Debate

ASAP Debate empowers students to explore important issues and find their voice.

With 45 clubs and more than 500 students (grades 4-12), ASAP Debate is committed to providing youth in Philadelphia public schools with the same opportunity as their suburban and private school peers to develop the essential researching habits, persuasive writing and public speaking skills that will prepare them for success in high school and college.

ASAP Debate provides training and evidence packets to help middle and high schools run public forum debate clubs. Middle school clubs study one topic each semester and high school debate clubs explore a different topic each month. ASAP holds debate competitions throughout the year to help students improve their cases and their public-speaking skills.

If you are a youth or a parent/guardian of a student in Philadelphia who is interested in debating after school or in the summer, click this map to find an ASAP Debate club near you. Or to learn more, contact debate@3h3io.bh56.net or call ext. 16.

If you want to start an ASAP Debate club at your school or site, click here to learn more.

Through partnerships with Penn For Youth Debate and Victory Briefs, ASAP provides its club leaders with training, evidence packets, and resources to run effective debate clubs.

If you are a teacher, school administrator, site staff, parent or student looking to start an ASAP Debate club at your location, click here.

If you are interested in volunteering to judge debate rounds or support an ASAP Debate club, click here.

 

For high school clubs, ASAP runs the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League from November through March. Weekly debates for novice and varsity debaters are held on Wednesdays at Central High School. League Finals take place in March at the University of Pennsylvania. Awards are given for top student pairs at both the novice and varsity level, top individual speakers, and top school.

To join the Debate League, contact debate@3h3io.bh56.net or call ext. 16.

For the current Debate League standings, please click this link (Excel Online)

High School Debate: See Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League

Middle School Debate: ASAP holds monthly debate tournaments for middle school clubs from October through May and provides transportation for participating groups. Tournaments are generally held at high schools with active debate teams with high school debaters frequently serving as judges. Awards are given at the end of each tournament to top teams and speakers.

Weekend Debate Tournaments: ASAP supports a variety of weekend tournaments, including two weekend tournaments each year at the University of Pennsylvania through a partnership with Penn for Youth Debate. In addition, ASAP raises funds to support debate teams that compete at regional, state, and national tournaments throughout the year.

 

July 19th - July 30th, 2021 (Monday thru Friday ; 9AM to 2PM)

Join us for ASAP’s 8th Annual

Summer Debate Academy!

Free to register! No cost to attend this camp.

July 19th – July 30th, 2021

Camp details:

  • July 19th-30th
    • Monday-Friday (10 days total)
    • 9:00AM-2:00PM
  • Location: Carver HSES (1600 W. Norris St., Philadelphia, PA)
    • In-person (not virtual)
    • Near the BSL subway at the Cecil B. Moore stop
    • Free SEPTA Cards included
  • Free of cost!
    • Breakfast & Lunch included
  • Register here!: http://forms.gle/zgH9ypPEwvQgcdu6A
    • Grades 6-12th
    • Students from Philadelphia public & public charter schools are eligible to apply
  • To learn more, contact:

 

Camp description:

ASAP runs a free two-week Summer Debate Academy for students in grades 6-12. Under the guidance of experienced ASAP Debate coaches, students in the 2021 camp will learn “Original Oratory”: how to craft a 5-10 minute persuasive & entertaining speech on any topic.

Here is an example Oratory speech!: http://youtu.be/9Q_uRUP8SmY

View our camp flyers here:

Summer Debate 2021 (JPG)

Summer Debate 2021 (PDF)

Our players in action

Through year-round programming, ASAP Debate supports Philadelphia’s next generation of leaders

“As a woman of color, our voices are often drowned out. Debate gives me the confidence to speak up and voice my opinion.” -- Tatyana, 12th grade
With more than 20 teams, ASAP’s middle school debate program is one of the largest in the country.
“Understand that your voice is powerful and you have the power to make a difference. And remember, whatever you say, make it hot.” – Ajanae Mills, ASAP Debate alum
“No matter what I do, debate is going to be one of the most integral parts of me being me. This isn’t a high school thing, this isn’t a college thing, this is a life thing.” – Mekhi, ASAP Debate alum

Want to discover more about ASAP’s programs? Click here to learn about ASAP Chess, ASAP Drama, and ASAP Scrabble.

Chess
Drama
Scrabble

Your Contribution Makes a Difference

Donate
$10

Provides students with Septa passes for afterschool debate competitions across Philadelphia.
$30

Supports 1 ASAP Debate student during the school year
$50

Provides professional development training for afterschool club leader in debate and classroom management
$100

Supplies evidence packets & equipment to one ASAP Debate club.