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Term 1 Enrollment Open Dubai in-person and live online classes start September 5. Early bird until Sep 1

Atlantic Ivy students competing in an American-style debate round

Summer 2026 · Ages 11–16 · Online

Introduction to Public Forum

The American 2v2 team format — evidence-driven and tournament-ready.

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Summer 2026July 6 – August 21 · Seven weeks

About this program

Public Forum is the most popular debate format in the United States. Students learn the team-based 2v2 structure — constructives, crossfires, rebuttals, summaries, and final focus. A strong fit for students aiming at US college debate or who want exposure to a different format alongside World Schools.

Is this the right fit?

Who it's for
Students ages 11–16 · Specialist Format
Prerequisites
No prior PF experience required; team debate experience helpful.
Format & location

Online · 6 hrs of coaching per week

Schedule options (Dubai time)
  • Online — 3x/week: Monday 3 PM–5 PM · Wednesday 3 PM–5 PM · Friday 3 PM–5 PM
Good to know
  • •Schedule and cadence to be confirmed with the team.

A sample week

Sample week — Format & Team Dynamics

Day 1

  1. 1 hr

    PF Format Overview

    Walk through speaker roles, timing, and the flow of a complete Public Forum round.

  2. 30 min

    Team Coordination Drill

    Partner-sync exercises: dividing argument labor and signalling mid-round.

  3. 30 min

    Homework

    Watch a recent NSDA Public Forum round; identify the moments where teamwork mattered.

Day 2

  1. 1 hr

    Constructive Speech Workshop

    Build a four-minute opening case with two contentions and supporting evidence.

  2. 30 min

    Partner Practice

    Trade constructives with a partner; coach gives line-by-line feedback.

  3. 30 min

    Homework

    Refine and submit a written case for the week's motion.

Day 3

  1. 30 min

    Case Review

    Live revision based on overnight feedback.

  2. 1 hr

    First Team Round

    Run a full PF round end-to-end against another team; coach adjudicates and flows.

  3. 30 min

    Debrief

    Round post-mortem; identify the two highest-leverage improvements for next week.

Week by week

Seven weeks. Each week builds on the one before it, so the course runs as a single progression from the first session to the last.

01Format & Team Dynamics

July 6 – July 10

PF rules, team roles, and 2v2 strategy. First constructive speeches, partner coordination, and an introduction to American debate norms.

Readings

  • NSDA Finals — Selected Rounds (YouTube (NSDA channel))Watch a recent PF final to see the full format end-to-end.
  • How Public Forum Differs from World SchoolsInstructor-curated comparison piece for students coming from WSDC.

02Evidence & Research

July 13 – July 17

Master evidence cards, citations, and the research workflow specific to Public Forum. Students learn to read fast, source critically, and build a personal evidence file.

Readings

  • Topic Backgrounder (Council on Foreign Relations)CFR backgrounder on a current resolution topic — the gold standard for context.
  • Selected Statistical Report (Pew Research Center)Instructor-curated for the week's topic — practice extracting evidence cards.
  • How to Read a Paper — S. KeshavFree three-page guide to skimming academic sources for evidence.

03Rebuttal & Crossfire

July 20 – July 24

Rebuttal speeches plus the crossfire questioning that defines the format. Students learn to listen sharply, frame questions that trap opponents, and respond without conceding ground.

Readings

  • Selected Opinion Essay (The Atlantic)A strong but flawed argument to dissect for weak premises and missing links.
  • NSDA Finals — Crossfire Highlights (YouTube)Instructor-curated clips of the sharpest exchanges in recent finals.
  • Ask More — Frank SesnoOn the design of incisive, structured questions.

04Summary Speeches

July 27 – July 31

Master summary structure and the strategic art of argument selection — what to keep, what to drop, and how to make the round simple for the judge to flow.

Readings

  • Selected Opinion Column (The New York Times)A model of compact argument framing for the summary moment.
  • NSDA Finalist Summary Speeches (YouTube)Instructor-curated clips of championship-caliber summary work.
  • Made to Stick — Chip Heath & Dan HeathChapter on the curse of knowledge — making complex ideas land.

05Final Focus & Weighing

August 3 – August 7

Final focus speeches and comparative weighing — the closing case for the win. Students learn the four classic weighing axes (magnitude, probability, timeframe, reversibility) and how to deploy them under time pressure.

Readings

  • Leader Articles (The Economist)Compact models of weighing competing concerns in a few hundred words.
  • Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel KahnemanChapter on prospect theory — useful for weighing risk vs. reward.
  • NSDA Grand-Final Final Focus Speeches (YouTube)Instructor-curated examples of championship final-focus speeches.

06Tournament Preparation

August 10 – August 14

Tournament format, prep routines, and a full mock round. Students rehearse pre-round workflow, partner sync, and how to handle nerves.

Readings

  • Current NSDA Topic Brief (NSDA)The live resolution brief — required pre-tournament reading.
  • The Checklist Manifesto — Atul GawandeOn pre-performance routines that lift consistency under pressure.
  • Team Prep ChecklistInstructor-provided pre-round and pre-tournament checklist.

07Championship Tournament

August 17 – August 21

Full mock tournament across multiple rounds; awards, debrief, and a personalized plan for fall tournament prep.

Readings

  • Re-read a FavoriteRevisit a piece from earlier weeks that resonated.
  • Champion Reflection PieceInstructor-curated reflection from a TOC or NSDA national champion.
  • Quiet — Susan CainSelected chapter on performance under pressure for introverts.

What students take away

Everything included with full summer (7 weeks) enrollment.

  • ✓All seven weeks of modules
  • ✓21 sessions · 42 hours total
  • ✓Format fundamentals → tournament strategy
  • ✓Mock tournament in final week
  • ✓Materials and handouts provided

Frequently asked

Do you handle inquiries about pricing privately?

Yes. We share program fees, sibling discounts, and any early-enrollment offers directly with families once we understand the right fit. Get in touch and we will send everything within one business day.

What does my child need to attend?

For online sessions: reliable internet, a computer with webcam and microphone, and a quiet workspace. For in-person sessions at our Dubai campus: just themselves and a notebook. All materials are provided.

What if we miss a session?

Online sessions are recorded and shared with enrolled students within 24 hours. Research and writing assignments can be completed asynchronously. We recommend attending live whenever possible for the peer interaction.

What happens after summer ends?

Students can continue with our regular term courses starting in September. Summer students often advance one to two levels and are well prepared for fall tournaments.

Enroll

Configure your enrollment

Pick the schedule track that suits you, then add to your cart. Checkout in one place alongside any other programs you're enrolling in.

Returning Atlantic Ivy student? Use code RETURNING2026 at checkout for an extra $109 off.

Total

$1,307

All 7 weeks · single payment

Early-bird pricing through July 1, 2026. Returning Atlantic Ivy students: use code RETURNING2026 at checkout for $109 off ($980 effective).

Outcomes

What summer changes for our students

87%

Increase in Analytical Thinking Skills

7x

More Likely to Attend a Top-10 University

20%

Increase in Grade Point Average

15%

Increase in Social Confidence

Recent Tournament Results

  • •2025 Stanford Invitational — Novice Open Quarterfinalists (Top 8)
  • •2025 Oxford Schools Finals — Novice Finals & 5th Best Novice Speaker
  • •2025 Harvard Invitational — Middle School Quarterfinalists, Octofinalists & Top International Speaker
  • •2025 Harvard Debate Council International — Middle School Semifinalists
  • •2025 Cambridge Union International Young Debaters — Open Finalists & 6th Best Open Speaker

Coaches

Taught by debate champions and Oxford Union coaches

Our instructors include former head coaches of the Oxford Union, world champions, and international finalists.

Meet the team

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Inquire about Introduction to Public Forum

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