The Chantilly Debate Team is a place where you can learn
to be persuasive, win arguments, develop confidence, and stand
up for yourself in all sorts of important situations…all
while having the chance to win awards and scholarships and
travel the nation as you do so!
CHS Debate is a fun, competitive group of students that travels
locally, regionally, and nationally to perform and win awards
and scholarships in four basic types of debate:
1) philosophical debate - This is a one on one value / morality
debate called "Lincoln Douglas Debate," modeled
after the slavery debates had by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen
Douglas. Debate issues like the morality of nuclear weapons
and the U.S.' role in the world or big-picture issues like
whose rights come first if individual rights conflict with
society's needs.
2) policy debate- Policy debates are team vs. team debates
in which one team plays the prosecution and puts the system
on trial for failing to solve an important national or international
problem and the other team plays the defense and attacks the
prosecution's plan
3) congress debate - It's like the real thing, except hopefully
with less corruption. You make, defend, attack, and vote on
proposals and treat one another formally, role-playing as
a Senator or Representative.
4) public forum / media / "Ted Turner" debate -
Debate controversial issues with a partner versus another
team in a fast-paced, "cross-fire" style with questions
and answers flying back and forth!
We have a year-long season with room for anyone from the
dabbler to the very committed.
When you join the Debate Team, you'll be joining a very successful
team. In the last few years, the CHS Debate & Forensics
Team has traveled to Harvard University, Princeton University,
The University of California at Berkeley, and the National
Forensic League and CFL Grand National Tournaments. In 2004,
we were 1st place in the Washington Metro Area for our combined
debate and forensics programs and the 1st place new school
in the Northern Virginia League. |
