Thread: Stuff to argue about?

I'm putting together a list of things for students to argue about. I put the students in front of the class, tell them a resolution, give them 15 minutes to think about it and then they have to argue.

What to you are some of the big issues facing our nation that I could make students argue about? I also tell the students if they are for or against it. I usually don't let them argue things that have been beaten into the ground, such as Gay Marriage, Abortion, Marijuana.

Well, if it was a Christian college they could argue about tithing, open theism, calvinism vs arminianism or did Jesus die spiritually.

Are you doing this as "argue" in a debate format? You don't mean just be at each other right?

One presents his position and then has to defend it.. right?


what kind of class?

Originally Posted by hansc

...I usually don't let them argue things that have been beaten into the ground, such as Gay Marriage, Abortion, Marijuana.

How about gun control? Here's one premise you could use:

Originally Posted by Femme*

Are you doing this as "argue" in a debate format? You don't mean just be at each other right?

One presents his position and then has to defend it.. right?


what kind of class?

The class is Argumentation and Debate in a very liberal secular university. Most students are between 20-25. There is a very specific format. The claims are also presented in a specific format. We probably will debate the gun control issue, but I'll have to state it in resolution form.

Originally Posted by hansc

The class is Argumentation and Debate in a very liberal secular university. Most students are between 20-25. There is a very specific format. The claims are also presented in a specific format. We probably will debate the gun control issue, but I'll have to state it in resolution form.

Are liberals dumber than a dodo?

Originally Posted by hansc

The class is Argumentation and Debate in a very liberal secular university. Most students are between 20-25. There is a very specific format. The claims are also presented in a specific format. We probably will debate the gun control issue, but I'll have to state it in resolution form.

I like that you tell them what position they have to take.. defending something you're against, or attacking something you're for, is an interesting thing to do.

Originally Posted by Femme*

I like that you tell them what position they have to take.. defending something you're against, or attacking something you're for, is an interesting thing to do.

We ought to do that here.

Debating topics that are fought tooth and nail for pages and pages. It would be interesting to say the least.

Originally Posted by Michelle

We ought to do that here.

Debating topics that are fought tooth and nail for pages and pages. It would be interesting to say the least.

A board I was on years ago had debates like that.

2 folks did the back and forth and there was a parallel discussion that everyone could be in.

It would be interesting to do the opposite thing too! It might actually give insight to why someone would hold a differing position.

Originally Posted by Femme*

A board I was on years ago had debates like that.

2 folks did the back and forth and there was a parallel discussion that everyone could be in.

It would be interesting to do the opposite thing too! It might actually give insight to why someone would hold a differing position.

It would!