Name: _____________________________________________________
McKenna: US & VA Govt.
Student Outline of the SIRS Leading Issues Mini-Debate Process
Mini-debates bring the educational benefits of debating to the average student by decreasing the time &
complexity needed for formal debating. Mini-debates require you to practice your information literacy,
critical reading, organization, higher-order thinking, problem solving, persuasive writing & presentation
skills. These are essential skills that you will need to be successful in higher education, careers & in life.
This mini-debate guide is written to help you to research, organize & express your reasoned opinion on
controversial issues that most students care about.
Student Steps in the Mini-Debate Process
1. Research with SIRS Leading Issues—Leading Issues presents introductory information on
controversial issues that helps students understand the issue, what the major arguments are on both
sides, and an editorially selected collection of the best articles from experts that support both the
affirmative (Pro) and the negative (Con) sides of the issue. This approach saves teacher, librarian, and
student time because it eliminates the inefficient searching that often is part of research. You will still
need to use all your essential skills to select the best information and articles to support your position on
the issue.
You will be teamed with partners for the research & the mini-debate. Be sure to coordinate with your
partners on the following:
 Each should select at least 2 articles & they should be different from the other partners
 Each will select at least 3 facts & 3 expert opinions that support your side of the issue
 Each will have a collection of facts & opinions that are different from the other partners
 Each will copy/paste essential information from the articles to separate sheets of paper
 OR print, highlight & copy the information on to note cards
 Each will have sufficient information for a 2 to 3-minute presentation
2. Mini-Debate Sequence of Activities—Mini-debate activities include presentations by both you & your
partners & also the opposing partners. You & your partners must also be prepared for a series of 3
Crossfires that give you the opportunity to question each other between presentations.
Round 1
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Team A Speaker 1 – 3-min. limit (make logical points for your side of the issue)
Team B Speaker 1 – 3-min. limit (your opponent makes opposing points)
Each side makes notes to prepare questions for the first Crossfire
Timeout – 1 min. (Create the questions for the Crossfire)
Crossfire (between A1 & B1) – 2-min. limit (use the questions you created from the Timeout)
Round 2 (Repeat the instructions for Round 1)
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Team A Speaker 2 – 3-min. limit
Team B Speaker 2 – 3-min. limit
Timeout – 1 min.
Crossfire (between A2 & B2) 2-min. limit
Round 3
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Timeout – 2 mins. (you & your partners should decide only the most important points to present)
A1 summary -- 1 min. limit
B1 summary -- 1 min. limit
Grand Crossfire (all speakers) -- 3 min. limit
Round 4
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Timeout – 2 mins. (you & your partners should decide on the most important point for your side & any
glaring weakness in your opponents’ arguments)
A2 Last Shot -- 1 min. limit
B2 Last Shot -- 1 min. limit
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3. Evaluating the Mini-Debate — While preparing for your debate, keep the following questions in mind
as they will be used to determine your overall grade for the project. In addition, the rubric below will be
used during the debate to determine the debate winner (all team members of the winning debate team
will have 10 extra credit points added to their overall project grade).
Preparation: Preparation includes the research process & the organization of materials to make the
presentation. (10pts)
1. Did the team use the student outline (this document) to help organize their research?
2. Did the team coordinate their presentations to minimize redundancy?
3. Did the team prepare appropriate & organized materials to make their presentation?
Evidence: Evidence refers not only to statistics, facts & references to authority, but also to items of
common or general knowledge. (10pts)
1. Did the team show connections between particular events or issues & large social, economic,
&/or political concerns, trends, or developments?
2. Did the team supply appropriate & sufficient evidence to support its arguments & apply that
evidence clearly and logically?
3. Did the team adequately explain &/or analyze the evidence offered during the debate?
Analysis and Argumentation: Did each team sufficiently address the topic in an organized & consistent
manner? (10pts)
1. Did the team present logical, reasonable & convincing arguments?
2. Did the team clearly & effectively discuss, explain & evaluate the issues and arguments offered
during the debate?
3. Did the team respond directly to opposing arguments, interpretations, &/or analyses, with clear
explanations of the weakness of opposing arguments?
4. Did the team demonstrate an understanding of the social, political, &/or economic issues involved
in the debate?
Crossfire: (10pts)
1. Did the debater provide relevant, focused & brief questions?
2. Did the debater respond effectively to questions?
3. Did the debater demonstrate respect for opponents by cooperating in a polite “give & take”
without dominating the discussion?
Presentation: (10pts)
1. Did the debater communicate in a clear, organized & understandable manner, presenting an easy
listening path to follow?
2. Did the debater exemplify the highest standards of language usage, style & vocabulary, avoiding
slang, poor grammar & mispronunciations?
3. Did the speaker use effective body language (poised stage presence, appropriate gestures, facial
expression & eye contact)?
4. Did the speaker use effective oral presentation skills (volumes, diction, rate of delivery) & use
understandable & persuasive delivery?
5. Was the debater respectful & courteous to opponents?
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 50pts
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The following rubric will be used during the debate to determine the debate winner. The debate winner
will be the team that earns the most points on the rubric below. All team members of the winning debate
team will have 10 extra credit points added to their overall project grade.
Debate Activities Sequence
Affirmative Score
Negative Score
Scoring (Convincing = 4; Satisfactory = 2; Little Impact = 1)
Affirmative (Pro Issue) Speaker 1
Negative (Con Issue) Speaker 1
Crossfire for the Affirmative (Pro Issue)
Crossfire for the Negative (Con Issue)
Affirmative (Pro Issue) Speaker 2
Negative (Con Issue) Speaker 2
Crossfire for the Affirmative (Pro Issue)
Crossfire for the Negative (Con Issue)
Affirmative Speaker 1 (Pro Issue) Summary
Negative Speaker 1 (Con Issue) Summary
Grand Crossfire (all speakers) for the Affirmative (Pro)
Grand Crossfire (all speakers) for the Negative (Con)
Affirmative Speaker 2 (Pro Issue) Last Shot
Negative Speaker 2 (Con Issue) Last Shot
Evaluator:
Totals
Student Tips for Success in the Mini-Debate
1. Each team member should select at least 3 articles from SIRS Leading Issues that support their
side of the mini-debate
2. Copy/paste facts, opinions & examples from each article you read into a blank document on
Google Docs that will be used to organize information
3. Organize your presentation onto separate sheets of paper/documents in Google Docs
4. Include enough information for your opening statement (3 minutes)
5. Coordinate with your team members to make sure you are not presenting the same information
6. Create at least 5 questions that you can ask your opponents during the Crossfires – these should
be on sheets of paper or note cards for easy reference
7. What questions would you ask if you were on the opposing team? Anticipate that your opponents
will ask at least 5 questions in the Crossfires – prepare answers to them on sheets of paper or
note cards
8. Prepare a powerful final conclusive argument/statement which will be written at the end of your
debate (no longer than 1 minute) – take notes during the debate to tailor this statement to your
team’s strengths & your opponents’ weaknesses
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1st QUARTER DEBATE TOPIC: Capital Punishment
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Is capital punishment necessary?
YES: Capital punishment deters crime and gives closure to families of victims.
NO: Capital punishment has not been proven to deter crime and it opens the possibility of
executing innocent people.
Direct Link to Capital Punishment Info:
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-sub-display?id=SSKSAB-02113&keyno=0000003876%20&title=Capital%20punishment&taglist=0000355546ART0000355237ART0
000352301ART0000351511ART0000351661ART0000349814ART0000349801ART0000349813ART000
0353746ART0000352570ART0000318817ART0000352947ART0000353698ART0000349709ART00003
45444ART0000350511ART0000348750ART0000307365ART0000350439ART0000307333ART0000352
698ART0000352398ART0000352961ART&auth_checked=Y
OR access info through this site: http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-portal-res?id=SZZRES-0-3305
-Select “Capital Punishment” from list of Leading Issues
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