21+March+10

We are going to continue learning about debate this week by having a debate about Exams. Here is the sheet you received in class last week: [|Exams]

How you prepare an affirmative case you have to do the following:


 * 1) Show that the present situation (status quo) is harmful. (There is a problem.)
 * 2) Show that the harms are significant. (It's a big/important problem. $$/lives could be at stake )
 * 3) Show that nothing is being done about the harmful situation.
 * 4) Propose a plan that will solve the problem.
 * 5) Optional: (Show the extra advantages that your plan will create)

What we are going to do in class today:

Groups practice presenting your affirmative cases on the exam topic. Get feedback from your group. One individual makes case to the class.

Class critiques and plans strategy to attack the case.

Practice making negative case.

Practice debates.

__Notes on Sue’s speech about Replacing HS entrance exams:__ Harms Prepare for the exam by replacing art and PE classes Students only memorize answers without absorbing knowledge which results in Ss not having critical thinking ability All the midterms and finals are designed to mimic the entrance exam so the potential of students is not explored. If you do poorly on the exam, it screws up your future. Use grades in schools to apply to the HS that you want. Like how you apply for university. __My notes for counterargument:__ Flawed arguments Lack of proof as to the significance No barriers to actually teach critical thinking No inherency Plan does not work.

__Vote for this semester's debate topic. Write your name after the topic you prefer:__
I like this topic: Samuel, Gabriella
 * 1. Porn is beneficial to society and access to it should not be restricted .**

I like this topic: Lydia, Tina, Iver, Hannah, Sonia, Penny, Chelsea, Tarrie, Eva, Sara, Miranda, Linda
 * 2. Tax food in supermarkets and restaurants that lacks nutritional value and makes people fat. **

I like this topic: Sue
 * 3. Raise the drinking age to 21 **

I like this topic: Chris, Pearl
 * 4. Make all high schools single sex schools **

Here are some other ideas that we discussed but did not make it to the final vote:
 * Ban barbecuing during the moon festival
 * Free public transportation
 * Don’t over medicate
 * No toys in happy meals
 * Surrogate motherhood
 * Animal rights
 * File sharing
 * Genetic screening
 * Cloning

This is some information about debating that we will learn about in class today: [|Stock Issues]: These are the important issues for a policy debate. [|Policy Debate]: the Theory (Stock Issue section is repeated here) and Evidence Sections are helpful [|Public Forum Debate]

You can find some simple and concise debating advice here: [|Debate Ideas for Use with American English]: 10 debate topics with pro and con arguments [|Debate Suggestions]: subpage from the previous website. [|Debate Advice]: another subpage from the previous website.