Some study areas are a "natural" to teach through debate, either directly in conjunction with debate or indirectly as a supplement.
We've listed our favorite resources in each subject area that we found helpful to prepare a current or future debate student.
Communication Skills
Debate naturally encompasses learning good speaking skills. The most intelligent argument will be lost if it can't be understood or heard due to poor speaking skills.
In preparation of debating events, or before becoming involved, have your student practice reading selections from stories or factual articles while speaking clearly with a loud voice, good ennunciation and pleasant phrasing. The piece should be read with some emotional character to avoid being monotone but should not be overly-dramatic. They should also practice using good eye contact with their audience, taking time to look up and speak to the listeners as they recite.
A step further is to have them then explain what they just read in their own words. (good ole' Charlotte Mason type narration). This will strengthen their comprehension and impromptu skills.
During debate events it will be important to convey your team's position with clear communication and application to the judge. Debaters should continue to practice good speaking skills in their debate rounds. Debaters are judged on these speaking skills individually during the debate rounds.
Research and Internet Skills
Each debate topic will require study to understand the topic and the government policy about which the resolution is arguing. Also, debate arguments are supported by evidence from experts.
Debaters gain research skills as they sift through information looking for expert sources and understanding of their topics.
It is helpful to have a computer connected to the internet to practice research skills. We tell our students "Google is our friend" and have taught them how to do "advance" searches to narrow the information down.
Become familiar, if you haven't already, with the research section of the library. Black's Law Dictionary and other reference materials will be available there. Professional periodicals will also be accessible at the libary (as well as on the internet if you have journal access.) Talk with the research librarian to learn how to effectively use the reference section.
Logic and Reasoning Skills
Application of good logic and reasoning is crucial in argumentation. Debate is an excellent vehicle to teach and practice logic skills.
Our favorite quick studies in logic and reasoning are the two Bluedorn books "
The Fallacy Detective" and "
The Thinking Toolbox." Both of those books teach basic logic and reasoning skills in a fun way that will be very useful in debate.
The Fallacy Detective website has a number of informative and fun articles, additional logic resources, and provides sign up for a periodic newsletter.
Analysis of Current Events
To gain critical reading and analysis skills about current events, "
The Student Daily News" provides online daily news selections analyzed from a Christian perspective. Students may go online and read the selections and then take the optional weekly quizzes. Parents can sign up to have the answer key to the weekly quizzes emailed directly to them. An excellent free resource for current politics.
God's World News also provides a monthly printed magazine that discusses current events from a Christian perspective. The magazine subscription (about $25 per year) is arranged according to student grade level. Order the level for your student. (
Top Story and
World levels would be appropriate for upper junior high and high school.)
Government and Economics
Since the debate argument in "policy debate" is over whether a certain government policy should be changed, debate naturally incorporates government, economics and politics.
If your student has not already studied government or economics separately, debate is an excellent vehicle to launch those studies. The annual policy topic will offer a natural "launching pad" to study how laws are made, how administrative agencies enforce them, and how the laws effect the economics of business and the general public.
Understanding of some basic federal government and economic principles are essential for effective debate arguments.
Government Study
For a good federal government primer, we suggest
"Government 101: A Beginner's Guide to the Federal Government" by Laurie Petrisin. It is a short, simple, concise overview of our American system of federal government and how laws are made. We highly recommend it for all policy debate students who have not had a government course prior to beginning debate.
Further civics study can be gained in Christian Liberty Press "
Land of Fair Play" Written at a junior high level, it provides a good overview of our different government systems (federal, state, and local) and the concepts of civic duty.
For a fuller government study that is still easily understandable and concise, we recommend Notgrass
"Exploring Government." The student text can be used as a stand alone spine. The addition of the original source documents book ("
We Hold These Truths") adds further depth. Optional tests provide materials for a full separate course.
For more historical depth,
Wall Builders "Of God and Government" video series provides a detailed history of the Christian heritage behind our American system of government which is often glossed over in other curriculum (and denied by secular). Their website provides a number of online resources.
Economics Study
While we have many favorite economics books, "
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy" by Richard Mayberry provides a quick, fun study of basic economic principles from a conservative libertarian approach (albeit not from a Christian worldview..while recognizing the benefits of a Christian worldview, Mr. Mayberry does not attribute Christianity to those benefits). "
Penny Candy" lays a good foundation for understanding how the government's actions affect economic stability, what prompts business cycles, and how the real value of things is determined. All very useful for the policy debate student.
For a fuller economics study from a Christian perspective that is still easily understandable and concise, we again recommend Notgrass "
Exploring Economics." The student text can be used as a stand alone spine. The addition of the original source documents book ("
We Hold These Truths") adds further depth. Optional tests provide materials for a full separate course.
Christian Worldview
Since our purpose is to create effective communicators for Christ, worldview is another natural subject area to teach with debate. Discussion over the debate topic lends well to worldview discussions.
Both policy and values (Lincoln-Douglas) styles of debate will implement understanding of worldviews as applied to personal values, theology, philosophy, and ethics. Policy debate also implements worldview application in government, economics and law.
Our "hands-down" favorite Christian worldview study is Focus on the Family's "
The Truth Project DVD Series." If you can find a church or study group going through that study, we highly recommend joining it.
Our favorite very quick study on worldview is another Focus on the Family resource...Frank Peretti's presentation "
God's Way or My Way." It is a very entertaining, biblically presented nutshell of all worldviews with a powerful message. All packed in about 60 minutes on an audio cd.
We also highly recommend reading David Noebel's "
Understanding the Times, Abridged version" for a good comparison of different worldview types (secular humanism, Marxism, cosmic humanism, post-modernism, islamic, and Christian) as applied in separate disciplines (theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics and history). Chapters stand alone within the discipline topics. Law, politics and economics are especially helpful for policy debate. Ethics and philosophy are especially helpful for values debate. All chapters are excellent and useful in understanding how the different worldviews impact each subject area in our society.
For ongoing worldview support and research, we recommend the Chuck Colson Center's
Wilberforce Library which includes current articles arranged by world spheres, article type, and comprehension levels (highschool through graduate level). We also recommend Chuck Colson's daily e-commentary "
Breakpoint" which deals with current events and social situations from a Christian worldview (some topics are of adult nature but all are presented in a non-graphic and Biblical way).