Digital Pass Experienced Student Class Descriptions


Experienced Students: Club Life

Becoming a Leader in Your Club by Lynda Sloneker
This leadership track session is for younger students (ages 12-15). It will focus on teaching students the importance of developing leadership skills and how they can grow those essential life skills in their local speech and debate club.

Mentoring Younger Students in Your Club by Theresa Ellington
What is the value of mentoring? Do I need a mentor? I thought the American way is to do it myself – "Pull myself up by the bootstraps!" Come and let’s take a closer look at mentoring through history. We’ll see who should mentor and if it should be you or me.

Experienced Students: Debate

Conquering Cross-Ex by Ty Harding
This session will give a high-level overview of strategic cross-examination, drawing on legal practice, classical rhetoric, and forensic experience to equip students to improve cross-examination skills.

How to Research by Larry Sparks
This session will review successful research strategies so debaters can make the most of the new resolution. Additionally, we will introduce think tanks, experts, and scholarly resources in energy policy. To make the most of this session, bring your laptops. This class is an active session that will jump-start your season.

LD Resolution 1 by Alyssa Hayes
In this class, we will scratch the surface of the first LD resolution by running a quick survey through what the press is and how its responsibilities have been interpreted through history and culture.

LD Resolution 2 by Alyssa Hayes
In this class, we will scratch the surface of the first LD resolution by running a quick survey through what the press is and how its responsibilities have been interpreted through history and culture.

LD Case Writing 1 by Danny Lyda
You may have written a few cases before, but now you have to write cases for three different resolutions this coming year. Come and learn techniques for writing effective LD cases. Learn how to find a strong value for your side and then write a case to defend that value.

LD Case Writing 2 by Lynda Sloneker
You may have written a few cases before, but now you have to write cases for three different resolutions this coming year. Come and learn techniques for writing effective LD cases. Learn how to find a strong value for your side and then write a case to defend that value.

LD: Values are Key by Lynda Sloneker
Discover how understanding and effectively utilizing values can profoundly impact the outcome of Lincoln Douglas debates. Learn to craft compelling arguments that resonate with your audience's core principles and beliefs, evoking understanding and fostering a genuine connection between the value you are presenting and the resolution you are debating.

Rhetorically Righteous Rebuttals by Colleen Enos
What should I be doing in my rebuttal speeches? What do I cover first, and what do I leave out? What is the most important argument to make in the last rebuttal? Come to R3 and find out!

TP Background by Andy Eltiste
No idea where the electricity in your house actually comes from? Stumped on the origins of gasoline? Befuddled by nuclear power? You’re in good company, along with the overwhelming majority of humans on planet Earth. But if you want to debate energy POLICY, you’d better learn about ENERGY. In this class, we’ll learn what energy is, the history of energy, the types of energy, sources of energy, and much, much more… So that when you’re debating energy policy, you’ll actually KNOW energy.

TP Case Writing by Alyssa Hayes
This class will branch into various common case structures, the pros and cons of each, and how to let your structure choice be research guided.

TP: Stock Issues and Net Benefits by Mary Winther
This session will dive deep into the Stock Issues paradigm and discover why it is fundamental for balanced and persuasive debate rounds. When looking at the history and purpose of Stock Issues and how they tie into and complement Net Benefits, you will discover an amazing tool for improving your argumentation in Team Policy Debate. We will be looking at this from a fun and interactive real-world perspective.

Experienced Students: Speech

Apologetics for All Students by Wayne Johnson

How to Develop an Excellent Extemp by Sue Danielson
Review the new ballot criteria and in-depth training on writing an effective extemp speech.

How to Impromptu by Allisha Speed
Let’s take a look at the new ballot and work on specific drills designed to help you craft a speech the judge will remember.

Interps: Body Language by Anna Plummer
This workshop will help students practice popping, solidify stances, tackle ticks, and work on all things body. We will also understand how sounds and vocal effects enhance your storytelling. Join this interactive session to find your hidden talent and use it in your interp.

Interp Basics by Anna Plummer
Who should do interps? What category should I try next? Where do I find inspiration? When can I find time to practice? Why should I switch gears from DI to HI or OI to Duo? Prepare an interp like a PRO! Use the workbook method to build your interp from the ground up. Deeper characterization and more intricate settings will stretch your interp skills well beyond the basics.

Interps: Beyond Blocking by Anna Plummer
This workshop will help students understand that every piece of blocking must have purpose and meaning. Use inner dialog to find amazing blocking ideas. Explore deep character development to discover movement that brings your interp to life.

Interps: The Perfect Piece by Anna Plummer
Students are looking for a terrific Interp piece. This class will help students find the resources, tools, and ideas to choose pieces that will stay with them beyond their Stoa years.

Intro to Apologetics by Noah Johnson

Limited Prep Foundations by Sue Danielson & Ty Harding
Overview of the Limited Prep events and the basics of the ballot. This class will help you focus on the areas that will improve your speech.

Platform & Limited Prep Delivery by Allisha Speed
Let’s take a look at the new ballots and practice some drills designed to help you succeed with the new criterion.

Platforms: Hot Topics by Tasha Aschmutat & Allisha Speed
Are you struggling to find a topic for your platforms this year? Do you need to find a fresh angle to talk about a common subject? Join us as we brainstorm and practice drills designed to help us write a great thesis.

Platforms: Let the Ballot Be Your Teacher by Tasha Aschmutat
This class will analyze the criterion on each platform ballot and discuss how to use them to improve the quality of your speeches.

Platforms: The Art of Rhetoric by Tasha Aschmutat
Learn how to enhance your platforms by applying the ancient art of rhetoric, with an emphasis on ethos and how to integrate source material into your script seamlessly and correctly.