Policy Debate is the most demanding of the formats offered in high school and is the predominant style of debate in college.  Policy debate is a two-person team event that focuses on one broad policy-oriented topic for the whole school year.  The average round lasts approximately one and a half hours. By working on the same topic for an entire year, students receive a unique form of in-depth education on the major policy issues of the day.  Broad topics focus on issues such as how to address climate change, how to solve pollution, what foreign policy changes the US should make towards specific countries or regions in the world, US military deployments and weapons policy, immigration reform, etc.  This style of debate places a heavy emphasis on research skills and preparation of arguments before tournaments. 

The HDW will offer an engaging curriculum that prepares students to compete at any level of policy debate in high school tournaments.  We will offer a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students to debate and research the upcoming year’s topic along with arguments that are relevant every year. Students will be assigned to labs with other students of similar background and experience.  The labs will focus on research skills, argumentation development and strategy, and how to deliver effective and persuasive speeches.