Elementary Curriculum

Odyssey Debate Academy adapts the standardized 2 vs 2 public forum style of debate to accommodate an elementary group. The reformatted style provides an effective pipeline for upper level debate and builds career-applicable skills.

Public forum Debate(4-6th)

Constructive(2 min)

Debaters present their main arguments

Rebuttal(2 min)

Debaters refute their opponents claims while supporting their own.

Summary(1.5 min)

Debaters summarize their arguments and outline voting issues.

Persuasive Writing

Our classes focus on constructing cohesive and presentable arguments. Expanding upon what students are learning in the classroom, we facilitate formal debates teaching students how to discuss in an effective and persuasive manner.

Public Speaking

Our classes foster public speaking. Teaching students to articulate their thoughts in a confident and clear manner helps prepare them to discuss and demonstrate knowledge in the classroom and present beyond.

Research

Students research deeply into both the pro and con side of a topic. They learn to evaluate and utilize many different sources to create their own unique arguments. Topics are drawn from past and current high school national circuit topics. Examples of past topics include: Should the United States Federal government substantially increase investment in High Speed Rail?

To be eligible for in-person classes a student must meet these requirements:

Attend one of the partner schools
Be in grades 4-6
Other eligibility concerns vary based on the location