The Michigan National Debate Institute
June 22nd - July 12th, 2008

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The Michigan National Debate Institute (MNDI) is a 3-week policy debate workshop with a curriculum designed for high school debaters of every experience level from top varsity to novice.

Design

The MNDI curriculum is designed by long-time high school coaches from around the country who have served on our faculty for many years. Because the MNDI admits students of every experience level, the faculty has designed appropriate curriculum to address specific needs of students in their individual classes.

Educational Environment. The MNDI has never had a concluding tournament. This format fundamentally alters the orientation of both the students and faculty in a way that encourages preparation for the entire debate season, not just for winning a workshop tournament. This format allows more emphasis to be placed on individual instruction with students on debating technique and topic-specific analysis. The sharing and cooperation encouraged by this format generates a more productive and enjoyable environment for all involved.

Lab Groups

The following lab leaders will work together at the MNDI. For a more full description of each lab leader please visit the Faculty Page:

Tim Alderete (Policy Debate Coordinator at The Meadows School) and Dana Randall (Debate Coach at Carrollton Sacred Heart)

Shunta Jordan (Director of Debate at Pace Academy) and Dylan Keenan (Senior Debater at the University of Michigan)

Roy Levkovitz (Director of Debate at Woodward Academy) and Whit Whitmore (Debate Coach at the University of Michigan and Woodward Academy)

To implement this curriculum the central units of instruction are small class groupings. The participants of the MNDI are assigned to classes of 22 or fewer students. Each class operates under the full-time instruction of two faculty members. These class groups serve as the primary instructional unit throughout the institute. They are supplemented by lectures and small seminar groups taught by additional faculty members.

Topic Analysis

The primary element of the MNDI curriculum is to instruct the students in the subject content of the national policy debate topic. Priority is placed almost exclusively on mainstream affirmative cases and topic-specific negative strategies. Broad-based survey lectures cover the stock affirmative cases and core negative arguments, including a rigorous defense of the status quo policy. Students at the MNDI receive hands-on and detailed instruction on how to use their research product to compose high-quality, well-organized arguments.

Shared Arguments

Students at the MNDI participate in a program of extensive argument sharing as a way to expedite and coordinate the development of key affirmative and negative positions. Each lab group is assigned a mainstream affirmative case and plan, and a core negative argument to prepare. The product of each of these labs is photocopied for every student at the MNDI during the second week of the workshop. Students, subsequently, have several fully developed affirmative cases and plans, and enough negative evidence to conduct specific practice sessions.

Organization

Classes focus on the mechanics of how to construct arguments, including: logical structure and organization, proper and full source citations and use of qualifications, explanatory labeling, and the ethics of highlighting and use of evidence.

Theory Application

Students at the MNDI are taught a solid foundation of basic debate theory and, where appropriate, instructed in application and refutation of more advanced theory. Classes focus on basic theoretical issues such as stock issues, counterplan topicality and competition, affirmative and negative fiat and agency, conditionality and dispositionality, intrinsicness, topicality and extra-topicality. Advanced topics include partially plan-inclusive counterplans, permutations, and Critiques.

Lecture Series

MNDI students also receive a comprehensive speaker position lecture series. This lecture series offers instruction for each speaker position including constructive and rebuttal techniques; organization systems; and advanced strategic concepts concerning time allocation, argument, selection and weighing.

Emphasis on Debating Skills

The MNDI places great emphasis on teaching effective communication skills to debaters. Students at the MNDI selection, and weighing are taught that persuasive communication is an essential component of effective argument presentation. Our faculty is committed to the principle that there is no necessary trade-off between analytical substance and persuasive speaking style.

Practice Debates

The faculty conducts a rigorous series of debates and rebuttal rework sessions in which students receive extensive individual instruction. Students also participate in an individualized, four-hour Speaking Clinic where they work intensively on their speaking style and technique.

Strategy and Tactics Mini-Debates

In addition to full practice debates, the faculty conducts a series of mini-debates on the core issues of the national resolution. The mini-debates take place throughout the workshop, beginning on the second day. All the materials necessary to participate in the debates are provided to the students centrally by the workshop. Each set of debates is preceded by an introductory lecture by one of the MNDI faculty members, as well as more detailed instruction by the lab leaders. These debates are highly effective means of teaching the content of the topic as well as a wide range of both affirmative and negative strategies and tactics. Topics for the debates include: the major harm areas, the important disadvantages, key topicality arguments, certain topic-specific counterplans, and critiques. Every student participates in each of these debates.

David Heidt (1991), Debate Coach at Emory and the Westminster Schools and 1996 NDT Champion

The MNDI was amazing! I got everything that I wanted out of a debate camp's individual attention from the lab leaders, theory instruction that made sense, and plenty of evidence. More importantly, the MNDI taught me about both the value of research and how to research efficiently. I learned more about argument construction at the MNDI than I did at any other point in my career. I loved it and I would (and did) recommend it to anyone I was coaching.

MNDI Information

Fees

The total fee for the MNDI is $1,800. This fee covers the full cost of tuition, housing in the Residence Hall, the Dining Room Plan, lab copying fees, and several social events. Admitted applicants must submit a $500 deposit within three weeks after notification of admission. The balance of payment is due no later than June 1.

Detailed Fee Payment Schedule- http://www.michigandebate.com/MNDIPaymentScheduleInformation.cfm

Application Policy

Applications must be received by June 1. No application fee is required. All applicants are informed of their admission status within ten days of our receipt of the completed application form. All applicants who meet the June 1 deadline will be notified of their admission by June 2. Applications for Financial Aid must be received by May 1.

Admission Policy

Students are admitted on primarily a first-apply basis, so early application is strongly advised. A letter of recommendation is not required prior to admission to the MNDI.

Click here to go directly to our Application Page

MNDI and Extension Week
June 22nd - July 19th, 2008

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The MNDI Extension Week is offered solely in conjunction with the MNDI as a four-week package. Its curriculum is about one thing only: debating.

The extension week is a week-long practicum that focuses on an intensive practice round schedule culminating in a two day tournament. The days are spent preparing for and participating in practice debates and the evenings are spent working in a group setting on argument preparation and practice speeches. Each student will participate in around 10 debates during the course of the extension week.

Participants receive highly individualized speaking instruction through a series of debates, constructive and rebuttal rework sessions. Lectures on debate techniques such as the 2AC, 1AR, 2NC and 2NR permit focus on specific priorities.

The four week total fee, including tuition, room and board, is $2550, Students may apply for the Extension Week at the time of their application to the MNDI or at any time, prior to June 8.

Detailed Fee Payment Schedule- http://www.michigandebate.com/MNDIPaymentScheduleInformation.cfm