THE GREAT SCIENCE DEBATE!
TOPICS:
1. VACCINATION: There are a lot of life threatening diseases that have been eradicated by vaccination. One such example is small pox.
Should parents be given the choice to allow their children to be vaccinated against diseases?
a. http://www.missionislam.com/health/immunisationwhy.htm
b. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/us/21vaccine.html
c. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2009/June/More-Parents-Deciding-Against-Vaccination/
2. ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: Often times, cancers such as leukemia can be cured with a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor.
Usually, the donor is a parent, sibling or relative. Chances of getting a match from non-relatives are very slim.
Should parents be allowed to conceive a child to be used a cure for another child? Check out Anissa Ayala’s story.
a. http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19910617,00.html
b. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43265160/ns/today-good_news/t/born-save-sisters-life-shes-glad-i-am-family/
c. http://www.cityofhope.org/about/publications/hope-news/2011-vol-06-num-2-january-17/Pages/anissa-ayala.aspx
3. GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD: One of the world’s problems is hunger.
Should scientists be allowed to genetically modify our food to be able to feed the world’s population?
a. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat
b. http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/sustainable/2008/02/genetically-mod.html
c. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/genetically-modified-foods-pros-and-cons.html
4. STEM CELLS: Stem cell research advocates say it may successfully lead to treatments for many chronic diseases and injuries, saving lives, but
opponents argue that using embryos as a source for stem cells destroys human life.
Should the government fund stem cell research?
a. http://www.hongkongstemcell.com/hscc/?lang=en
b. http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/pros-and-cons-of-stem-cell-research.htm
c. http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12366/1/Pros-and-Cons-of-Stem-Cell-Therapy.html
RUNNING A SIMPLE CLASSROOM DEBATE
1. Class will be divided into 3 groups.
a. Pro or Affirmative Team (4-5 members)
b. Anti or Negative Team (4-5 members)
c. Audience, who will vote for either the PRO or ANTI team (it’s good to have an audience of about 10 or more students)
2. Moderator (the teacher)
a. Control the exchange of arguments
b. Keep opening statement, rebuttal (argument to disprove the opponent), closing statement, and voting timed
c. Takes care of collecting, counting votes, and announcing the winning team
3. Each team will:
a. Assign a team leader
i. Leader strategizes the order of the other team members
ii. Leader gives the opening and closing statements
b. Be given a maximum of two (2) minutes to give their opening statement (starting team will be decided on the flip of a coin – heads or tails)
c. Be given one (1) minute of rebuttal time for each member
d. Be given two (2) minutes to huddle to help team leader with the closing statement
e. Be given a maximum of two (2) minutes to give their closing statements
4. DEBATE PROPER
a. Moderator gives a short introduction about the debate topic.
b. The team that wins the coin toss goes first.
c. Team A Leader gives opening statement (2 minutes, maximum)
d. Team B Leader gives opening statement (2 minutes, maximum)
e. Team A member 1 gives rebuttal (1 minute, maximum)
f. Team B member 1 gives rebuttal (1 minute, maximum)
g. This goes on until all members have given their rebuttals…
h. Two (2) minute recess for teams to prepare the closing statement.
At this time, the audience can quietly discuss among themselves the merits of each team.
i. Team A Leader gives the closing statement (2 minutes, maximum)
j. Team B Leader gives the closing statement (2 minutes, maximum)
k. Moderator closes the debate.
l. Audience is given three (3) minutes to vote and write comments on their voting sheet.
m. Moderator collects voting sheet and tallies the score.
n. Moderator announces the winner.
1. VACCINATION: There are a lot of life threatening diseases that have been eradicated by vaccination. One such example is small pox.
Should parents be given the choice to allow their children to be vaccinated against diseases?
a. http://www.missionislam.com/health/immunisationwhy.htm
b. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/us/21vaccine.html
c. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2009/June/More-Parents-Deciding-Against-Vaccination/
2. ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: Often times, cancers such as leukemia can be cured with a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor.
Usually, the donor is a parent, sibling or relative. Chances of getting a match from non-relatives are very slim.
Should parents be allowed to conceive a child to be used a cure for another child? Check out Anissa Ayala’s story.
a. http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19910617,00.html
b. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43265160/ns/today-good_news/t/born-save-sisters-life-shes-glad-i-am-family/
c. http://www.cityofhope.org/about/publications/hope-news/2011-vol-06-num-2-january-17/Pages/anissa-ayala.aspx
3. GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD: One of the world’s problems is hunger.
Should scientists be allowed to genetically modify our food to be able to feed the world’s population?
a. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat
b. http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/sustainable/2008/02/genetically-mod.html
c. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/genetically-modified-foods-pros-and-cons.html
4. STEM CELLS: Stem cell research advocates say it may successfully lead to treatments for many chronic diseases and injuries, saving lives, but
opponents argue that using embryos as a source for stem cells destroys human life.
Should the government fund stem cell research?
a. http://www.hongkongstemcell.com/hscc/?lang=en
b. http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/pros-and-cons-of-stem-cell-research.htm
c. http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12366/1/Pros-and-Cons-of-Stem-Cell-Therapy.html
RUNNING A SIMPLE CLASSROOM DEBATE
1. Class will be divided into 3 groups.
a. Pro or Affirmative Team (4-5 members)
b. Anti or Negative Team (4-5 members)
c. Audience, who will vote for either the PRO or ANTI team (it’s good to have an audience of about 10 or more students)
2. Moderator (the teacher)
a. Control the exchange of arguments
b. Keep opening statement, rebuttal (argument to disprove the opponent), closing statement, and voting timed
c. Takes care of collecting, counting votes, and announcing the winning team
3. Each team will:
a. Assign a team leader
i. Leader strategizes the order of the other team members
ii. Leader gives the opening and closing statements
b. Be given a maximum of two (2) minutes to give their opening statement (starting team will be decided on the flip of a coin – heads or tails)
c. Be given one (1) minute of rebuttal time for each member
d. Be given two (2) minutes to huddle to help team leader with the closing statement
e. Be given a maximum of two (2) minutes to give their closing statements
4. DEBATE PROPER
a. Moderator gives a short introduction about the debate topic.
b. The team that wins the coin toss goes first.
c. Team A Leader gives opening statement (2 minutes, maximum)
d. Team B Leader gives opening statement (2 minutes, maximum)
e. Team A member 1 gives rebuttal (1 minute, maximum)
f. Team B member 1 gives rebuttal (1 minute, maximum)
g. This goes on until all members have given their rebuttals…
h. Two (2) minute recess for teams to prepare the closing statement.
At this time, the audience can quietly discuss among themselves the merits of each team.
i. Team A Leader gives the closing statement (2 minutes, maximum)
j. Team B Leader gives the closing statement (2 minutes, maximum)
k. Moderator closes the debate.
l. Audience is given three (3) minutes to vote and write comments on their voting sheet.
m. Moderator collects voting sheet and tallies the score.
n. Moderator announces the winner.