USU Online Junior Training Day

The USU is excited to invite you to their Online Junior Training Day. 

Traditionally this has been held in person but for 2021 this will be entirely online, through the USU Zoom account.

Registration signups close on Monday 4th October 2021.

A zoom link will be sent to all registered participants the day prior to the event.

The day will be divided into two sessions running simultaneously:

Session 1 - Seminars: 4:15pm -5:15pm

Session 2 - Teacher Seminar: 4:15pm -5:15pm
 

Session 1: Debating Seminars

During the first session of the training day, some of Sydney University’s most accomplished debaters will conduct a series of debating seminars for students. These seminars will be tailored to students’.  If teachers feel their students may be better suited to a seminar in a younger or older age group based on their debating experience, the students can go into a different seminar.

These sessions will be interactive. Students can ask questions at any time, and will be given the chance to answer questions offered by those leading the seminars.

Beginners: Year 7/8 seminar

For students in years 7 and 8, the seminar will provide important information about the basics of debating. This will help refresh those students who have debated before, and provide important information about the activity for those who haven’t.

The year 7/8 seminar will include information to help students:

• Understand why debating matters
• Understand how debating helps them in their studies and life
• Understand the speaker roles in a 3 on 3 debate
• Analyse and define different types of topics
• Create a model when required by the topic
• Identify clashes in debates and move debates towards them

Intermediate: Year 8/9 seminar

Students in Years 8/9 will receive a seminar on improving their basic debating skills, and developing more sophisticated debating techniques.

The year 8/9 seminar will:

• Remind students about the basic features of 3 on 3 debating
• Teach students debating techniques to improve confidence and style
• Focus on how to improve the structure and content of arguments
• Inform students of more persuasive rebuttal techniques

Session 2: Teachers Seminar

How do We Coach Debating

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the basics of debating
• Analyse the purpose of debating
• Identify different types of debates likely to arise
• Explain different ways of generating arguments 
• Understand the use of facts in debating 
• Outline why gathering information for debating purposes is unique
• Conduct debating training sessions