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“For what should a man live, if not for the pleasures of discourse?” —Plato
What would you do if you were having a conversation with a friend and realized that you completely disagreed with her point of view? What if your friend wanted to debate you about this issue? Would you welcome such a challenge as an adventure, or would you shrink from it as a threat? This Everyday Debate course gives students debating confidence and opens their eyes to the benefit of debate, disagreement, and discussion in day-to-day life or in a formal debate setting.
Guided by the Everyday Debate text, this course introduces students to classical debate concepts, including Socratic Dialogue and Formal Debate. We will look at the Five Common Topics of Invention and how those inform a discussion or debate, then we’ll examine some of the stylistic tools that make a presentation stand out. Throughout the semester, we’ll take opportunities to apply the concepts we’re studying, practicing impromptu speaking, mini-debates, research skills, and a formal debate as well.
Placement: Please read about our placement process in the Student Parent Handbook.
Everyday Debate and Discussion is designed to serve either as a bridge for students in 9th grade and above who are moving from logic to rhetoric, or as a companion to upper-level logic or rhetoric studies. While this course does not have any required prerequisites, it is designed for students who have already completed a study of the informal fallacies. Students who have a working knowledge of the core content provided in an informal logic course (such as our course featuring The Art of Argument) will be ideally prepared for this course.
High School Credit: This course is the equivalent of 1/2 high school credit in speech and debate.
At Scholé Academy, we have carefully considered how we should engage our contemporary culture as those who believe that Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), and that all truth has its source in him. We think it is important to provide our upper school students (in grades 7-12) with tools and opportunities for critically examining various cultural trends, issues and mores through the lens of orthodox, Christian beliefs. Being confident in the truth revealed to us in creation, the Scriptures, and the tradition of the church, we are not afraid to follow the truth and its implications nor to address error and falsehood. … Read more about our Faith & Culture.
“My daughter has been stretched to think more deeply and to consider both sides of an issue objectively. She has really appreciated the fact that, even as a young teen, she has been given the opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations about tough issues.” —Everyday Debate Parent
Required Materials: Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course. These resources are listed to help inform your decision-making as you make course selections and build your course schedule. Please reach out to the instructor if you have any questions about materials.
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Andy Newman calls western Nebraska home, that borderland where Midwest and West shake hands. There he has taught literature, composition, history, journalism, and the humanities for more than twenty years at the high school and college levels. This is his fifth year at Scholé. Before teaching, he worked in daily print journalism.
His education is varied, having earned master’s degrees in history and English from the University of Wyoming and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, respectively. Most recently, he earned a MTh in Applied Orthodox Theology from the Antiochian House of Studies and a MA in Biblical Theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University. He will defend his dissertation early in 2027 for the PhD in Humanities from Faulkner University.
First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student’s previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
Make sure they don’t conflict with other activities in your schedule or other courses you are purchasing. Our system will not catch double-bookings!
Our Assistant to the Principal will be in touch with you after your enrollment to help you with next steps, including any placement evaluations that may be required for your course selections.
This registration will be finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
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