As a part of their rigorous academic program, students attend classes from eight to three-fifteen on Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays, but also take morning classes on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, leaving those afternoons free for athletics and other activities. In L-D debate, logic, organization and a working understanding of philosophy will help you more than a fistful of evidence on practical matters. You must both support your position and attack that of your opponent, using both prepared and impromptu strategies. It's terrific training for future lawyers and politicians. Student Congress Students propose their own laws, then gather in a group of twelve to twenty-five to speak for and against the various proposals.
Parliamentary procedure is used to help keep order.
Unlike other forms of debate, Congress allows students themselves to decide both the issue being debated AND the side which they'll support. In that, it's a lot like the real Congress. They have thirty minutes to prepare their speeches, which must last between four and seven minutes, and which are usually delivered without a script or notes of any kind. Topics vary widely, from child abuse to SAT reform to space exploration, but persuasive speeches are usually preferred. Just like DI, but funnier.