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ISDS Debate Certification Course
What will students learn?
Students work in small cohorts with nationally acclaimed trainers to learn every aspect of WSDC debating in thorough detail. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the WSDC format deeply, be able to break down different motion types, construct arguments, deliver rebuttal, improve style, and deliver speeches in the WSDC format.
Learning is reinforced through practice exercises, speeches, and debates.
► The detailed course structure can be found here.
How does the certification work?
Students are assessed through a continuous evaluation system based on four metrics:
(i) Class Participation
(ii) Comprehension
(iii) Assignment Quality
(iv) Speech Quality
At the end of the course, they are awarded one of the following grades:
(i) Distinction, (ii) Commendation, (iii) Completed.
A certificate reflecting the grade will be provided to each student.
Why should you register?
- Build and deploy critical thinking and communication skills across a wide range of contemporary issues
- Prepare to participate in WSDC.
- Receive personalised feedback for each exercise conducted during sessions, and on all assignments submitted.
- Reflect your grade in college applications.
Salient Information
- Dates: May 2 – 28, 2025 (Mon, Wed & Fri)
- Length: 12 sessions
- Timing: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM IST
- Eligibility: Students in Grades 9 – 12
- Cost per student: Rs. 15,000/-
- Team discounts only apply for students applying in teams of 3: Rs. 40,500/- (Rs.13,500/- per student)
- Mode of Learning: Online, via Zoom
* A team consists of 3 students. Students do not have to be from the same school
Session Details
| Session Title | Date & Time |
| 1/ Introduction to Debating | May 2 ’25 (Fri) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 2/ Speech Structure & Speaker Roles | May 5 ’25 (Mon) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 3/ Approaching a Debate Motion | May 7 ’25 (Wed) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 4/ Creating Policies | May 9 ’25 (Fri) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 5/ Building Arguments I | May 12 ’25 (Mon) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 6/ Building Arguments II | May 14 ’25 (Wed) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 7/ Speech Practice | May 16 ’25 (Fri) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 8/ Rebuttal | May 19 ’25 (Mon) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 9/ Rebuttal Practice | May 21 ’25 (Wed) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 10/ POIs and Prep Time | May 23 ’25 (Fri) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 11/ Style | May 26 ’25 (Mon) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
| 12/ WSDC Style Debate | May 28 ’25 (Wed) 6:00-8:00 pm IST |
Registration Process
- Fill in your personal details.
- Enter the amount applicable to your registration (INR 15,000/- for an individual, and INR 40,500/- for a team) and click submit. The form will redirect you to a payment gateway.
- Complete the payment. Registrations will be counted only once payment has been successful.
Note:
- We do not need students to have prior debate experience, but they can expect an intermediate level of instruction, and will have to commit to additional reading and homework as part of this course to complete it and receive their certificate and grade.
- Students who complete this course with a high distinction can directly enter the second round of the selection process for the Indian National Debate team in 2024-25 (applicable to students in Grades 9-11 in the 2024-25 academic year).
