NSD Online Topic Prep Week
Online Summer Debate Camp
Online, one-week session focused on the 2026-2027 September & October Lincoln-Douglas or Public Forum Debate topic.
Key Info
August 3-9, 2026
Online Platform
6th-12th Grade
LD Debate Focused
Start the debate season strong.
Elite Faculty
Our topic sessions are led by the same championship coaches and former debaters who teach at our in-person sessions.
Prepare for Success
Prepare cases and practice speeches with structured feedback from elite instructors, so you have confidence as you enter the competitive season.
Head Start on Competition
Get ahead on upcoming competitions with a week of focused, in-depth topic analysis, research, and argument generation.
Team Environment
For students without robust team support, we provide a structure for preparing a new debate topic just like the best institutional teams do.
Key Info
August 3 - 9, 2026
Online Platform
6th-12th Grade
PF Debate Focused
Start the debate season strong.
Elite Faculty
Our online sessions are led by the same championship coaches and former debaters who teach at our in-person sessions.
Small Group & Interactive
Receive live, small group instruction optimized for online learning. We prioritize keeping students active, engaged, and working collaboratively.
Flexible Scheduling
NSD's online camp gives campers flexibility to rigorously train debate-specific skills while still prioritizing other summer activities.
Student to Instructor Ratio
We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 5:1 student to teacher ratio.
NSD Online Topic Prep Syllabus
Detailed, interactive topic analysis workshops familiarize students with the topic area, research on the topic, and the main arguments expected to be debated on the topic. In-depth topic analyses provide students an excellent head start on writing cases, learning how to address important arguments, and preparing for the upcoming September/October tournaments.
Led by excellent debate faculty, armed with topic knowledge and research
Background knowledge on areas of academic research important to the topic area
Extensive coverage of each of the main argument areas for the upcoming topic
Strategy discussion on how to deploy key topic arguments in cases and rebuttals
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
NSD Online Topic Prep (LD) Faculty
These debate veterans bring in-depth experience from past tournaments to the classroom, providing invaluable insights that maximize your potential. NSD's instructors are dedicated to providing personalized feedback to help you build confidence with key concepts and skills.
NSD Online Topic Prep (PF) Faculty
These debate veterans bring in-depth experience from past tournaments to the classroom, providing invaluable insights that maximize your potential. NSD's instructors are dedicated to providing personalized feedback to help you build confidence with key concepts and skills.
NSD Online Topic Prep Week Schedule
Monday-Sunday (EST)
• 10am - 2:30pm: Morning Session
• 5pm - 9:30pm: Evening Session
Students can choose to attend either session.
**All times are in EST
Morning Session
10:00 - 11:00am
Topic Analysis
11:00 - 12:00pm
Group Argument Blocking Activity
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00 - 2:00pm
Case Construction Workshop
2:00 - 2:30pm
Mini-Debate Drills
Evening Session
5:00 - 6:00pm
Topic Analysis
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm
Group Argument Blocking Activity
8:00 - 9:00pm
Case Construction Workshop
9:00 - 9:30pm
Mini-Debate Drills
NSD Online Topic Prep (LD) Pricing
1 Week LD Topic Prep
$995
Dates: Aug 3-Aug 9 (2026)
Includes Practice Tournament
Select Early or Late Session
Payment Due Upon Registration
If you are unable to attend camp for the full duration due to conflict in schedule, please contact us about attending camp for a subset of time.
We are committed to providing low-income students with access to our camp programs through need-based scholarships. If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please view our scholarships page.
NSD Online Topic Prep (PF) Pricing
1 Week PF Topic Prep
$995
Dates: Aug 3-Aug 9 (2026)
Includes Practice Tournament
Select Early or Late Session
Payment Due Upon Registration
We are committed to providing low-income students with access to our camp programs through need-based scholarships. If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please view our scholarships page.
