APPLY FOR online OR IN-PERSON 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR 2-HOUR CLASSES

​In order to enable middle school students to continue debating throughout high school and college as most students do, Bay Area Debate only teaches high school debate formats.  In speech and debate, students learn skills like public speaking, cross-examination, and basic research in order to construct sets of arguments and defend their position. 

The Bay Area Debate "advantage" is that we tailor our classes to the small group of students we are instructing.  There is no "class in a can."  We work with each group of students by adjusting to their level of ability and instructional needs.  We are educators first, focusing on ethics, skills and knowledge.  Even so, we do offer students the opportunity to attend elementary, middle and high school tournaments and put what they learned to the test.  We have achieved outstanding competitive success-- even winning many high school tournaments with middle school students.

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Debate Formats

Speech Formats

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             Our class curriculum is based on tournaments schedule and National Speech and Debate Associations Debate topics.  
                  Formats  of Debate Offered in Debate Classes 

​Level 1
​for 7-8  year old
Competitive ​Elementary Speech & Writing

Unleash Your Child's Potential in the Art of Public Speaking and Writing!
🌟 Elevate your child's skills with our dynamic Competitive Elementary Speech & Writing class! 🌟
🚀 Skills That Last a Lifetime: Our class is crafted to introduce and refine your child's abilities in the crucial leadership skill of public speaking, while also enhancing their writing skills. Watch them flourish as they express their thoughts on paper, developing a voice uniquely tailored to their age group.
🎙️ Master the Art of Presentation: We go beyond the basics, teaching your child the intricacies of public speaking. From voice quality and tone to volume, articulation, pronunciation, eye contact, and body gestures, our class empowers them to deliver captivating presentations with confidence.
💪 Empowerment Through Education: Your child will acquire invaluable skills, including confident presentation techniques, establishing a connection with the audience, conquering public speaking anxiety, mastering vocal variety, leveraging non-verbal communication techniques, and using visual aids effectively.
🌐 Dynamic Delivery Methods: Our class goes beyond the ordinary. Students will learn various methods to navigate through their speeches, ensuring engaging and impactful deliveries every time.
🌟 Foster Confidence: Through consistent practice of these skills, your child will not only conquer nervousness but also exude confidence. They will feel entirely at ease speaking in front of any audience, regardless of size.
🏆 Unleash the Competitor: Students from our class will have the thrilling opportunity to showcase their newfound talents in speech competitions. Give your child the chance to shine and build a foundation for a lifetime of successful communication!
🌟Join YG and watch your child flourish in the world of speech and writing!

Level 2
for  9-10 year old
​Elementary 
​Competitive
Congressional Debate and Speech

🎙️ Unlock the World of Debate: Our program is tailored to equip students for upcoming elementary and middle school speech and debate tournaments in the Bay Area. We're excited to introduce them to the dynamic realm of Congressional Debate!
🏛️ Simulating the U.S. Congress: Our goal is to immerse students in the world of Congressional Debate, mirroring the U.S. Congress. They will passionately engage in debates surrounding bills and resolutions of current interest, preparing them for the competitive format featuring 10 to 12 students delivering speeches and cross-examining one another.
🌐 Diverse Speech Formats: Beyond Congressional Debate, our expert instructor will guide students through various speech formats. From Interpretation, where they memorize and present published works, to Original Oratory, allowing them to craft and present their original pieces. The instructor will identify each student's strengths, tailoring the format to best suit their individual talents.
🏆 Preparation for the Future: All the speech formats introduced are aligned with high school standards. Your child will not only thrive in current competitions but also seamlessly continue their journey in speech events when they enter high school and college.
Empower Your Child's Voice: Join Bay Area Debate today and empower your child to become a confident and articulate communicator, ready to succeed in both current and future speech and debate tournaments!
🌟 Join YG to ignite your child passion for Speech and Debate! 

How to Judge Congressional Debate

Level 3
for 11-12 year old
​ Competitive 
​Congressional Debate and Spontaneous Speech

🌟 Embark on the Journey of Competitive Congressional Debate! 🌟
🎙️ Unlock the World of Congressional Debate: Our unparalleled Congressional Debate classes aim to simulate the U.S. Congress, inviting students to engage in lively debates on bills and resolutions of current interest. Picture an interactive format with 10-12 students in a room, delivering impactful speeches and actively questioning each other.
📚 Ages 6th Grade to High School Seniors: Geared towards students from 6th grade through High School seniors, our Congressional Debate classes focus on honing essential skills to excel in this event and compete with confidence in middle and high school tournaments.
🧠 Building Essential Skills: The curriculum is designed to cultivate research prowess, persuasive speaking, active listening, critical thinking, accurate and extensive note-taking, and adept cross-examination skills. These skills are not only integral to success in Congressional Debate but also serve as invaluable life skills.
🚀 Easiest Path to Mastery: Congressional Debate is renowned as the most accessible debate format. It serves as the perfect introductory course for students with no prior debate experience, acting as a stepping stone to the captivating world of Public Forum Debate.
🏆 Compete and Excel: Students from this class are granted the exciting opportunity to compete at both middle and high school tournaments. It's not just a class; it's a journey towards confidence, competence, and success in the thrilling arena of Congressional Debate!
🌟 Join YG and witness the transformative power of Competitive Congressional Debate! 

See a video example of an Online 2021 Middle School  Congress Final Round at the Tournament of Champions. 
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See 2020 Senate Congressional Debate National Champion Interview.

How to Judge Congressional Debate

Level 4
for 12-14 year old 
​​Competitive Public Forum Debate

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2024 September/October Topic
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border.

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 Dive into the World of Competitive Public Forum Debate! 🌟
🎙️ Unleash the Power of Public Forum Debate: Our captivating Competitive Public Forum Debate classes are inspired by the essence of the CNN show "Crossfire." This dynamic format involves two students on a team engaging in a riveting debate with another team, discussing topics "ripped from the headlines" — embracing the urgency of current events.
🗣️ From 7th Grade to High School Seniors: Tailored for students from 7th grade through High School seniors, our Public Forum classes focus on cultivating essential skills for success in the event. Think research brilliance, persuasive speaking, active listening, critical thinking, meticulous note-taking, and adept cross-examination skills — all integral components of the course.
🔍 Stay Current with Evolving Topics: Public Forum debate topics undergo changes nine times a year, ensuring students stay engaged with a fresh, dynamic landscape of subjects.
🏆 Empower Your Child for Competitions: As a participant in this class, your child gains the exciting opportunity to compete at both middle and high school tournaments. It's not just about mastering debate; it's about building the skills that lead to success in every aspect of life.
🌟  Join YG Secure and witness the transformative journey of Competitive Public Forum Debate — where brilliance, confidence, and success converge! 

Click HERE to see an Introduction Video to  Public Forum Debate. 

See a video example of a Public Forum 2018 National Tournament final Round.
Topic: Resolved: On balance, the benefits of United States participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement outweigh the consequences.


See an online round of Public Forum Debate. 
Topic -  Resolved: On balance, charter schools are beneficial to the quality of education in the United States.
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How to Judge Public Forum Debate

Level 5:
for 11-16 year old
​Competitive​ Parliamentary Debate & 
​Extemporaneous​ Speaking

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​🎙️ Thinking Quick, Speaking Bold: Elevate your child's skills with our Level 5 Competitive Parliamentary Debate & Extemporaneous Speaking class, strategically designed for 11-16-year-olds. This unique program maximizes the synergy between "Parli" debate and "Extemp," fostering the ability to think quickly on one's feet and possess a broad knowledge of current events.
🤔 Thriving in Spontaneity: Parli debate competitions thrust students into dynamic situations, requiring teams of two to receive the debate topic only 20 minutes before the round begins. No coaching or live internet access is allowed, emphasizing the need for broad knowledge and quick thinking.
🗣️ Extemporaneous Excellence: Extemporaneous Speaking adds an extra layer of challenge, with students receiving the topic just 30 minutes prior. They then prepare without coaching or internet access and must deliver a compelling 7-minute speech without notes.
🌐 Efficiency Meets Excellence: Our class is a remarkable two-for-one deal, efficiently offering instruction in both events with the same time and effort required for a single event. It's an educational value that's hard to beat!
🏆 Exclusive Bay Area Offering: Young Genius takes pride in being the only program in the Bay Area to provide such a comprehensive course, offering a unique and unparalleled opportunity for your child.
A Bridge to Tournaments: Participants in this class gain the exciting chance to compete at both middle and high school tournaments. Prepare your child for a future of confident, articulate success!
🌟 Enroll Today and Witness Your Child Thrive in Dual Excellence!

See a video example of a Parliamentary Debate round.

See a video example of an Extemporaneous Speech round.

See a video example of an Extemporaneous Speech round.

Extemporaneous Speaking - How to Judge

 

Level 6:
for 13-16 year old
 ​​Competitive Lincoln-Douglas ​Debate 

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2024 September/October Topic
Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage.

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🌟 Elevate Debate Skills with Level 6 Competitive Lincoln-Douglas Debate for 13-16 Year Olds! 🌟
🗣️ Unleash the Spirit of Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Our Level 6 Competitive Lincoln-Douglas Debate course is tailored for 13-16-year-olds, delving into the historical roots of debate modeled on the iconic 1858 confrontation between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. This format epitomizes one student engaging in a riveting debate with another, focusing on the values inherent in the resolution under discussion.
💡 Exploring Values Through Debate: Lincoln-Douglas (LD) is a "value" debate, magnifying the explicit or implicit values within the debated resolution. It's not just about arguments; it's about articulating and defending fundamental values.
📚 Geared for 8th Grade to High School Seniors: Our classes are designed for students ranging from 8th grade all the way to High School seniors. Level 6 LD classes are dedicated to cultivating the essential skills required for success in this unique and influential debate format.
🧠 Integral Skills for Success: The curriculum emphasizes critical skills such as research acumen, persuasive speaking, active listening, critical thinking, meticulous note-taking, and adept cross-examination. These skills aren't just for debate; they're life skills that foster success in any endeavor.
🔄 Dynamic Topics: Lincoln Douglas debate topics evolve five times a year, ensuring participants are continually challenged and engaged in relevant discussions.
🏆 Compete at the Highest Levels: Students from this class have an exciting opportunity to compete at both middle and high school tournaments, honing their skills and making a mark in the competitive debate landscape.
Empower Your Child's Debate Journey: Enroll in Level 6 Competitive Lincoln-Douglas Debate today, and witness your child flourish as a skilled and confident debater!
🌟 Register Now for a Journey into Values and Success! 
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See a video example of a Lincoln Douglas 2019 National Tournament final Round.
Topic: Resolved: Violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.

See the round of LD debate online on Topic: Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.
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How to Judge Lincoln Douglas  Debate

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            Formats of Speech Offered in Competitive Speech Classes

Originals

Interpretive 

Spontaneous

There are four types of Original events:

1. Oratory
2. Advocacy
3. Expository
4. Prose and Poetry
5. Original Oratory​​

          Original Oratory - How to Judge

There are seven types of Interpretive events:

1. Declamation/Oral Interpretation
2. Humorous Interpretation ​                Part 1  &  Part 2
3. Dramatic Interpretation
4. Duo Interpretation
5. Storytelling (middle school only event)
6. Prose Interpretation (middle school only event)
7. Poetry Interpretation (middle school only event)

​        Interpretation Events - How to Judge

There are three types of Spontaneous events:

1. Impromptu​
2. Extemporaneous Speaking
3. ​SPAR

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Extemporaneous Speaking - How to Judge
Impromptu Speaking - How to Judge