The Atlanta Urban Debate League is committed to providing excellent debate education programs, services, and opportunities to diverse students, educators, and members of the community!
Summer Institute Schedule & Curriculum
Tentative Curricula
All students will learn foundational debate skills and be introduced to the 2025-2026 topic. Experienced students* will also learn the structure of a few more advanced debate arguments.
Foundational Skills
Parts of an argument
Public speaking
Asking and answering questions
Being Affirmative / Affirmative case structure
Being Negative / Disadvantage structure
Impact comparison
Flowing / Note-taking
Judge and audience adaptation
Line-by-line refutation
Evidence comparison
Introduction to 2025-2026 topic
Advanced Skills (Middle & High School)
Counterplan structure
Answering counterplans
Strategic decision-making / kicking arguments
Experienced middle school students are students who have experience debating at AUDL or other equivalent tournaments for at least one season
Tentative Schedule
8:30-9:00 a.m. - Drop-Off
9:00-9:55 a.m. - Large Group
10:00-12:00 p.m. - Lab Groups*
12:00-12:30 p.m. - Lunch
12:30-2:00 p.m. - Lab Groups*
2:15-2:30 p.m. - Pick-Up
*Lab groups are encouraged to take breaks at the instructors’ discretion