Student Congress Program

The BFI’s Congressional Debate program is an intensive, one-week program designed for students of all experience levels. The Impromptu program runs from July 29 - August 3, 2024.

Curriculum Design

The BFI curriculum in Congressional Debate has two “tracks” that provide students with sound training in the fundamentals of debate and speaking. In addition, students will receive topical instruction targeted toward the likely topics of the upcoming competitive season. To support these aims, the BFI offers students specialized instructions in the following areas:

• Traditional/Novice Track – The BFI offers a specialized lab for students with little/no experience with Congressional Debate. Our traditional/novice lab(s) provide a supportive environment that emphasizes the fundamentals of debating and speaking. Our staff works closely with novice speakers to learn effective skills in research, argument construction, bill construction, speech construction, and delivery. The novice track features lectures, guided research, bill construction, and speech construction that teach students the basics of effectively selecting topics, correctly writing legislation, researching materials, identifying arguments, and delivering speeches. Instruction will teach both legislation construction and refutation for Congressional Debate. In addition to this specialized instruction, novice students will be provided with the same comprehensive topic knowledge and focus on speaking skills that is the Utah difference!
• Progressive/Varsity Track – The varsity track focuses on advanced speaking driven by cutting-edge research and intensive preparation. The BFI offers advanced lab(s) designed to provide every student with a highly developed, collegiate-level understanding of rhetoric, persuasion, and argumentation theory and practice. The advanced track features lectures, guided research, and instruction that teach students to effectively construct theoretical arguments, analyze critical and philosophical ideas within existing legislation, and strategically approach debate within Congressional sessions. This track will focus specifically on building arguments, including a focus on legislation construction and speech construction for authorship, pro/con, and rebuttal speeches, and other cutting-edge competitive practices. Coupled with the expansive range of “starter” resources with which students will leave camp, the BFI provides the training necessary for success throughout the competitive season. Please note: students who participate in the progressive/varsity track should have no less than one year (six tournaments) of competition at the varsity level. 

 

Debate Skills

All of our congressional debate labs use time-tested methods of debates, drills, and do-overs to teach students the skills and habits of highly effective debaters. Congressional debaters at the BFI will participate in multiple, critiqued practice rounds in which staff provide structured, rigorous feedback. In addition to practice rounds, students will regularly deliver “do-overs,” during which students re-give and improve their speeches. Students will also do daily skill drills in lab to refine their communication and argument skills.

Core Courses

• Elements of Effective Research — provides hands-on instruction in library research, electronic research, legislation construction, and evaluating evidence for worth and usefulness.
• Fundamentals of Argument — focuses on argument construction within legislation, analysis of evidence, speech structure, and other fundamental skills while creating speeches.
• Congressional Debate Lab — focuses on practical skills essential for speakers of all experience levels, including legislation writing (multiple formats), Robert’s Rules of Order, chairing, effective speaking (drills, judge adaptation, organization, delivery), effective time management (research before rounds, outlining, prepping, practicing), and delivery (fundamental speaking skills, gestures, pacing, tone, etc.).

Sample Schedule