The art of debate has been a defining part of Western culture since the ancient Greeks.  Opus Academy's Formal Debate Program teaches your child the skills and techniques necessary to master debate, persuasion and argumentation.  Help your child develop the skills of logic, argumentation and refutation, hallmarks of any successful professional in today's society.

These courses teach students the art of formal debating, as well as simply constructing and responding to arguments in everyday conversation.  Students will learn to make argumentative speeches designed to persuade a listener.  This will include lessons on refutation - the art of responding to an argument made against one's position.  The course will move beyond the basic construction of speeches and teach students typical argumentative strategies that can be used in a wide variety of contexts.  This will allow students to gain a deep understanding of the art, which will help them cross the last hurdle: debating without preparation.

Skill Applications

Business and classroom proposals, formal competitive debate, formal logic, essay writing, research skills.