Bettendorf High School Debate

Proposed LD Curriculum
2010-2011

Novice Year
 YEAR 1
WEEK 1
====================
FALL MODULE 1.1: Basic Philosophy

This module will deal with basic philosophical concepts of justice, rights, and
morality. Philosophers covered include: Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart
Mill, Jeremy Bentham, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and
John Rawls. Theories of deontology, utilitarianism, and the social contract will
also be covered.

WEEK 2-4
====================
FALL MODULE 1.2: Basic Research

Novices will learn how to use policy thinktanks, search engines, and scholarly
databases to find research to support their arguments.

FALL MODULE 1.3: Casewriting

Debaters will construct basic cases with focus on definitions, framework, and on-
case arguments.

FALL MODULE 1.4: Flowing/Speaking Drills

Novices will learn how to flow in-round, speak well, and learn how to develop
those skills.

FALL MODULE 1.5: Strategy

This module will cover rebuttal and cross-examination strategies.

WEEK 5-6
====================
FALL MODULE 1.6: Intermediate Philosophy I

In Intermediate Philosophy I, we delve deeper into philosophy and read it with

consideration of implications in debate rounds. Philosophers covered include:
Immanuel Kant, John Rawls, Thomas Malthus, Karl Marx, Adam Smith, Robert
Nozick, Jean-Paul Sartre, Rene Descartes, Hannah Arendt, and Arthur
Schopenhauer. Topics covered include: deontology, utilitarianism, contractualism,
social contract, democratic theory, empiricism, and the Constitution.

Will contain required readings of excerpts from philosophical works & lectures.
WEEK 7-8
====================
FALL MODULE 1.7: Introduction to Economics and Statistics

Social sciences are especially important in debate, and impacts often involve
economic calculus and statistical research. With proper knowledge about
economic impacts and how statistics is used in scholarly research, novices will be
able to develop deeper methods of responses.

FALL MODULE 1.8: Introduction to International Relations

LD resolutions often have agents that involve nation-states and international

bodies. This module will review major international powers, current international
conflicts, and other foreign affairs.

WEEK 9
====================
WINTER MODULE 2.1: Spreading & Dealing with the Spread

Speed-reading or “spreading” is now a common method of delivery on the

national circuit. Novices will learn how to become effective and clear at
spreading, and understand how to respond to the spread effectively.

WINTER MODULE 2.2: Introduction to Theory

This module will cover what theory is, the format of theory arguments, basic
theory shells, responses to theory, and counterinterps. Includes a review of
historic and current trends in theory arguments.

WEEK 10-11
====================
WINTER MODULE 2.3: Intermediate Research/Casewriting

Using power tools on scholarly databases, Novices will learn how to incorporate
macros and OCR software to write cases efficiently. They will also learn how to
strategically place arguments in their cases and effectively use case structure.

WINTER MODULE 2.4: Intermediate Strategy

Statistical indicts, author indicts, severing arguments, framework arguments, and

many other important things to know about debate strategy.
WEEK 12-13
====================
WINTER MODULE 2.5: Intermediate Philosophy II

Major topic areas will be: metaethics, normativity, justice, deontology, and
utilitarianism. Philosophers covered will include: Christine Korsgaard, David
Benatar, Amartya Sen, Frances Kamm, and Jurgen Habermas.

Required readings include: Christine Korsgaard's "Sources of Normativity."

WEEK 14
====================
WINTER MODULE 2.6: Intermediate Theory

Offensive theory, theory-baiting, reverse voting issues, and why running reverse
voting issues is usually a bad idea. Abuse in debate is also covered more in-depth.

WEEK 15
====================
WINTER MODULE 2.7: Introduction to Policy Arguments in LD

Policy arguments have become more and more popular in LD, and such positions
will be covered in this module. Novices will learn how to use plans, counterplans,
and other policy-style arguments as well as how to effectively respond to them.

WINTER MODULE 2.8: Introduction to the Kritik

The kritik is rarely encountered in the novice world, so this module will focus on
responding to kritiks and answering unique critical positions.

REMAINING WEEKS
====================
SPRING MODULE 3.1: Preparing for Novice Nationals

Novices will combine the skills they acquired in the past year to prepare for a
(hopefully) successful showing at the Great Midwestern Novice Championship.