NSD Online Topic Prep Week

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

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