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Grades
Grade 7-12
Class Sizes
Group
Formats
Online, Online with Students In-Centre
Course Types
Competitive

The Harvard Debate Council Program is Opus Academy’s U.S. style debate program developed from our exclusive partnership with the Harvard Debate Council (HDC). Established for over 35 years, the HDC instructors have reached the highest levels of competitions as both coaches and competitors with international experience.

They share a spirit of wanting to help students from around the world benefit from debate. Give your child the opportunity of a lifetime— empower future leaders through speech and debate. Learn to Speak! Speak to Learn! Speak with power, confidence, clarity, and conviction!

Through debate, students deepen their understanding of the world and look for solutions to local, national, and global issues. Early debate training helps students listen carefully, think logically, and speak effectively. Students sharpen their reasoning and problem-solving skills by studying how to construct arguments, defend them through refutation, and cross-examine others. Debate teaches life skills essential to future success and is applicable to most any future career choice.

Harvard Debate Council Certificate Granting Upon Completion:

      

Exclusive Partnership with Harvard Debate Council

✔ Top – level Harvard Debate Instructors
✔ College Prowler
✔ Highly Developed Curriculum
✔ 35 Years of Excellence
✔ Excellent Student-faculty Ratio
✔ Certificate of Completion Upon Completion of Program

Program Structure:

Our first-class debate program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and technique necessary to master debate. Through a well-designed sequential program consisting of core concepts, established methodology, and universal elements, students develop the ability to debate using logic, argumentation, and refutation the hallmarks of any successful debater.

  • Core Concepts
  • Methodology
  • Elements

We Teach U.S. Debate Styles:

Public Speaking and Argumentation

This course provides a solid foundation for communication in academic and career contexts. Students will learn the foundational elements of crafting outstanding persuasive speeches. Students will select a contemporary topic with a level of controversy and produce public policy and personal advocacy speeches.

Public Forum

Public Forum has rapidly become the most popular format of debate both in the United States and internationally. In a public forum debate round, two teams of two students debate for approximately 45 minutes on a national topic that changes throughout the school year. Students will debate several topics over the course of the year and will prepare for regular tournament competitions.

Policy Debate

One of the oldest forms of debate competition most common to US high schools and US universities, is also the format favoured for the Harvard Debate Council competitions. In a policy debate round, two teams of two debate for approximately one hour and thirty minutes on an annual national topic related to domestic and/or international policy.

Empower future leaders through speech and debate. Learn to Speak! Speak to Learn!