DEBATE SCRIPT: THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Here is the text of the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
1. Read the New York Times article “American Exception: Unlike Others, US
Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech”. Underline its key arguments for
extending OR not extending First Amendment protections to “hate speech”.
2. Do an internet search on First Amendment Protections of Hate Speech (Terms:
First Amendment Pros and Cons / Hate Speech / Southern Poverty Law Center
/ Christian Identity / ACLU / Speech Codes / ???). As you read varying links,
identify specific US examples that argue the pros and cons of continuing to
liberally interpret the First Amendment. See “Model,” attached.
3. Write a “debate script” that covers both two “pro” arguments and two “con”
arguments of First Amendment Rights regarding Hate Speech. Under each
argument, you will develop at least two examples illustrating why we should or
should not extend First Amendment protections to “hate speech”.
a. For each pro argument, develop not only the argument but two examples
(see “model”):
First “Pro” argument: ________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 1: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 2: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Second “Pro” argument: ______________________________
________________________________________________
Example 1: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 2: _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
b. For each con argument, develop not only the argument but two examples:
First “Con” argument: ________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 1: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 2: _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
Second “Con” argument: ________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 1: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Example 2: _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
a. Paraphrase at least 2/3 of your content. Where you use author’s
wording, place the material in quote marks. (Review How to Paraphrase,
pages 9-10 of Syllabus.) Do not plagiarize!
b. In your Conclusion, decide where you fall in the debate. Do you now favor
limiting hate speech or not? Why or why not? Support your reasoning.
c. Cite sources by simply including the website address in parentheses
following the cited material.
d. Double space work. (NOTE: “Model” was single spaced to save space).
MODEL:
“PRO” ARGUMENTS
Argument #1 (Underlining indicates the two specific examples used to build
the argument – used only for illustration purposes here):
“Speech Codes” which limit one’s ability to harass or slander are commonly
enforced in universities, within private organizations, and in workplaces. At the
University of Pennsylvania, for example, a student faced expulsion for calling
African-American sorority members “water buffalos”. The university later
dropped the charges given mounting public pressure.
Why would the university implement such a “speech code”? First, [it]
“protects vulnerable students from threatening, truly harassing speech that
amounts to ‘fighting words’ which are not protected by the First Amendment.”
Second, do we not want a more “egalitarian” community, one based on social
justice? If we do, then how can we say hate speech is permissible? “School
officials institute codes primarily to foster productive learning environments,”
especially in the face of rising racial harassment: Incidents of campus harassment
increased 400 percent between 1985 and 1990
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_code#Speech_codes_in_U.S._universities).
Argument #2:
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
DEBATE SCRIPT: THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Rating Scale:
High Points
Developed clear examples/statistics/evidence; developed well
reasoned arguments; reasoned beyond the obvious
Mid-Points
Developed a couple examples that were not particularly
descriptive; reader has some sense of unique situations
Low Points
Descriptions were cursory/superficial; reader cannot
appreciate uniqueness of examples
No Points
No descriptions / no evidence
SCORING GUIDE
CRITERIA
RATINGS
1.
Developed two specific examples for first “Pro” argument
10
8
4
0
2.
Developed two specific examples for second “Pro” argument
10
8
4
0
3.
Developed two specific examples for first “Con” argument
10
8
4
0
4.
Developed two specific examples for second “Con” argument
10
8
4
0
5.
Developed rationale for your defending or not defending First
20 16 8 0
Amendment “Right” to Hate Speech
6.
Cited all sources (by simply pasting in HTTP address)
10
8
4
0
7.
Submitted well edited work that is, overall, free of spelling,
10
8
4
0
grammatical, and sentencing errors
8.
Avoided plagiarism by adequately paraphrasing or using quotation
Pass / Revise
marks
9.
Adhered to formatting requirements for work submitted
10.
Applied the Student Self-Check (see Syllabus)
Total Points Possible
Points Earned
Name: __________________
3
0
Yes / No? Do so!
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