2010 BEGINNER TRAINING DAY

MAD runs an extraordinarily successful Schools training day every year at the Monash University Clayton Campus. In 2010, this day will display the same quality of training and adjudication as in the past, combined with some great new features and sessions to ensure the continued development of the debaters that attend.

The training days will be held on the 14th and 21st of March. The sessions held on these days will be identical, allowing students the flexibility to choose which day to attend. Students will be divided up based on their level of experience, in order to cater for varying degrees of skill.

Debaters may choose to attend both training days, in order to take advantage of both the beginner sessions and the advanced sessions.

FORMAT OF THE TRAINING DAY

The day will begin with students breaking up in to groups based on their differing levels of experience. Beginner debaters will be swiftly taken through the fundamentals of debating, from scoring and structure to rebuttal. Advanced debaters will be taken through specific speaker roles and team tactics, as well as advanced case preparation and rebuttal.

One of the most important secrets of success in debating is knowing how to approach particular types of DAV topics. This requires an understanding of fundamental issues or 'first principles'. The second half of the morning sessions will help students learn where to start when looking at issues such as human rights, the role of government, the criminal justice system and the environment. An understanding of these broad principled debates is extremely valuable, both in a debating and a non-debating context.

After acquiring their new skills, attendees will be able to sit back and take a brief break while watching the best in the business. Monash will host an exhibition debate with our top debaters, showcasing various skills taught throughout the day. Attendees will also participate in an active adjudication session at the end of the debate.

The day will end with a practice debate. Debaters will be given an hour to prepare a secret topic using the skills learnt in the Case Preparation seminar, with the assistance of an experienced MAD debater. After the debate, debaters will receive constructive feedback on their team's performance and advice about how to improve.

Payment and Registration

The cost for the training day is $30 per student. This cost includes a healthy lunch, a copy of MAD's training handbook and detailed individual feedback from a DAV accredited adjudicator.

Registration can be completed online at this link and payment can occur on the training day by cash or cheque. We are also happy to invoice schools at a later point.

Location

The training days will be held at Monash University Clayton, in the Law Building (Building 12).

For a full itinerary and description of the training day please visit here.

For a map of the Clayton Campus, please visit this link.
The training day will be held in Building 12.