Why Join
PERSONAL BENEFITS
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Public Speaking-Gain the confidence to talk with authority in front of people!
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Analysis-Learn how to analyze evidence and arguments!
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Research-Better your research skills by learning how to prepare cases!
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Impromptu Thinking-Learn how to come up with arguments, rebuttals, and points of analysis with very limited prep time/on the spot!
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Following the News-In debate and certain speech events, you will be forced to follow the news and become a person that is more knowledgeable about the world!
ACADEMIC BENEFITS
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87% of speech and debate participants improve their analytical skills!
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36% of speech and debate participants see an increase in their reading test scores on tests like the SAT!
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31% of speech and debate participants attend classes more regularly!
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100% of speech and debate students experience higher public speaking skills!
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100% of speech and debate students experience an increase in interest in their classes!
COLLEGE/CAREER BENEFITS:
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Increased chances of getting into elite colleges! Our captains last year are attending Cornell, Michigan, and Purdue on a full ride scholarship respectively!
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90% of speech and debate alumni obtain a graduate degree!
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30% of speech and debate alumni are university educators!
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15% of speech and debate alumni are top ranking executives in a corporation!
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10% of speech and debate alumni work in government!
OTHER BENEFITS
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Join the most tight knit club at Penn and make tons of friends!
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Have tons of fun hanging out with your friends at another high school every weekend!
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Have the opportunity to compete against people from all over the country at the national tournament! Past locations include Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, and Salt Lake City!
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Do you like Chicago? When you join, you have the opportunity to compete at the GlennBrooks Debate Tournament in Chicago.
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Enjoy karaoke sessions and card games on the bus rides to and from tournaments!
Ways To Join
1
Take the Debate Class
Taking the debate class makes it easy to join! Everybody in the debate class is required to go to at least one tournament, but most go to more and join the team full time. What you learn in class translates very well to what you have to do on the team.
2
Show up to a Practice
If you don't take the class but you still want to join, show up to one of our weekly practices! We will start holding practices every Tuesday and Thursday in the IMC sometime in October.
3
Email Us
Another easy way to express interest in joining is to email us! Email jstarkweather@phm.k12.in.us and ask if you can be on the team and added to the email list!