New York City Urban Debate League

First NYC Parliamentary Debate Tournament of the Year!

<div> <span>Urban Debate League coaches first brought parliamentary debate to the city years ago and now its one one of our flagship debate events at every tournament! &nbsp;We use an adapted version of the American Parliamentary Debate format.&nbsp; Topics are nominated and voted on by coaches, we also have a community debate topic which is pre-assigned each month.&nbsp; Parliamentary is unique than our other debate formats because there is student and audience interaction with Points of Information and Heckling. &nbsp; Topics also change each round.&nbsp; Debaters are also taught important extemporaneous and impromptu speaking skills because there is no pre-written materials allowed in rounds.&nbsp; Instead, students have 20 minutes before each round to directly prepare notes.&nbsp;</span> </div> <!–more–><div> <span>Our October Middle School Tournament featured the topics of:</span> </div> <div> <span>Topic #1:&nbsp;Columbus Day should be removed as a Federal Holiday.</span> </div> <div> <span>Topic #2:&nbsp;Non-violence is the best method in the struggle for justice.</span> </div> <div> <span>Topic #3: Arts and Humanities classes should be mandatory for every student in school.&nbsp;</span> </div> <div> <span>Next month’s topics include</span> </div> <div> <span></span> </div> <div> <span>1. The Specialized High School Admissions Test should not be the deciding factor for admissions to Specialized High Schools in NYC.</span> <span> <p><span>2. Prisons should be abolished.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>3. Bill de Blasio should be the next mayor of New York City.</span></p></span> </div> <div> <span>And if interested in nominating new topics for our December Tournament, please contact your coach!&nbsp; Thank you again for all the people who have made Parliamentary Debate possible! &nbsp;</span> </div>