Research and Debate Assignment 

Description

This assignment is designed to enhance your research, analysis, writing, presentation, and argumentation skills.

You and your partner will research a controversial topic.  Each person will write a 4-6 page research paper.  The paper will explore the issue and offer a solution. Do not try to solve an entire large problem. Simply offer a solution to some aspect of it. Your work on periodicals and editorials are a good source of starting places. You and your partner will present your research to each other and the class. You will then debate each other.  

Time Line

Part I Prelininary Research: 

Choose partners and pick a topic. (5 Points)

The following are off limits:

Abortion, Capital Punishment, Euthanasia, Gay Marriage, Gun Control, Legalization of Drugs, Patriot Act, U.S. Involvement in Iraq, Welfare, Anything else your gentle instructor finds dull, over done, or inappropriate. Check with him before beginning your project. All topics must be approved.

Proposal (25 Points)

Each of you will write a proposal, 1 page, following the guidelines in your textbook, Chapter 11, "Proposals".

Part II Research and Writing 

Annotated Bibliography (25 Points)

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. You will submit 5 annotated bibliographies. You and your opponent may share 2 sources but for obvious reasons the annotations will be markedly different.

Research Paper (100 Points)

Write a 4-6 page research paper and document according to MLA documentation.  

Part III Presentation and Debate (50 Points)

Opening Statements

• Affirmative side will deliver a 1-2-minute opening statement. 
• Negative side will deliver a 1-2-minute opening statement.

Questioning and Rebuttal

• Affirmative side speaker will pose a question or statement for his opponent to answer (30 seconds). The opposing student will have one minute to respond to the question or statement. The Affirmative side speaker will then have 30 seconds for rebuttal. Affirmative side speaker will pose a second question or statement for his opponent to answer (30 seconds). The opposing student will have one minute to respond to the question or statement. The Affirmative side speaker will then have 30 seconds for rebuttal.
• Negative side speaker will pose a question or statement for his opponent to answer (30 seconds). The opposing student will have one minute to respond to the question or statement. The Negative side speaker will then have 30 seconds for rebuttal. Negative side speaker will pose a second question or statement for his opponent to answer (30 seconds). The opposing student will have one minute to respond to the question or statement. The Negative side speaker will then have 30 seconds for rebuttal.

Open Questions

• Class members may ask two questions to each side (alternating sides). The speaker will have 30 seconds to answer the question, and no rebuttal will be allowed from the opposing side.

Closing Statements

• The Negative side will deliver a one-minute closing statement.
• The Affirmative side will deliver a one-minute closing statement.