I take a holistic approach to debate coaching that has been refined over more than a decade. Coaching starts with the nuts and bolts of rhetoric and argumentation. I've studied a variety of argumentation models and can teach students the strengths and weaknesses of each one. I've also developed and seen a wide variety of debate strategies during my career, and can teach students how to effectively deploy techniques and counter them as well. While I give students the skills they need to excel in competition, I think that stops short of debate's true potential as an activity.
Debate is at its best when it teaches students how to think, what they value, and how they want to live. Consequently, I apply a Socratic approach to teaching—asking students questions rather than merely giving answers. My approach encourages students to establish values for themselves and figure out what they believe and why they believe it. By discussing these values in debate rounds, debaters are able to find the strengths and weaknesses within each one, and refine their worldview accordingly.
If desired, coaching can also extend beyond mere debate techniques and cases. Some of my best progress as a debater came through self-study and reading. I have accessible and interesting reading recommendations on a variety of topics, my favorite of which is cognitive psychology, which teaches students how the brain processes information, and how to optimize their thought processes. Other valuable areas of exploration include syntax, grammar, and philosophy. With a little bit of extra reading, these techniques can allow a debater to grow by leaps and bounds.
I also believe that life habits produce spillover effects for debate—learning how to establish good habits, hygiene, and work ethic not only make one a more successful debater, but also set the debater up well for life after debate. If desired, I can provide guidance on methods that worked for me during my debate career and beyond.
