More than an Argument: Debate

Forming strong and concise arguments is a fundamental skill that grows increasingly vital as students progress through their academic journey. At The Willows, we understand the significance of this skill and mindfully integrate its development into our curriculum as early as 3rd grade. By the time students reach Middle School, they have the opportunity to delve deeper into argumentation by joining our debate team.

Middle School Debate offers students the chance to hone their individual and collaborative argumentation skills while representing The Willows at competitions across the Los Angeles community. This year, our debaters have excelled, bringing home numerous awards in both individual and team categories from various tournaments, led by coaches Steve Futterman and Paul Casillas. Both have been at The Willows for over 20 years, with ample experience teaching and guiding student debaters.

Outlining how the team preps for a tournament, Futterman shares ,that “We generally compete two different topics (aka resolutions) at a tournament, and we find out what they will be a month beforehand. We spend the month researching and writing our team’s arguments (aka contentions) on both sides of resolutions. We also work to anticipate other arguments that might come at us so we can effectively refute.” Futterman emphasizes that the team’s success is predicated on the amount of preparation they put in, while also highlighting the importance of teamwork in this process. “Each week in class, we meet in research groups. We break the team up so that some students tackle one topic while others tackle another. Each group is responsible for building the framework of our team’s case.”

Building a strong, research-based argument is key, but there are multiple other factors that can impact how a debater is perceived in competition. “When we get closer to tournament dates, we use class time and often lunch and other times to stage mock debates.” says Futterman “Those are opportunities to get the debaters on their feet. Coaching then shifts to public speaking strategies – eye contact, fluency, gestures, tone, time management, etc.”

Participating in the debate team not only fosters academic growth but also cultivates essential social-emotional skills. Through engaging in debates, students sharpen their critical thinking abilities, communication techniques, research skills, public speaking, and learn the importance of effective teamwork. These benefits extend beyond the debate program and empower students to thrive in each facet of their lives.

Students practice these skills and more in the weekly debate elective led by Futterman and Casillas. Moreover, we are offering Introduction to Debate as an elective this spring, tailored specifically for our 5th-grade students who aspire to pursue debate in their Middle School years. This elective serves as a gateway for young debaters to explore the foundations of argumentation and test out the competition style.

At The Willows, we believe in equipping our students with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the world with confidence and eloquence. Through our debate program, we instill in them the values of critical inquiry, effective communication, and collaborative problem-solving, empowering them to become influential voices in their communities and beyond.

Learn more about The Willows Middle School Program HERE.