Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Farris:
Christy, on our program this week, you’ve given some pretty compelling reasons to try to learn how to debate. We may have parents listening who are intrigued, but feel inadequately prepared to help their kids get started. Where would you recommend that families begin, if they’re interested in debating?

Christy Shipe:
Well first of all, HSLDA offers my textbook. The newest version is An Introduction to Policy Debate, and I’d really encourage you to get that along with the companion video. It’s written from the perspective that you know nothing about formal debate, and so it’s written from very ground up.

And then as you get your feet wet, you can go to the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association website, that’s a mouthful, but it’s NCFCA.org. They have contacts for local state representatives all over the country that you can get in touch with and learn about clubs and local resources in your area. That’s a great resource for beginning debaters.

Another activity I’d suggest is to have your kids take sermon notes. It’s a great skill to be able to listen to a speech and start taking notes and analyzing that.

Mike:
Christy, those are great suggestions! I really encourage people to get involved with NCFCA. Thanks for joining us. I’m Mike Farris.