Students in these courses will learn the basics of logic and dialectic reasoning through research, writing, and academic debate. The course will utilize topics of current national and/or international importance as the subjects of their research, and students learn to de fend the conclusions of their research both in writing and through formal debate. The course may be taken either for full year (Course 244) or for the first semester (Course 245). Some debate rounds outside of regular school hours will be required.