Theory Demonstrations

We reached the end of our intensive theory 24-hours. We began last night with mini-debates. This afternoon we had seminars for every theory topic. Tonight we returned to the mini-debate format, this time informed by our seminars and arguments tailored to specific situations. Finally tonight, several students were chosen to represent their small groups in demonstrations in front of the entire workshop.

Throughout this process students worked with every member of the faculty, and in groups ranging from size 4 to 7. Every student gave at least 8 separate theory speeches.




Here are some pictures from the demonstration session tonight, including the students who were selected.

Ovais Inamullah, Chattahoochee, GA


Marc Legrand, Westwood, TX


Eve Samborn, Glenbrook South, IL


Yooni Kim, College Prep, CA


Pat Elwell, St, Ignatuis, OH


Ivie Okundaye, Neenah, WI


Mike Perbeck, Shawnee Mission East, KS


Olivia Lui, Sylvania Northview, OH

Theory Seminars

Still in our small groups, this afternoon the students rotated through team-taught theory seminars on the important theory topics we debated last night. Tonight we'll revisit those debates with more concrete applications to the topic. Here we are in the theory seminars - very intently engaged in the materials.



















Here's instructor Tara Tate from Glenbrook South, IL.

Theory Mini-Debates

We're doing mini-debates in small groups (4 debaters per instructor) over 2 hours. Four topics in this series - conditionality, advocacy inclusiveness, fiat, competing T interpretations

Here are some pictures from my session.

Amazing Rebuttal Reworks!

This morning every team debated in front of a faculty member and had rebuttal rework sessions. In the debate I judged all four debaters showed awesome improvement in their rework (and their rework of their rework, and their rework of their rework of their rework).

We focused on speed, reading evidence, emphasis, persuasion and word economy. Here are some pictures from that round:



The debate exhibited teamwork:



Good cross-examination:






AND those amazing rebuttal reworks. Congratulations to the following four debaters:

Chris Mangels, Loyola Blakefield, MD



Michael Perbeck, Shawnee MIssion East, KS



Colin Quinn, Glenbrook South, IL



Alec Zimmer, Glenbrook South, IL