Advanced Topics Seminars

The best debaters are knowledgeable about their world

 
 

 What are Advanced Topics Seminars?

A special program within our summer offerings designed to help debaters sharpen their debate knowledge and skills. Students split their time between in a high-level seminar on an important and relevant issue or topic, and debating with an expert instructor in preparation for the transition to collegiate debate.

 Who are they for?

Designed for high school students who are hungry for an intensive, fast-paced learning experience. Students will be working with American and International peers of a similar debate experience level (see track descriptions below), but all programs are academically challenging and assume an ability to engage with high-level thinking.

 Jumpt to:

 

Topics

Small, collegiate-level seminars led by expert instructors focusing on a particularly relevant global issue. Students immerse themselves in learning and discussion around their chosen subject.

Topic Descriptions:

2024 Advanced programs topics are TBD. Check back here for future updates!

Past topics have included: The Science and Philosophy of Happiness; Environmental Justice; AI: the Alien We Built; Race, Money and Inequality in the United States educational system; Game Theory and Collective Action problems.

Topic Schedule:

Week 1: June 24 - 28

TBD

Week 2: July 8 - 12
TBD

Tracks

Intensive debate technique instruction, designed for groups of students with similar levels of debate experience.

Transition to Collegiate Debate

  • An exciting opportunity for debaters looking to transition to collegiate debating or to bring their skills and knowledge base to that level. Always taught by a highly successful collegiate debater.

  • Appropriate for highly experienced older debaters (rising juniors, seniors and college freshmen) who has achieved regular success at regional, national and international competitions.

Advanced Intermediate

  • Group designed for high school debaters who want to really focus on improving their competitive game.

  • Appropriate for experienced high school debaters of any age. Experienced rising 9th graders will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Advanced Topic/Intensive Beginner

  • Combination of Advanced Topics Seminar and accelerated debate instruction

  • Appropriate for new debaters or those with minimal experience who are interested in the Advanced Topics Seminars subjects and are willing learning debate at an accelerated pace

Teachers

Evan Streams

Evan has been coaching debate for ten years. In that time his students have won more than two hundred awards in multiple leagues and styles, including most recently winning the Tournament of Champions and the New York state championship. Less recently, his students have been finalists at the Chinese national championship, and winners of the Connecticut state championship. As a debater, he has won awards in parliamentary, extemporaneous, and policy debate, including Connecticut's state championship. He is the former Director of the National High School Debate League of China and the current Head Debate Coach at the Dalton School. He is just finishing up his studies at Columbia University where he is focusing on philosophy.

"What you are offering is so much more valuable to me than ANYTHING my child has at school. And it's a highly rated school!"

~ C.H.