough for any students or teachers to drop in for the best debate training, supplies and snacks - for free!  Click here for more information about our debate centers or click on any of the centers below.

When: Wednesdays, 3:00pm-7:00pm
Where: The Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, 283 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
Contact: Ben Crossan, [email protected]
 
When: Mondays, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Where: St. John's University, St. John's Hall, Room 203 
Policy Debate Coach: Tommye Weddington [email protected]
Public Forum Debate Coach: Ming Yang Zhao [email protected] 
 
When: Wednesdays, 3:00pm-6:00pm
Where: 
Columbia University, Teachers College, Zankel 406, 525 West 120th Street
Contact: Jen Johnson or Erik Fogel, [email protected]
 
When: Mondays, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Where: The Urban Assembly School for Law, Government and Justice, 244 E. 163rd St., Bronx, NY, 10451
Contact: Erik Fogel, [email protected]
chabeli
Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, and Lincoln Douglas Resources and Curriculum Available! 
Our tournaments feature the country's three most popular and rigorous debate formats - Policy Debate, Public Forum debate, and Lincoln Douglas Debate! 

POLICY DEBATE
Policy debate is the oldest American debate format.  It is also the most popular debate format at all grade levels from middle school to college. Harvard, Berkeley, Stanford, NYU, Georgetown, Emory, Dartmouth - are just a  few of the universities with Policy Debate Teams!  Policy Debate engages students in a year long public policy study of a single topic where students earn an equivalent of a masters degree on that topic. Policy Debate is unique in (1) freedom of argumentation (there are no limits in strategies of argumentation - the only rule being there are no rules), (2) quantity of information (debaters research and study thousands of arguments), (3) speed of thinking and delivery (debate rounds can reach over 350 words per minute), (4) evidence based argumentation (points go to not simply how well you speak but how well you read, analyze, question, construct and deconstruct evidence). Click here to access our policy debate resources.

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE
Our other event of Public Forum Debate is the country's newest, fastest growing debate event, and now the most popular debate event at the high school level.  Public Forum Debate ("PFD") is one of the most real world debate formats at the national level and one of the best means of preparation for a career in politics and leadership. PFD challenges our debaters to be tomorrow's political leaders with topics that change each month based on current events.  Students engage in presidential style debates of researching, writing and delivering speeches on the most pressing current issues of the day. Points go to debaters who best persuade the audience.  PFD is also the best debate format for younger, beginner debaters and new coaches looking for a quick and easy debate format to learn.  Click here to access our public forum debate resources. And email us ([email protected]) for the latest topic resources available each month.
 
LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE
Lincoln Douglas Debate (LD) is our newest addition to our tournaments!  LD is sometimes called values debate because it traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logicethical values, and philosophy.  LD is also different from policy and public forum debate because it features 1 on 1 debating, whereas the other formats of debate you are with a partner.  LD is one of the most rigorous forms of debate because you are essentially the equivalent of a College or Graduate Student majoring in Philosophy!  Whereas most students will never take a philosophy class until college, LD requires you to study, read, think and write about philosophy every day! Click here for more resources on Lincoln Douglas Debate!
NYC_Debate_Logo
JOIN THE NEW YORK CITY DEBATE LEAGUE!

The New York City Debate League is free for all students and all schools! Sign up for the 2012-2013 debate season! Weekly workshops, monthly tournaments, professional development, summer debate camps, books, materials, curriculum, scholarships - everything you need to start a debate team at your school is free. Don't have a debate team at your school? No problem!  We provide free tournaments, training, materials and everything else you need! Not sure of what type of debate you want to do?  We have all types of debate - policy debate, public forum debate, international debate and more! Whatever you need! Whenever you need! Wherever you need! Just let us know!! We believe that all students should be Great Debaters! Contact Erik Fogel, [email protected], 917-455-1079, or sign up online!
calendar
2012 - 2013 
DEBATE CALENDAR

Visit our website to check out the 2012-2013 Debate Calendars!  All our tournaments feature policy debate and public forum debate and soon we plan to add international debate! 

Cuba_Venezuela_Mexico
2012-2013 POLICY DEBATE TOPIC ANNOUNCED!!!  
 

On January 10, 2013, ballots from 33 states, the National Catholic Forensic League, National Debate Coaches Association and the National Forensic League were tabulated at the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) headquarters to select the 2013-14 national high school policy debate topic. With 70% of the vote the 2013-2014 topic will be, "Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement toward Cuba, Mexico, or Venezuela."  The competing topics were also all foreign policy topics which included IndiaExport Controls, Russia, and Southeast Asia.  For more information on these topics click here or (http://www.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id=7349).  Click here for a table of which states voted for the different debate topics (or http://www.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id=8374).

  

And don't forget to sign up for the National Forensics League so you can vote for each annual  topic!  The National Forensics League is the nation's largest academic honors society and host to the largest academic competition in the world - the National Championships in speech and debate! Membership is free for all urban debate schools! Contact nycudl@gmail.com for additional details!

 

We are the Bronx
SUPPORT BRONX NONPROFITS. VISIT WE ARE THE BRONX ONLINE AUCTION!  OR APPLY FOR LOCAL BRONX GRANT!

Visit the Bronx's online auction to bid on items to support a Bronx nonprofit! (http://www.benefitevents.com/auctions/jcrc/bronx/)  The We are the Bronx Fellowship supports Bronx nonprofits by providing a local grant to a Bronx based nonprofit as well as nonprofit training and development to nonprofits in the Bronx.  Click here to apply to the grant!  Applications are due April 3rd. The New York City Debate League was honored this year by being selected for the Fellowship! Its time to give back!  So we hope you can visit the online auction to support our fellow Bronx nonprofits!  Thank You!

  

NYCUDL Wins White House Award!  
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"The New York City Urban Debate League is a program that empowers underserved students while immersing them in public speaking, research techniques, civics, law and ethnic studies.  Along with countless debating trophies, the program boasts 10 years of data showing that their alums have higher grade point averages, high school graduation rates, college acceptances and number of scholarships than their peers."

 

-Jim Leach, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, presenting the NYCUDL with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award for the nation's top after school program.  Mr. Leach is a former US Congressional Representative of 30 years of service, Professor at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, Interim Director of the Institute of Politics and Lecturer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, recipient of 13 honorary degrees, and numerous awards.

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