Benefits of Participating in High School Debate

Benefits of Participating in High School Debate In schools across the world, debate teams are valued for training students in public speaking, grace under pressure, and critical thinking. Student debaters have several advantages, whether they choose to join debate teams on campus or if they debate as members of a political club. Debating provides practice in developing sound and logical arguments.Debate gives students an opportunity to practice speaking in front of an audience and thinking on their feet.Students participating in debate show initiative and leadership.The research debaters perform expands their minds and increases their understanding of multiple sides of important issues.Students hone their research skills in preparing for debates. What Is a Debate? Essentially, a debate is an argument with rules. Debating rules vary from one competition to another, and there are several possible debate formats. Debates can involve single-member teams or teams that include several students. In a standard debate, two teams are presented  with a resolution or topic, and each team has a set period of time to prepare an argument. Students typically dont know their debate subjects ahead of time. However, participants are encouraged to read about current events and controversial issues to prepare for debates. This can give teams special strengths in certain topic areas. The goal is to come up with a good argument in a short amount of time. At a debate, one team argues in favor (pro) and the other argues in opposition (con). In some debate formats, each team member speaks, and in others, the team selects one member to speak for the entire team. A judge or a panel of judges assigns points based on the strength of the arguments and the professionalism of the teams. One team is usually declared the winner, and that team advances to a new round. A school team can compete in local, regional, and national tournaments. A typical debate format includes: Teams are advised of the topic and take positions (pro and con).Teams discuss their topics and come up with statements expressing their position.Teams deliver their statements and offer the main points.Teams discuss the oppositions argument and come up with rebuttals.Teams deliver their rebuttals.Teams make their closing statements. Each of these sessions is timed. For instance, teams may have only three minutes to come up with their rebuttal. Interested students without a team at their school can look into starting a debate team or club. Many colleges also offer summer programs that teach debating skills. Lessons Learned Through Debate Knowing how to synthesize information and deliver it to an audience succinctly- even an audience of one- is a skill that benefits people throughout their lives. Debate skills can come in handy when interviewing for jobs, networking for career advancement, conducting meetings, and giving presentations. These soft skills can help in most careers because debate students learn the art of persuasion. Outside of the working world, having good communication skills is useful in activities as ordinary as meeting new people or as special as making a wedding toast in front of a crowd, as debate helps people learn composure and confidence when speaking with others.

Western Michigan University (WMU) Admissions Data

Western Michigan University (WMU) Admissions Data Western Michigan University accepts over 80 percent of those who apply. Learn more about their admissions requirements and what it takes to get into this college. Western Michigan University (WMU) is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it is one of the states 15 public universities. The school frequently ranks among the top 100 public universities in the country. Kalamazoo, with a population of around 75,000, is located about two hours west of Detroit. Business is the most popular undergraduate field, but for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Western Michigan University was awarded a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Academically talented students should check out the Lee Honors College. In athletics, the WMU Broncos compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference (MAC). Popular sports include football, soccer, track and field, and basketball. Will you get in if you apply? Calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) Western Michigan University Acceptance Rate: 82 percentTest Scores: 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 455Â  / 560SAT Math: 445Â  / 555Michigan public university SAT score comparisonMid-American SAT ComparisonACT Composite: 19 / 25ACT English: 17Â  / 25ACT Math: 18Â  / 25What these ACT numbers meanMichigan public university ACT score comparisonMid-American ACT comparison Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 23,227Â  (18,313 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 50Â  percent Male / 50 percent Female82 percent Full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $11,493 (in-state); $26,851 (out-of-state)Books: $948 (why so much?)Room and Board: $9,561Other Expenses: $2,366Total Cost: $24,368 (in-state); $39,726 (out-of-state) Western Michigan University Financial Aid (2015-16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 78Â  percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 61 percentLoans: 60 percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $7,079Loans: $7,986 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Biomedical Sciences, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Finance, Interdisciplinary Studies, Management, Marketing, PsychologyWhat major is right for you? Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation, Retention and Transfer Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 79 percentTransfer Out Rate: 32Â  percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 22Â  percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 53Â  percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports: Football, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, BaseballWomens Sports: Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Field If You Like Western Michigan University, You May Also Like These Schools Wayne State University: ProfileUniversity of Detroit Mercy: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFerris State University: ProfileCentral Michigan University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphOakland University: ProfileBowling Green State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPurdue University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBall State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphAlbion College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphOhio State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Western Michigan University Mission Statement mission statement from wmich.edu/about/mission/ Western Michigan University is a student-centered research university, building intellectual inquiry, investigation, and discovery into all undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The University provides leadership in teaching, research, learning, and public service. Nationally recognized and internationally engaged, the University: Forges a responsive and ethical academic communityDevelops foundations for achievement in pluralistic societiesIncorporates participation from diverse individuals in decision-makingContributes to technological and economic developmentEngenders an awareness and appreciation of the arts Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics