Fundamentals of Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue

Fundamentals of Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue

One-week Session June 4-10, 2023 
       -OR-
One-week Session June 11-17, 2023
Due to registration numbers, please reach out to the camp administrator at emorydebateinstitute@gmail.com if you are interested in registering for the June 11-17 week

  • Commuter: $850; Residential: $1,000
  • Check-in June 4 or 11 between 3:00-4:30 p.m.; check-out for commuters is the evening of June 9 or 16 and for residential students June 10 or 17 between 8:30-10:00 a.m.

This camp experience provides engaging debate and argumentation practices by which to explore multiple dimensions of topics relevant today.  Topics have included food access injustice, sanctuary cities, and social media privacy.  Unlike a traditional school setting, FOD offers campers time for in-depth guided exploration on a topic, activities to conduct meaningful and engaging critical thought on a topic, and the experience to synthesize each topic with a culminating argument-based simulation.  Each day is structured to ultimately give campers debate-based thinking routines that translate into real-world skills, such as evidence analysis, independent thinking, public speaking, critical thinking, and group consensus building. Campers connect in a debate setting without needing formal debate experience - just an interest in argumentation and intellectual exploration! 

This camp is not geared toward preparing students to participate on a competitive debate team in high school.

Quality Debate Instruction

  • Small groups led by highly qualified Emory staff and students
  • Focus on the real-world application of:
    • argumentation
    • critical inquiry
    • critical thinking
    • evidence analysis
    • group consensus building
    • independent thinking
    • listening to & respecting difference
    • public speaking

Feedback from Fundamentals of Debate Campers

  • "I absolutely loved it. Amazing, eye opening, and interactive. Best camp I've ever been to. Very easy to talk and engage." 
  •  "I loved the mock debate we did with partners on given arguments. It was fast paced and realistic, and I had to learn how to find evidence and apply logic to formulate my argument." 
  • "What I learned here will translate well into making my essays more effective and will help in all my classes." 
  • "I feel more confident in myself as a result of this camp."