Ethics Debates

The specific dates for debates will be posted here:

Monday, May 4th

Wednesday, May 6th

Friday, May 8th

Tuesday, May 12th

Thursday, May 14th

Monday, May 18th

Wednesday, May 20th

Friday, May 22nd

This assignment is worth 30 points, and these are the specific directions and requirements.

* You will work in pairs on this.

* You will clear an appropriate topic with me. You will write a resolution which presents that topic for discussion and debate. That is simply a sentence that "frames" the debate. For example: "Capital punishment" is not a resolution. "The United States should abolish capital punishment" would be a resolution.

* One of you will prepare the affirmative side, and one of you will prepare the negative side for the resolution.

* You will do three things. First, you will each prepare a one-page maximum word document outlining key arguments and issues supporting your side. You will be responsible for getting me that document before noon on the class day of your schedule debate.

* Second, you will "begin" our debate with a four to five-minute "speech" supporting your side of the resolution. It should cite at least three sources of evidence; at least one of which is a contemporary expert, and one of which is a philosopher we have studied. It may be written out or delivered from notes.

* Third, you and your partner will compose a series of questions, topics, situations, etc. to guide our discussion.

Figure that you have approximately half of a class period, as we schedule two of these per day.