“Winter Break Skills Boost” is a fun and effective way for students to maintain and refine their debate and public speaking skills during the holiday break. By introducing engaging activities in class during these last few weeks before break, students will get a foundation to integrate skill-building into their downtime.
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“Mastering Word Economy” is an engaging and practical activity designed to help students refine their ability to present arguments succinctly. This resource guides students through the process of condensing a one-minute argument progressively into shorter segments—45 seconds, 30 seconds, and finally a 10-second summary. By recording themselves and reviewing their performances, students can observe how they adapt their delivery and focus as the available time decreases, enhancing their skills in word economy and persuasive clarity.
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“Speech Survivor” is an engaging and dynamic public speaking activity parodying the popular TV show “Survivor.” This exercise challenges students to deliver impactful one-minute impromptu speeches on topics of their choice, with participants voting off fellow speakers in successive rounds until a winner is declared. This activity not only enhances speech-making skills but also encourages critical listening and evaluation abilities.
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As the debate season progresses towards its culmination, it’s vital for students to reflect on their experiences, learn from their performance in past tournaments, and set targeted goals for improvement. This resource guides students through a structured reflection process on their debate rounds so far, encouraging them to identify areas for growth and develop a focused plan for enhancement as they approach the final tournaments of the school year.
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“Ethical Debate Forum” is an interactive forum activity designed for Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate students. This resource aims to engage students in deep ethical discussions, challenging them to articulate and defend their positions on complex issues. Through exploring ethical dilemmas, students will enhance their critical thinking, moral reasoning, and argumentation skills—essential components of successful LD debate.
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“Cinematic Impromptu” is a creative and engaging activity designed to enhance students’ impromptu speaking skills using movie quotes as prompts. Without additional context, students must craft a short speech inspired by the quote, challenging them to think quickly and creatively. This activity aims to improve spontaneity, adaptability, and the ability to connect diverse ideas under pressure.
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“Gesture Mapping” is an interactive activity designed to help students integrate natural and effective gestures into their speech delivery. By annotating a famous speech for gesture cues and practicing these gestures, students can enhance their nonverbal communication skills, which are vital for impactful public speaking.
This resource is aimed at enhancing students’ public speaking and debate skills by closely examining the techniques of renowned orators throughout history. Students will analyze famous speeches, identify key elements of effective oration, and apply these learnings to their own speaking styles.
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The start of a new year is an ideal time for students to set specific, achievable goals for their growth in speech and debate. This activity guides students in establishing clear, measurable objectives and developing a task-oriented action plan to reach these goals. It emphasizes the importance of thoughtful goal-setting as a foundation for success and improvement.
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Winter break provides a unique opportunity for students to independently maintain and enhance their speech and debate skills. This guide offers practical suggestions that teachers can share with their students, ensuring continuous skill development even when school is not in session.
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