DEBATE
GROUP A: Pro-Legalization of Drugs
Candidate A's Name: _________________________________
Group A Members: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Candidate A, you are running for president, and Election Day is almost here! You’ve assembled a
team of experts to help you prepare for an upcoming debate. The topic of this debate is
legalization of drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. You will battle it out with your opponent to
see who can present the best argument! You’ll be given one minute per question to provide a
response. Then, the audience will decide the winner of the debate.
CANDIDATE A’s Platform (beliefs and opinions):
You are pro-legalization. You believe that the federal government should not have any control in regulating
the use of minor drugs like marijuana. You think that recreational drug use is a personal freedom that
everyone has the right to. Even if you do not use these drugs, you think everyone should have the
opportunity to. Legalizing drugs will be a great economic benefit to the nation.
Group A, your task is to help your candidate prepare answers to the following questions which
may be asked during the debate. Be sure to keep your candidate’s platform in mind, as well as
your audience! Think of how you could use the three rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos)
to win the vote of the audience.
1. Who should be responsible for regulating drug use? The federal government? The state government?
Individual citizens? Why?
2. Some drugs are more serious than others. Should the lighter drugs (marijuana, cocaine) be legalized?
4. What effect would legalization have on crime?
5. What effect would legalization have on the economy?
DEBATE
GROUP B: Anti-Legalization of Drugs
Candidate B's Name: _________________________________
Group B Members: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Candidate B, you are running for president, and Election Day is almost here! You’ve assembled a
team of experts to help you prepare for an upcoming debate. The topic of this debate is
legalization of drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. You will battle it out with your opponent to
see who can present the best argument! You’ll be given one minute per question to provide a
response. Then, the audience will decide the winner of the debate.
CANDIDATE B’s Platform (beliefs and opinions):
You are anti-legalization. You believe that drugs like marijuana and cocaine should be heavily regulated by
the federal government. You think that drug use, even recreational use of less serious drugs, is a major
crime and that violators should face punishments. Keeping drugs illegal will benefit society much more
than making them legal would.
Group B, your task is to help your candidate prepare answers to the following questions which
may be asked during the debate. Be sure to keep your candidate’s platform in mind, as well as
your audience! Think of how you could use the three rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos)
to win the vote of the audience.
1. Who should be responsible for regulating drug use? The federal government? The state government?
Individual citizens? Why?
2. Some drugs are more serious than others. Should the lighter drugs (marijuana, cocaine) be legalized?
4. What effect would keeping drugs illegal have on crime?
5. What effect would keeping drugs illegal have on the economy?
DEBATE
GROUP C: Audience
Participants: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Group C. It’s almost Election Day and the race for President is heating up! However, you aren’t
yet sure who you should vote for. There are two candidates for President, Candidate A and
Candidate B. You aren’t really sure how either candidate feels about the issues. However, an
upcoming debate will be the perfect opportunity to see which candidate will convince you and
ultimately receive your vote. Luckily, you’ve got front row seats at this debate! Your job is to listen
to each candidate’s answers in the debate, and decide which candidate makes the most
convincing argument. In the end, your vote will decide who wins the election, so make a wise
decision. Be careful, though, because the candidates may try to use a variety of ways to convince
you of their position (cough – logos, ethos, pathos…).
Discuss the following questions within your group.
1.What makes an argument good and what makes an argument bad?
2.
Of the three rhetorical appeals (logos-ethos-pathos), which one is the most convincing to you? The
least?
3.
Even if a candidate can make you feel a certain emotion, would you still vote for them if you knew
their arguments weren’t logical?
4.
How important are qualifications and credentials for politicians? What qualifications do you think it
takes to be President?
5.
If a candidate did not have very good qualifications, but spoke very eloquently and convincingly
during the debate, would that win your vote? What if a candidate had excellent qualifications, but mumbled
and stuttered during the whole debate? Would you vote for them?