EMERGING WRITERS INSTITUTE Academic Camps by Education Unlimited®

Middle and Elementary School Public Speaking will cover two main areas of public speaking:

Debate

Learn the art of verbal combat! Students will construct persuasive positions, defend against and attack each other’s arguments, and cross-examine effectively. Students will debate a variety of age- and experience-appropriate topics, form teams, and pit themselves against their co-campers. Past debate topics have included: school uniforms (elementary school), pre-emptive strike policy (middle school), and national security policy (high school).

Persuasive Speaking

Students craft and deliver convincing speeches. They start by performing a number of pre-written speeches in order to learn delivery, timing, and intonation. When students display comfort with delivery, they will begin to construct speeches based on their interests. Students learn to choose topics, establish captivating introductions, organize speech content, and deliver compelling conclusions! The focus is on speaking in a natural voice, with few or no notes, rather than writing an essay and merely reading it out loud, the form of “public speaking” taught by most teachers. All students end the week by presenting a speech in front of a large group of fellow campers.

Elementary Education at Stanford University

This is a special session of our Public Speaking Institute intended to meet the needs of younger students entering the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Elementary Education students will study the same basic skills as standard PSI students in a setting designed to encourage younger students’ enthusiasm for the activities. Our supportive and experienced staff lead fun educational activities and provide supervision that is appropriate for these younger students. Public Speaking students are given tips and plenty of practice to become comfortable speaking in front of their peers. Past topics include: “Should schools mandate uniforms?” and "Should junk food be allowed in school vending machines?" Classroom hours, recreational activities, and supervision are adjusted specifically for elementary school students. During this session, special commuter and extended care options are available, though students may also choose to stay in the campus dorms. Contact Education Unlimited for pricing details.