Great Openings

Great openings set the tone for the debate.
Great openings get the judge listening.
Great openings put your team out in front.
Great openings must be written before the debate.
Great openings should be checked by your coach.
Be a great team player and bring one great opening for each of the four debates.
Be a great team player and bring one for both prop and opp!
See you Wednesday.

“Don't raise your voice, improve your argument."
[Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]”
― Desmond Tutu

CBS Assad and Obama on Syria's civil war

October 19th tournament Topics

 

The United States should not seek involvement in the Syrian Civil War

 

Eliminate the teaching of cursive handwriting.

 

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 causes more harm than good.

 

Chris Christie is good for New Jersey.

 

Wednesday, September 18th will be the 1st debate team meeting of the 2013-2014 school year.
  Arrange for pick up at 4pm at the main office.
  Wear your shirts to school.
  Meet in Mrs. Burek's room right after school.
 Bring a snack. (No Peanuts)
No Presidential debate this year, but we are electing a governor.  You should start reading about the election.

 
 

Get your brain back in debate mode! 

Start reading the paper every day.

Check out the NY Times
You need to log in using 200347094 as user name and password.

Check out the The Times
You need burek6161 as username and 08501 as password.

This Pennsylvania Gazette is from the day the Declaration was published and includes a want ad by Mrs. Burek's family, looking for their stray cow. (George Sharpless)
Click here and zoom in on the bottom right
Life goes on!

STOP AND FRISK in the news.   Do you remember arguing any of these points in your debate?
Did you state any of these facts in your argument?  Did you knock down any of the points?
Do you agree or disagree with the newest ruling?

ABC News

NY Times- Stop-and-Frisk Policy Violated Rights

CBS News

CNN

Washington News- Judge Says NYC Stop-and-Frisk Policy Violated Rights


NY Daily News-Officials, activists react to decision imposing monitor on NYPD

Bored?  Looking for something to watch?  Trying to get better at debate? 
Look no further.  Watch the weekly broadcast of Prime Minister David Cameron as he holds his weekly Question Time with members of the House of Commons. Topics discussed focused mainly on domestic issues and the state of the British economy.

Prime Minister's Questions @ C-SPAN



In case you want to know more.....

What is the Prime Minister's Questions?

Who sits where in the Commons?

There was no television back when Lincoln was alive, but you can read all about them. Lincoln and Douglas agreed to debate in seven of the nine Illinois Congressional Districts; the seven where Douglas had not already spoken. In each debate either Douglas or Lincoln would open with an hour address. The other would then speak for an hour and a half. The first then had 30 minutes of rebuttal. In the seven debates, Douglas, as the incumbent, was allowed to go first four times.  And you thought our debates were long!
The Lincoln-Douglas Debate of 1858

Every year, the Middle School Public Debate Program hosts the National Tournament in California.  Read all about it here.
National Tournament Winners From NYC