Registration is now closed. Check back for information on future programing.

Location: Online (Zoom)

Student/Faculty Ratio: 6:1

Program Costs:  $500 inclusive of extended tournament day 

At a glance:

Our summer academy is perfect for middle school and early high school parliamentary debaters looking to take their tournament skills to the next level. The weeklong tournament booster program offers individualized learning plans with expert coaches. Students working with Rhetorica coaches have won dozens of middle and high school tournaments because we help all debaters access their greatest potential. Our practice topics are designed to anticipate likely tournament topics, allowing students to dig deep into the relevant issues. The week culminates with a Saturday tournament, the July 3rd (nearly) Independence Day Invitational.

What does a day at Rhetorica look like? 

Rhetorica’s fully online program is designed to give students the best debate experience possible. We accomplish this by carefully grouping students by both age and prior experience level so everyone is appropriately challenged without being overwhelmed. Each day will include a rotating set of hands-on workshops and skill building activities that break down specific areas of debate. Every student will participate in two rounds of debate per day, adjudicated by top tier university debaters and coaches. Workshop focuses will be determined by coach’s observation of rounds so that students receive training in the areas they need most. No cookie cutter drills here!

For novices, our program is a terrific opportunity to jump into the deep end of tournament debating. Our program will contain the equivalent of over three full tournament’s worth of MSPDP or UDL rounds - each with dedicated analysis and practice activities. Debaters will receive individual feedback logs from coaches in order to formulate individually effective feedback plans. There is no better place to take your debating to the next level!

Advanced competitors will receive personalized coaching from internationally successful debaters. While we all hope that many tournaments return to an in-person format next year, there will still be plenty of online opportunities for debate going forward. As such, we will include advice and activities to help students debate on the digital stage. Advanced program coaches have included alums and current debaters from top tier debate programs including Oxford, Harvard, and Yale. Bring your best to your next debate by working with our dedicated coaches!

The whole day will take place on our Zoom platform. Families will be provided with a single meeting link and Rhetorica faculty will make sure that every student is with the right group and in the right session.  

Rhetorica 4th of july independence day tournament

Enrolled students will automatically be eligible for the Rhetorica (nearly) July 3rd Independence Day invitational. The event will be held on the last day of the program. The tournament will include a full day of preliminary and elimination rounds. The July 3rd Invitational is a great way to expand your tournament debating experience with carefully crafted topics, elimination round structure, and detailed judge feedback for round to round improvement.

Why Rhetorica?

Rhetorica Summer Academy is focused on doing one thing extremely well. We only debate in the parliamentary format because it demands the highest level of student engagement and critical thinking. While some summer programs focus on loading up students with provided research to use during competitions, we focus on helping our students become self-sufficient researchers, communicators, and advocates.  

We also focus specifically on the middle school and rising high school age group. We do this because it is a transitional time in education, where students develop the work and study habits that will be with them for the rest of their academic career. It also allows us to recruit educators and coaches who have specific experience working with this age group. While many summer debate programs rely on college debaters with content area knowledge, Rhetorica works with debate coaches who are also full time educators and understand not only what to teach, but how to teach it. 

Rhetorica believes that debate is a hands on process. Students will be challenged with daily debate rounds on a variety of topics. Each day will include multiple active workshops, activities, and practice debates. Because we maintain an extremely low student to teacher ratio, every student will have a place in every debate, giving them the maximum amount of practice. Our small groups also allow instructors to work closely with students, giving them individualized feedback and improvement strategies at the close of each day. 

Rhetorica coaches are recruited from top independent and public school debate programs and have a track record of success. Our faculty have coached multiple state and national championship middle school teams over the past several years. 

Why Debate?

Participating in a high quality debate program has a profoundly positive impact on students both in and out of the classroom. Debaters are challenged to delve deeply into important societal issues, defend their views, and communicate persuasively and empathetically. No other activity fosters an equally well rounded approach to teaching critical thinking skills while also giving students the opportunity to engage with their peers from around the country.  

Knowing how to research topics both independently and collaboratively, learning to filter the white noise of modern technology’s instantly available information, and figuring out how to turn what they have discovered into convincing arguments are all skills that will prepare students to meet future challenges effectively and head on. 

Debate places value on the process of discussion, the free exchange of ideas, and a willingness to engage honestly with those who disagree with you in a substantive way. In an increasingly divided world, there is no more essential skill than helping students understand both sides of contentious world issues.