Up for Debate

Gr 9 Up—One of the Middle East's wealthiest countries assembled a team of five high schoolers to represent their country in a 2009 international debate tournament held in Washington, DC. The team included a Qatari, an Iraqi, a Syrian-Armenian, a Pakistani, and an Iranian. Viewers follow the group, led by an experienced coach from Oxford University, as they meld their varied backgrounds into a unified squad, while maintaining their individual personalities in the intense atmosphere of debating. One of the more interesting sidebars is the description of Qatar and the young debaters' comments on its culture and religion-based society. The main body of the program follows the rookie team as it is tested by more experienced squads in the competition, and we see the results of their improved critical thinking and presentation skills. The film is divided into six chapters that can be accessed individually—"Team Qatar," "Training in England," "Qatar-New York-Washington, DC," "Competition Begins," "Competing Against the Champions," "Last Days." The film's limited focus makes it a supplemental purchase at best for libraries with hefty budgets.—Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL