NSD Online Topic Prep Week

Case construction is a primary goal of the topic preparation. Our expert instructors guide students through the process of constructing cases on each side of the upcoming topic. With structured guidance, students outline, research, and write cases, with faculty assistance and feedback each step of the way. 

•  Interactive brainstorming to generate and refine the best case ideas
• Extensive group outlining for important case arguments 
• Guided research to locate the best support evidence for arguments
• Feedback from faculty on case outlines and drafts

Expert faculty guide students through group mini debates and argument drills, so that students receive structured practice for improving core debate skills, as well as mastery on the upcoming topic.

• Structured drill scenarios designed to provide practice on the core areas of debate competency and the core argument areas of the upcoming topic
• Mini debates isolate key arguments and moments of rounds for focused improvement 
• Great way to improve familiarity with how debates will look on the upcoming topic 
• Detailed faculty feedback on what students can do to improve

Students have the opportunity to practice and showcase their new skills in a supportive, educational environment with our end of camp tournament. All students participate in preliminary rounds, and students who perform well also participate in elimination rounds, which also serve as showcase demonstration debates for all students to watch.

• All students participate in six preliminary rounds, with helpful analysis and feedback from our faculty judges
• Qualifying students debate in elimination rounds, while other students have the opportunity to learn by watching those rounds and hearing judge feedback
• “Break out” elimination rounds, so that the top younger debaters have more opportunity to make it into elimination debates
• Tournament-like structure allows students to familiarize themselves with the real, in-person tournament environment
• Opportunity to practice competing against top students, with excellent faculty judging

With any camp registration, students receive free access to NSD’s Skill Builder pre-camp curriculum. Skill Builder features stand-alone curriculum modules intended for independent study, built by top faculty. At camp, we want our students focused on the most valuable aspects of our sessions: intensive, interactive instruction that amplifies and deepens students’ existing skill sets and builds new ones, learning deep skills in specialty areas from top faculty, and participating in a supportive learning community with peers. Skill Builder helps students solidify background skills ahead of camp, so students can focus on what matters most while they are at camp.

• Purposefully built by top debate coaches to help students improve their debate skills through focused, individual work
• Step-by-step, easy to use modules with tools to improve their debate skills and arrive at camp ready to maximize their improvement
• Includes drill materials and rubrics for self-assessment, so students can practice on their own
• Great for students with skill areas they want to improve before camp, and for true beginners who who want an introduction to debate before camp
• Helps students focus on the most valuable work at camp, not on catching up