1. There is no other activity that stimulates your child’s brain more powerfully than debate!
2. There is no faster way to master English because debate forces kids to read, listen, write, and speak all at the same time.
3. There is no better way to prepare our kids for the AI generation, as AI cannot overtake the critical thinking and spontaneity of a seasoned debater!
4. Finally, everything in life comes down to one’s ability to communicate!
5. Debate Students Get Accepted to the Best Universities in the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal report did specifically highlight a “consistent trend”
6. Colleges care about “which” tournament you participated in. The reason why NSDA is such a big name in the U.S. has all to do with their amazingly long history of over 90 years and distinguished alumni.
7. NSDA (the U.S. National Speech & Debate Association) is a huge name recognition for U.S. college applications.
Here is a video link to help you understand about NSDA:
8. The new SAT was designed by a former debate champion, David Coleman, the President of the College Board, and requires debate skills more than ever.
Source: http://millennialsd.com/2014/03/23/debate-participation-as-the-ultimate-sat-test-prep/
9. Debate students get higher scores on all standardized exams.
Sponsors of competitive speech programs must prove scientifically how forensics improves student achievement, as defined by No Child Left Behind (NCLB; 2001). While many studies have shown a connection between debate experience and improved critical thinking skills, few studies have linked competitive speaking specifically to the standardized tests required by NCLB. This researcher examined the state and national test scores of similarly motivated honors English students in a single high school, over the course of 4 years, and compared the scores of forensic students against the scores of non-forensic students. It was found that students with experience in competitive speech scored significantly higher (α = 0.03) on state administered writing tests and significantly higher (α = 0.07) on a nationally normed reading test. Additionally, this study revealed no significant difference in test scores between students who competed in the debate events vs. those students who competed in the non-debate events. Source: http://www.nflonline.org/uploads/AboutNFL/PetersResearch.pdf
“This conclusion is not surprising. Debaters who are likely to read more than 1,000 original sources, who are tirelessly searching for evidence that supports and refutes conclusions, who are actively pointing out weaknesses in evidence, and who are constantly synthesizing evidence and ideas before and during debates, and who come across hundreds of vocabulary words in context that they need to understand are nearly certain to develop the skills they need to record high scores on the redesigned SAT. And more importantly, debate participation as test prep will make them college and career ready.” Source: http://millennialsd.com/2014/03/23/debate-participation-as-the-ultimate-sat-test-prep/
10. In China, the U.S. debate has received wide acceptance already. That is because China has seen visible benefits of debate.
This [link] displays results and this video shows how U.S. Style debate is practiced in China.
11. The NSDA and TOC Asia Representative Stefan Bauschard explains in his presentation called “Debating Across the World: Academic Benefits, Global Growth, SAT Prep, College Admissions.”
12. “There is no other activity that stimulates your child’s brain more powerfully than debate! Try it! I guarantee it.”
–Jessie Chen, CEO of Asian Debate League
13. These are the short term, long term, and life time benefits to debating.
14. Debate Success Stories
All Three Went to Harvard! All Three Are Taiwanese! All Three were Debaters!
15. Debate-Related Articles
Higher test scores, improved retention, and increased graduation/college admission
- Your School Doesn’t Have to Win Nationals
- Billman, J. (2008). Your school doesn’t have to win nationals: Pedagogical and practical benefits of forensics to educators and administrators. Rostrum, 82(8), 23-25.
Higher College admissions by a Yale Professor
- Forensics and College Admissions
- Luong, M. (2000). Forensics and college admissions. Rostrum, 75(3), 5-6.
Gains in writing and literacy Test Scores
Peters, T. L. (2009). An investigation into the relationship between participation in competitive forensics and standardized test scores. Rostrum, 84(2), 37-51.
Gifted and talented education (GATE): acceleration, enrichment, and mentorship.
- Forensics Participation as Gifted and Talented Education
- Carroll, R. C. (2007, February). Forensics participation as gifted and talented education. Rostrum, 81(6), 31, 34-36.
Debate in the classroom leads to academic performance
- Assigned Advocacy, Argumentation, and Debate in High School Classrooms
- Wade, J.M. & Zorwick, L. W. (2009). Assigned advocacy, argumentation, and debate in high school classrooms. Rostrum, 83(8), 13-15.
The cognitive and academic benefits of forensics – speech and debate is critical to a well-rounded educational experience.
- Enriching Education
- National Forensic League. (2009). Enriching Education. Ripon, WI: Author.
Discipline and organization, writing and speaking skills, critical thinking, and resilience
- A Better Investment Not Found on Wall Street
- Carr, J.E. (2002). A better investment not found on Wall Street. Rostrum, 76(5), 25-26.
The importance of forensics on a broad level, covering such topics as emotional maturity, community engagement, political participation, productivity, and quality of life.
- Your Community Doesn’t Have to Win Nationals
- Billman, J. (2008). They don’t have to win nationals: The benefits of forensics to parents, communities, and society. Rostrum, 82(9), 97-99.
The benefits of forensics to students, regardless of their level of competitive success
- You Don’t Have to Win Nationals
- Billman, J. (2008). You don’t have to win nationals: Cognitive, professional, and interpersonal benefits of forensics to student participants. Rostrum, 82(7), 35-37.
The positive impacts of forensics on middle level students
- Powerful Preparation in the NJFL
- Billman, J. (2009). Powerful Preparation in the NJFL. NJFL Newsletter, 1(3), n.p.
The benefits of debate for school administrators and board members
- Letter in support of NFL speech and debate by Executive Director J. Scott Wunn.
- Wunn, J.S. (2012). Advocacy Letter. National Forensic League: Ripon, WI.
- Letter in support of NFL speech and debate by President William W. Tate, Jr.
- Tate, W. W. (2012). Advocacy Letter. National Forensic League: Ripon, WI.
- Letter in support of NFL speech and debate by Vice President Don Crabtree.
- Crabtree, D. (2012). Advocacy Letter. National Forensic League: Ripon, WI.
Benefits of debate education in teaching literacy
- Forensics Can Change Lives
- Shaw, E. (1995). Forensics Can Change Lives. English Journal, 84(7), 51-54.
Scholastic impacts of speech and debate
- Scholastic Benefits of Speech and Debate Activities
- National Forensic League. (2011). Scholastic Benefits of Speech and Debate Activities. Ripon, WI: Author.
The positive outcomes of forensic education
- Advocating Debate and Speech (Forensic) Education
- National Forensic League. (2010). Advocating Debate and Speech (Forensic) Education. Ripon, WI: Author.
Messages from the National Association of Secondary School Principals
- Forensics: Enhancing Civic Literacy and Democracy
- Briscoe, Shawn F. (May 2009). Forensics: Enhancing civic literacy and democracy. Principal Leadership, 9(9), 44-49.
- National Federation of State High School Associations gives a thorough, research-based defense of competitive speech and debate.
- Making the Case for Forensics
- Minch, K. (2006). The Value of Speech, Debate, and Theatre Activities: Making the Case for Forensics. Indianapolis, IN: National Federation of State High School Associations.