Name ______

Intro to Law Debate: The Death Penalty[1]

For the debate, the class will be divided into four teams (2 for each question): YES and NO for each question. YES teams defend their statement; NO teams attack the statement.

Each team will gather arguments and evidence in support of the Team’s position on that question using your class materials, along with outside sources that you gather. Each student should bring in one resource that was not distributed in class.

Debate issues.

  1. The death penalty is an effective punishment/deterrent.
  1. The death penalty is fair and morally correct.

Debate Format.

  1. Positive Argument. 5 min each. Each side will have 5 minutes to clearly and forcefully present their most powerful arguments and evidence without interruption from the other team.
  2. Meeting Time. 5 min. Each team will meet, and work on strategies to attack the opponents’ arguments.
  3. Rebuttal. 5 min. Each team will have 5 minutes to respond to their opponents’ points in any way they like, again without interruption.
  1. Free For All. 5 min. Team members will attack and defend each others’ arguments. Experts will raise their hands and be called on by the judges.
  2. Open Free For All. 5 min. All members of the class can contribute to the debate.

Judging. Judging the winning team will be based on:

-Quality of Initial Argument. Does initial argument include clear, sophisticated thesis with parts? Is specific evidence used and analyzed? Does commentary demonstrate sound reasoning, evidence and analysis of values?

-Refutation of Opponents’ Reasoning and Evidence. (5) To what degree has the opponents’ evidence been analyzed and critiqued, and refuted?

-Clarity and Power of Presentation. (5) Have you communicated clearly and powerfully, used words correctly, defined concepts, organized your presentation, appeared to be knowledgeable, used powerful rhetoric? Students may not read. It is expected that students will speak equally.

-General Assessment. (5) Do you clearly and completely understand your issue? Have you demonstrated sound critical thinking? Do all the arguments show insight and reasoning, with points backed up by substantial supporting evidence? Did you keep quiet while the other team had the floor (no interrupting)?

The judging scale is:

4321 0

Very strongStrongAverage (OK)WeakPretty Weak

The judges’ scores will be added up. For each question, the team with the highest score wins.

Intro to Law Debate: The Death Penalty

Rubric to be Turned In

Grading (each student will receive an individual HW/CW grade out of 70 points

Preparation (out of 20 points) ______

  • You came to class with 2 sources on Tuesday, April 28th.
  • You worked diligently and stayed on task during all the time allotted for preparation.
  • You participated actively in preparing the evidence and arguments of your team.
  • You turned in this rubric with your summary on the due date.

Presentation (out of 10 points)______

  • During your presentation, you spoke clearly, appropriately loudly with good projection, and not too quickly. You looked up and around at the audience & did not read from your paper.

Active Listening (out of 20 points)______

  • It is expected that while the other teams are presenting, you are listening attentively.
  • Thus you are NOT: talking, conferring with your team, whispering, giggling, texting, sleeping, resting your head on your desk, making faces at another student in the room, reading, etc.

Summary of your team’s arguments (out of 20 points)______

  • Each student will type a summary (numbered bullets are fine) of what you feel are the 5 strongest points to support your side. Each of the 5 points should be explained in 1-2 sentences. This must be in your own words, and NOT the same as anyone else’s in your group.
  • This must be typed, in MLA format, and include a Works Cited list of at least 3 of the sources your team used for this debate.

[1] Debate template courtesy of Mr. Boschetto