Debate

Public Forum Debate | Novice | Level 1 is designed for second through fifth graders new to Public Forum debate. During class, students will learn the Public Forum debate format, how to write and research arguments, practice impromptu speaking, and gain experience in mock debates. All instruction will be taught through the lens of a debate topic of global significance.

Most Potomac Debate Academy students start at the novice level where they learn debate basics like the structure of a public forum round, how to research a new topic on their own, and work to build confidence as public speakers. Novice debaters tend to spend two to three semesters debating at the introductory level before being promoted to Junior Varsity.

Public Forum Debate | Novice | Level 2 is designed for second through fifth graders who have completed Novice | Level 1 with PDA. During class, students will continue to build on skills taught in their first semester, while refining their abilities through extensive practice.

Public Forum Debate | Junior Varsity is designed for fourth and fifth graders who have taken both our Novice | Level 1 & Novice | Level 2 classes. During class, students will continue to practice their debate skills while learning new advanced concepts such as argument weighing, round strategy, judge adaptation, and more. Students will refine their abilities through extensive mock debates, tournament preparations, and debate-oriented activities.

Public Forum Debate | Varsity is our highest learning level for fourth and fifth graders, aimed at students who have completed all four novice and JV levels with PDA. During class, students will refine their understanding of advanced debate concepts, while putting their skills to practice with a focus on preparing for tournaments.

Public Forum Debate | Novice | Level 1 is designed for middle school students new to Public Forum debate. During class, students will learn the Public Forum debate format, how to write and research arguments, practice impromptu speaking, and gain experience in mock debates. All instruction will be taught through the lens of a debate topic of global significance.

Most Potomac Debate Academy students start at the novice level where they learn debate basics like the structure of a public forum round, how to research a new topic on their own and work to build confidence as public speakers. Novice debaters typically spend two to three semesters debating at the introductory level before being promoted to Junior Varsity.

Public Forum Debate | Novice | Level 2 is designed for middle school students who have completed Novice | Level 1 with PDA. During class, students will build on skills taught in their first semester, while refining their abilities through extensive practice and preparing for competitive tournaments.

Public Forum Debate | Junior Varsity is designed for middle school students who have taken both our Novice | Level 1 & Novice | Level 2 classes. During class, students will continue practicing their debate skills, while learning new advanced concepts such as argument weighing, flowing, round strategy, and more. Students will refine their abilities through hands-on activities such as mock debates, round reviews, and drills. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Public Forum Debate | Varsity is aimed at students who have completed all four novice and JV levels with PDA and have a strong understanding of debate. Students at this level start to compete more regularly on the national circuit. Classes at the varsity level adapt to student’s experience, tournament participation, and individual needs. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Public Forum Debate | Varsity+ is the highest possible level of placement on our team for a middle school student. This team is for middle school students who have a strong grasp of debate fundamentals and seek to compete at the highest level of the national circuit. Most students in Varsity+ compete regularly at the high school level as middle schoolers. Students in this class focus on topics from collapsing and weighing to progressive debate in the form of Ks and theories. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Public Forum Debate | Novice | Level 1 is designed for high school students new to Public Forum debate. During class, students will learn the Public Forum debate format, how to write and research arguments, practice impromptu speaking, and gain experience in mock debates. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Most Potomac Debate Academy students start at the novice level where they learn debate basics like the structure of a public forum round, how to research a new topic on their own and work to build confidence as public speakers. Novice debaters typically spend two to three semesters debating at the introductory level before being promoted to Junior Varsity.

Public Forum Debate | Novice | Level 2 is designed for high school students who have completed Novice | Level 1 with PDA. During class, students will build on skills taught in their first semester, while refining their abilities through extensive practice and preparing for competitive tournaments. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Public Forum Debate | Junior Varsity is designed for high school students who have taken both our Novice | Level 1 & Novice | Level 2 classes. During class, students will continue to practice their debate skills, while learning new advanced concepts. Students will refine their abilities through hands-on activities such as mock debates, round reviews, and drills. This team will focus on preparing students for travel competitions around the country. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Public Forum Debate | Varsity is aimed at students who have completed all four novice and JV levels with PDA and have a strong understanding of debate. Students at this level start to compete more regularly on the national circuit. Classes at the varsity level adapt to student’s experience, tournament participation, and individual needs. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Public Forum Debate | Varsity+ is the highest possible level of placement for a high school student on our team. This team is for high school students who have a strong grasp of debate fundamentals and seek to compete at the highest level of the national circuit. Classes at the varsity level adapt to student’s experience, tournament participation, and individual needs. Students in this class focus on topics from collapsing and weighing to progressive debate in the form of Ks and theories. All students will debate the high school topic assigned by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Parliamentary Debate | Novice is designed for students grades 4th – 5th who have no or limited prior debate experience. In class, students learn the fundamentals of the Parliamentary Debate format, how to organize arguments, practice impromptu speaking, and gain experience debating a wide range of fun, creative, and real-world topics. Because topics are announced in class rather than researched in advance, students focus on developing confidence, clarity, and quick-thinking skills.

Most Potomac Debate Academy students begin at the introductory level, where they learn key debate skills such as structuring a speech, responding to arguments in real time, and communicating ideas clearly under time pressure. Students at the novice level typically spend two to three semesters building these foundational skills before progressing to more advanced Parliamentary Debate levels.

Parliamentary Debate | Novice is designed for students grades 6th-8th who have no or limited prior debate experience. In class, students learn the fundamentals of the Parliamentary Debate format, how to organize arguments, practice impromptu speaking, and gain experience debating a wide range of fun, creative, and real-world topics. Because topics are announced in class rather than researched in advance, students focus on developing confidence, clarity, and quick-thinking skills.

Most Potomac Debate Academy students begin at the introductory level, where they learn key debate skills such as structuring a speech, responding to arguments in real time, and communicating ideas clearly under time pressure. Students at the novice level typically spend two to three semesters building these foundational skills before progressing to more advanced Parliamentary Debate levels.

Parliamentary Debate | Junior Varsity is designed for students grades 6th-8th who have completed our introductory Parliamentary level(s) or who have comparable experience from Public Forum. In this class, students continue strengthening their core debate skills while learning more advanced strategies specific to Parliamentary Debate.

Students will refine their abilities through hands-on activities such as mock debates, advanced improvisational drills, and targeted round reviews. They will tackle a wide range of topics—political, philosophical, creative, and real-world—using the quick-prep style that defines Parliamentary Debate. Because topics are presented in class with limited preparation time, Junior Varsity debaters focus on developing strategic thinking, responsive argumentation, and confident delivery under pressure.