Stoa Academy 2022: Class Descriptions
The Heart of Apologetics 101: Luis Garcia
Dive into a full picture of Apologetics from understanding the philosophy of the category, how to write a basic card, and differing ways to coach your students in local clubs.
The Heart of Apologetics 201: Luis Garcia
In this lecture, sample questions will be used to demonstrate and apply what was shared in Apologetics 101.
Mars Hill 101 (Getting to the Heart of the Event): Sue Danielson and Anna Plummer
Explore the purpose of Mars Hill in Stoa. Learn how to research and connect the biblical truths to the “hot topics” in our culture. Discuss the added 2022 Mars Hill topics to understand the new titles.
Mastering Mars Hill 201 (Putting it into Practice): Sue Danielson and Anna Plummer
Take a deeper look into the Mars Hill topics and learn how to craft a Mars Hill speech that speaks to a world that desperately needs satisfying answers.
Debate 101 (Types and differences): Colleen Enos
This is a very general class that includes all three forms of debate, what the differences are, and what is involved in them. What and how do you choose for your student?
Setting the Stage I (Beginning Interpretives): Anna Plummer and Sue Danielson
Learn to craft a dynamic interpretation with helpful coaching tools, selection ideas, and cutting pro-tips.
Setting the Stage II (Blocking): Anna Plummer and Sue Danielson
Dive deeply into the complexities of the interpretations. Learn new tactics for setting the stage, characterization, and blocking.
Impromptu on the Spot: Alicia Stunkel and Allisha Speed
Discover great techniques for teaching students to prepare polished, original speeches on the spot.
Team Policy Resolution Analysis: Steven Vaughan and Larry Sparks
This class will review the Team Policy resolution and recommend areas for research in this broad topic. Case ideas will be discussed, as will negative ground.
Lincoln Douglas Resolution Analysis: Ty Harding and Griffith Vertican
This class will review the Lincoln Douglas resolution and recommend areas for research in this broad topic. Case ideas will be discussed, as will negative ground.
Leadership: Debbie Snyder & Angela Childress
Have you wondered what it takes to rise to the leadership challenge within various Stoa roles? From the club level to the Board level, we will explore attributes and behaviors that will enable you to lead well. Filled with real-life examples and practical applications, we believe you will leave ready to take your next step in leadership.
Evidence Handling (Lincoln Douglas and Team Policy): Larry Sparks and Griffith Vertican
This class will review evidence guidelines and ethics. We will discuss tools that empower the debater to prove every claim. These same tools can assist judges in evaluating a round. Evidence in Team Policy and in Lincoln Douglas is often mishandled. This discussion will aid coaches and parents.
Advanced Debate Theory: Branden Yeates & Ty Harding
This class will apply to all debate forms. Learn about procedurals, permutations, mindset critiques, and double-binds — oh my!
Setting the Foundation (Beginning Platforms): Tasha Aschmutat and Allisha Speed
Learn how to get started writing a platform, from coming up with topics to incorporating
appropriate and effective rhetoric. Then, learn practice strategies to help your student either in club or at home.
Lincoln Douglas Basics: Branden Yeates and Danny Lyda
Learn how to effectively use Lincoln Douglas values and criteria.
Team Policy Basics: Mary Winther
This class will focus on the fundamental concepts in which all debate theory is grounded upon. Regardless if you are a brand new coach or have been coaching for years, understanding debate theory from the ground up, will equip you to better train the debaters and the parent judges in your club.
Leveling Up (Advanced Platforms): Allisha Speed and Tasha Aschmutat
What makes the difference between a good platform and a winning platform? Learn different
techniques to upgrade a basic speech to an extraordinary speech.
Trail Guide to Resources: Kimberly Farley and Michelle Hawkinson
Learn about the wide array of resources available to parents and club leaders in Club in a Box, Tournament in a Box, and other products supported by Training and Development. From fresh ideas for experienced leaders to lesson plans and legal documents for brand new clubs, to menus and recipes for your tournament, we will feature the range of options available to Stoa members to help them make their clubs and tournaments successful!
Parliamentary Debate: Colleen Enos and Branden Yeates
Are you wondering what is different about Parliamentary Debate compared to Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas? We will examine the uniqueness and benefits of Parli and how competitors should approach it. Hear, Hear! Knocks on table!
The Resolution’s Always in the Room: Dorr H. Clark
This talk will take five advanced debate theory ideas and make them simple and accessible, by using the resolution itself as a communication device. There will be a mixture of humor and examples from actual debate rounds. The focus will be on Team Policy, but it is also applicable to Parli.
Non-Extraneous Extemporaneous! Branden Yeates
An entertaining, educational explication of the exercises and expedients that can elude the ennui of the event and engineer an excellent Extemp enterprise.
Debate Games and Drills: Griffith Vertican and Katie Herche
Liven up your club meetings with some fun and educational drills! This session will walk through a number of hands-on activities that will help your debaters improve targeted skills. We have games and drills for eye contact, refutation, cross-examination, delivery, and more!
Debate Issues and Adjudications: Colleen Enos and Mary Winther
This session will give tournament leadership the tools and guidelines to know when a concern is “just a question” and when it needs to be taken to the next level to involve tournament leadership. We will share with you what types of issues are likely to be brought to your attention, how to proceed through the steps and if an adjudication is warranted. Note: it is highly recommended that you attend the session on Evidence Handling and Standards before coming to this session.
Extraordinary Expos: Beyond the Boards: Tasha Aschmutat and Anna Plummer
Explore, elaborate, and extend your Expos skills! Reach beyond the boards and find new ways
to incorporate the senses, add memorable elements, and spike creative ideas.
Tabulation: Linda Sloneker
Have you ever wondered how tab works? How are breaks to the next level of competition determined? How are the ballots tabulated? Come learn the basic ins and outs of tab and feel empowered to help with tab at local tournaments or even at NITOC.
Debate Cross Examination: Steven Vaughan and Griffith Vertican
Cross examination is one of the most enjoyable parts of a debate round for the students, judges, and the audience as this is the only time where there is direct communication between the speakers. These three minutes are pivotal and one of the hardest skills to learn. Come gain a better understanding of the art and strategies necessary to not only do well in CX, but to drive that time and use it to your advantage!
How to do Debate Research: Katie Herche
Evidence is one of the most important (and most contentious) parts of the debate round. Building good research habits is essential for both winning rounds and using evidence ethically. Solid research skills can help students who are struggling to come up with arguments against a case, and provide answers and solutions for situations when evidence seems to contradict in the round. In this session we’ll walk through some practical tips to get new students started researching effectively, as well as ideas for challenging your advanced students.
How to Run a Tournament: Maggie Carabelos
This class is designed to get you and your club directing tournaments and enjoying it! This informative hour covers…Tournament Schedules, Staff Positions & Job Descriptions, Facilities, Judge Recruitment, Script Submission and my favorite Judge Hospitality.
Script Sub Made Easy(ish): Allisha Speed and Michelle Hawkinson
Script Submission doesn’t have to be intimidating. This class will cover the importance of script submission, tips and tricks to submitting a script, and easy steps to begin script submission started at your tournament.
Negative Strategies (Team Policy): Steven Vaughan and Larry Sparks
A strategy is a means to achieve a particular goal or an intended result. Since every negative team intends to win, we could say that Negative Strategy is the broad plan that the negative team has to win a debate. More specifically, such strategies involve which arguments to run, in which speeches to run them, and how to extend throughout the round. This session will review a number of negative strategies for Team Policy Debate with the goal of helping you to better coach your debaters.
Negative Strategies (Lincoln Douglas): Ty Harding and Danny Lyda
A strategy is a means to achieve a particular goal or an intended result. Since every negative team intends to win, we could say that Negative Strategy is the broad plan that the negative team has to win a debate. More specifically, such strategies involve which arguments to run, in which speeches to run them, and how to extend throughout the round. This session will review a number of negative strategies for Lincoln Douglas Debate with the goal of helping you to better coach your debaters.
Wild Card: Anna Plummer and Allisha Speed
Learn the goal and the presentation rules for Interp in a Box and some tips for teaching this new event to your club.
Know the Rules (Speech Adjudications): Alicia Stunkel and Sue Danielson
Take a deep dive into speech adjudications to learn how the rules can help both tournament staff and competitors.
Better Ballots with Fantastic Feedback: Tasha Aschmutat and Lynda Sloneker
Do you struggle with knowing exactly how to provide positive and constructive feedback for
students? This class will explain what to avoid writing and what is most helpful to speakers.
Learn how to explain your critiques and rankings in an effective manner.
Coaching Novice to Advanced Debaters: Katie Herche and Mary Winther
Do you have a club with a wide range of student skills & experience? Are you struggling to meet all the students’ needs? Join this session to hear about ways you can cater to both new and experienced debaters alike, and use the variety of skills to boost the entire club’s success.