Coaching

Competitive parliamentary debate involves teams of three students who research and study multiple topics for each tournament. Teams conduct research and prepare extensively prior to tournaments where judges render decisions based on the evidence presented and the quality of argumentation. All teams are required to be able to debate both the affirmative and negative sides of the topic. They also must be prepared to address and refute the opposing side's evidence. Their research must not only cover facts relevant to the actual topic, but also address the societal impact of their arguments.

In researching a topic, students engage in significant and extensive study of both the formal topic and the related impact of other topics. For example, a past topic included U.S. foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia. In preparing for tournaments, students studied the history and economic policies of both nations, energy issues, military expansion, environmentalism, and more.