Music Time!
You may have heard this song before…it’s called “Love Song,” by Sara Bareilles, and it’s currently popular both in the U.S.A. and in Seoul. It’s a pretty song, and it also makes an interesting point about friendship, love, etc.
Listen to the song, and see if you can figure out what Sara is talking about. Write a paragraph analyzing the song. Have fun with this homework assignment.
Here’s the link to the YouTube file: http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=1RvtfTYpPHc
A debate brief is a short document highlighting key points relating to a current issue. Debate briefs can be written about any number of controversial problems in the world today (examples include the war in Iraq, nuclear proliferation, global warming, education initiatives, women’s rights, etc.) or about problems local to your community.
This week, do some research on an issue of your choice and post a short debate brief highlighting key points. Here are a few details to keep in mind:
1) Debate briefs should be…brief! Half a page is adequate for this assignment.
2) This is not an essay, and should not be written as such. Feel free to use bold face, italics, bullet points, and other document techniques to draw attention to key details.
3) Organize your brief into four sections: introduction, background (history), key facts/statistics, and suggestions for Parliamentary debate arguments.
This is a challenging assignment! If you have any questions, or if you are confused about debate briefs, feel free to email me: joseph.c.dugan@gmail.com.
Have fun!
The subject of global warming is among the most controversial issues of our time. Some scientists believe that global warming poses an imminent threat to humanity, while others see it as a trifling and insignificant issue.
This week in debate class, you learned about the Three P’s: possibility, probability, and positivity. Now, put your newfound knowledge into practice. Do a little research on the subject of global warming (I’ve included a couple of Web links below to help you with your research) and then answer this question:
Does global warming pose a serious threat to life as we know it? Is this threat a possibility, a probability, or is it positive?
We’ve been learning some methods of effective argumentation over the past several weeks. We’ve discussed logos, ethos, and pathos (remember what they are?) and we’ve addressed the key elements of well-structured argument: claim + reasoning + evidence.
Of course, debate isn’t merely about making strong arguments of your own; it’s also about pointing out the weaknesses in your opposition. This is called refutation, and you’ll be learning more about it in the weeks to come.
For now, let’s try a little exercise. Below, you will find a very poor argument in favor of the war in Iraq. Your task? Point out at least two weaknesses in this argument. It shouldn’t be difficult.
Read carefully, and think critically. Have fun!
* * * * *
Some people believe that the United States should withdraw its combat troops from Iraq. They say that the war is unwinnable. I disagree. I think that U.S. troops should remain permanently in Iraq.
Specifically, I believe that we should double our troop presence in the cities and eliminate all troops in the countryside. We should provide $5 million in funding for the war effort each year; we should reevaluate our funding needs every two decades.
The Iraqi government has shown itself to be ineffective. Thus, I believe the U.S. military command should disband the government and imprison all leadership. We should institute a military-sponsored Sunni government that will cooperate fully with President Bush’s directives.
Finally, we should impose a mandatory draft on all Iraqi citizens above the age of 8, compelling them into military service to ensure their own national security.
I urge you to consider this policy.
I’m sure you’ve heard talk from time to time about the cost of oil and the scarcity of fossil fuels. We live in a highly industrialized world with a tremendous demand for energy, but we have very limited resources – and they’re shrinking every day.
Fortunately, scientists are working on viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Read this article about one particularly promising resource: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/11/eco.algae/index.html.
Now, post a thoughtful comment in response to this question: How might algae provide for our energy needs in the future?
Be sure to provide support from the article in your response. Don’t forget to include your name!
The famous American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., died exactly 40 years ago. CNN posted an interesting article about what life might be like if MLK had survived.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/04/03/mlk.what.if.king.lived.ap/index.html
Read the article, do some of your own research on MLK, and then answer this question:
Why was Martin Luther King, Jr., such an important person in American history? How did he help society? How did he impact the world?
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