Integrated Studies Project on Political Parties:
Power vs. Powerlessness
 

Teacher Jan Bowersox addresses the issue of plagiarism when students utilize copy and paste functions.

The following are descriptions of this project as they were presented to the participating students by the Integrated Studies Staff.  Note that all student groups in the 10th grade made and presented a Power Point presentation to their classmates.  Use of our Electronic Classroom/Lab and library for Internet research was also a part of this project.

Power Unit Project
Guidelines for Debate

I Important Dates
 Monday, October 23, 2000   Presentation Rehearsal
 Tuesday, October 24, 2000   First Debate
 Wednesday, October 25, 2000  Second Debate (round table)

II Structure for Debates
 A First Debate on Tuesday in large meeting space
  1.  Prior to each debate, the two arguing groups will show their   PowerPoint presentations to entire block (approx. 85 students)

  2.  Debates will follow this order:
   Reform v. Green
   Democrats v. Libertarians
   Republicans v. Socialists

  3.  The debate will be moderated by a Hale staff member.

  4.  Each debate will be 15-20 minutes in length with 4-6   questions posed by the moderator.

  5.  No answer to a question can exceed two minutes.

  6.  Rebuttals to an answer are limited to one minute.

  7.  Closing remarks by each candidate are limited to two    minutes.

  8.  Different questions will be asked during each debate.

 B.  Second debate (round table discussion) on Wednesday in large   meeting space
  1.  Candidates for each party and one other party      representative will be seated at a large table in the front    of the room.

  2.  The moderator will ask 10-12 questions over a 90 minute    period of time.

  3.  Each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond to the     question.

  4.  An additional 1 minute will be given to rebuttal if needed.

III Potential Debate questions to be researched by sub-committees
 1.  Do you support FDA approval of the "abortion drug RU-486?
 2.  Should state and/or federal dollars be used to fund abortions?
 3.  What is your administration's stand on late term abortion?
 4.  Do you support waiting periods and/or parental permission for abortion?
 5.  Do you support the McCain-Feingold bill?
 6.  Should the federal government ban the use of soft money to finance campaigns?
 7.  How should campaigns be financed if soft money contributions are banned?
 8.  Do you support the implementation of a "flat tax"?
 9.  How should we reform welfare to prevent exploitation of the system?
 10.  Do you support using budget surplusses to fund a tax cut?
 11.  To whom, if anyone, should a tax cut be targeted?
 12.  Do you support the marriage penalty in our tax code?
 13.  Is global warming a concern to your administration?  How will you deal with it?
 14.  Do you support removing dams that may threaten wild fish populations?
 15.  How will your administration handle the logging of forests on public lands?
 16.  Do you support marriage for homosexual couples?
 17.  Do you support Clinton's 1993 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for military personnel?
 18.  Should the government make it easier for gay couples to adopt children?
 19.  Do you support the Hate Crimes Prevention Act?
 20.  Do you support government-controlled universal health care?
 21.  What is your administration's stand on medical marijuana?
 22.  Do you support further regulation of tobacco companies?
 23.  What is your interpretation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution that grants   American the right "to keep and bear arms"?
 24.  What regulations, if any, should be put on the sale of guns in the US?
 25.  Should there be a ban on handguns and/or semi-automatic weapons?
 26.  Should the government allow the use of fetal tissue in medical research?
 27.  What is your stand on the growth and sale of genetically engineered foods?
 28.  Is the US currently prepared to fight a war?
 29.  Do you believe that our current military of 1.3 active duty troops is necessary in this   time of relative peace and prosperity?
 30.  Should we change the amount of money spent to sustain our military/technology?
 31.  Do you support development of an Anti-Ballistic Missile Shield?
 32.  How much should the US spend on aid to developing nations?
 33.  What should the US role be in establishing peace in the Middle East?
 34.  What should the US do about the AIDS crisis in Africa?
 35.  How should the US defend itself against terrorism and/or attack by rogue nations?
 36.  Should the US drill oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWAR)?
 37.  How should the US modify its relationship with OPEC nations to protect oil interests?
 

 

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