Stanford National Forensic Institute

The SNFI’s unique LD Extended Week is built upon one important premise: for most students of debate, practice rounds with in-depth critiques by quality instructors are the single most efficient path to quick improvement. The focus of the program is improvement of technique and execution. Participants will practice and master the theories, strategies, and techniques worked on during the first two weeks of the SNFI or at a previous debate camp. The Extended Week’s world class instructors will push students to eliminate specific weaknesses and polish their skills before the beginning of the competitive year. By the end of the week, debaters in this program will have close to 20 additional rounds of debate. For some students that is equivalent to having an additional semester of experience in a single week! SNFI’s rigorous approach contrasts starkly with the normal quota of rounds at other camps, which usually send students home with fewer than 10 practice debates. SNFI’s intensive practice schedule leads students to push beyond the topic basics and to delve into deeper philosophical, logical, and strategic issues. The Extended Week provides an unmatched student to staff ratio of 4:1. After a full week of practice rounds, previous graduates of SNFI’s Third Week excelled at the most prestigious tournaments of the beginning of the season, reaching the elimination rounds at Greenhill, St. Mark’s, Valley, Grapevine, Yale, Iowa Caucus, and Valley.

This cutting edge program features:

• Nationally renowned faculty: The practice rounds will be adjudicated by experienced judges who will give valuable advice and guidance on improving your debate skills. All of the staff for the third week have a wealth of success as both LD debaters and LD coaches.

• Accelerated learning environment: This exclusive program includes 15-20 critiqued debates to sharpen skills quickly but carefully. The program features repeated argument drills and rebuttal rework exercises, all designed to teach mastery of superior technique at all levels. Our staff will chart students’ individual progress and areas for improvement to help participants remedy those problems affecting them in particular. This unique approach ensures that individual progress continues well beyond the end of the institute.