Quarterly Formal Debate Project (200 points)

Every quarter, students will work in groups of three or four to plan and engage in a
thoughtful debate with their peers concerning a specific issue tied to a topic discussed
earlier in the quarter.
Debate topics will be phrased as resolutions, and groups will be arguing either in favor
of or against their assigned resolutions. Each student will also be assigned to a debate
topic during which they will act as a core audience member and will be responsible for
preparing questions to ask of debating groups. The resolutions to be discussed and their
dates are as follows:
Resolved: Democracy is the most effective form of government (Mon., Nov. 10th).
Resolved: Understanding the present requires understanding early human life and
culture (Wed., Nov. 12th).
Resolved: A successful nation must have a strong military (Thur., Nov. 13th).
Resolved: Society must be organized into social classes in order to function (Fri.,
Nov. 14th).
Resolved: The cause of all suffering is peoples selfish desire for temporary
pleasures (Mon., Nov. 17th).
Preparation
1. Conduct thorough research from reliable resources.
2. Prepare a research-based opening statement that provides three, fact or logicbased reasons to support your position
3. Prepare at least five possible questions and their answers that could be asked of
your group
4. Prepare at least five possible questions to pose to the other debating group
All evidence of preparing should be turned in and stapled together on your assigned
debate day.
Debate format
Debates will have the following format:
Supporting side opening statement and questions from the audience (3 to 5
minutes)
Opposing side opening statement and questions from the audience (3 to 5
minutes)
Supporting side rebuttal statement and questions from the opposing side (5
minutes)
Opposing side rebuttal statement and questions from the supporting side (5
minutes)
**Subsequent speeches from the audience (1 minute each)
Opposing side closing statement (2 to 3 minutes)
Supporting side closing statement (2 to 3 minutes)
**Students interested in earning extra credit may give subsequent speeches.**
Grade
The grade for this assignment will be determined by the checklists below:
Debate (100 points)
____ Preparation is complete and on time.

Audience (100 points)

____

____ Opening statement is research and

logic-based.
____ Questions are relevant and
substantive.
____ Rebuttal takes new information into
account.
____ Peer Reviews reflected positively on
student.
____ Respectful throughout debate.
____ Answers to questions are relevant and
substantive.
____ Closing statement is persuasive and
supported.
____ Total checks
8 checks (95), 6 to 7 (80-89), 4 to 5 (7079), 1 to 3 (50-69)

____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____ Total checks
8 checks (95), 6 to 7 (80-89), 4 to 5 (7079), 1 to 3 (50-69)

Debate topic
Group Member ________________________________ Email/Phone number
_____________________
Group Member ________________________________ Email/Phone number
_____________________
Group Member ________________________________ Email/Phone number
_____________________
Group Member ________________________________ Email/Phone number
_____________________