Name:
Debate Project Topics and Introduction
Debate Topic #1: Should students be required to take classes in a second language from
Elementary School all of the way through High School?
Stance #1: Students should be required to take a second language course from Elementary
School on so that they can become completely bilingual by the time their k-12 education is
complete. Being bilingual will open up job opportunities; prepare students to work in a “flat”
world, and prepare students to live more culturally immersed and rich lives.
Stance #2: Students should not be required to take second language courses throughout their
academic careers (k-12) education as adding these courses will place a financial strain on
schools, minimize the variety of electives that can be provided, and bilingualism is a difficult
goal to attain if students do not have family members and friends with whom they can
practice their second language with after school.
Debate Topic #2: Should students be held legally responsible in a court of law for the results
of bullying and harassment that takes place in school?
Stance #1: Students should be held accountable legally for the results of bullying and
harassment that takes place in schools. Students and their parents should be held legally
responsible for actions of bullying and harassment and the psychological and physical harm
caused by these actions. Students and their parents should not only be accountable to the
school, but to the law for damages (emotional and physical) caused to another party.
Stance #2: Students should be held accountable for their actions such as bullying and
harassment only in school, but not to the law. It is the job of schools to instill values in
students and administer appropriate disciplinary measures such as detention, suspension, loss
of privileges, and other appropriate punishments. Bullying and harassment should not result
in punitive action from the law, but instead should lead to school penalties.
Debate Topic #3: Should A-F grading scales be abolished (terminated) and replaced by
another form of grading such as commentaries or another system of feedback?
Stance #1: Having a grading scale A-F is a helpful system for providing feedback to students
about their progress and performance in school. Measuring grades in the A-F form allows
teachers to easily compare student performance, and allows schools and colleges to easily
calculate grade point average, aptitude, and ability. Grades A-F encourage students to work
hard and achieve to the best of their ability, turn in all of their assignments, and take school
seriously.
Stance #2: Having a grading scale A-F is detrimental/harmful to students as it does not
provide enough feedback to students about their specific areas of growth as well as areas that
they must work to improve upon. Providing commentaries would give students a more
specific, complex, and thoughtful reflection on their work, progress, strengths, and
weaknesses. Grades A-F can be discouraging to students and rather than encouraging
accountability, can actually cause some students to feel discouraged and hopeless.
Name:
Debate Project Topics and Introduction
Debate Topic #4: Should the legal voting age be raised to 21 rather than 18?
Stance #1: The legal voting age should be raised to 21 for a number of reasons. 18 year olds
have brains that have not finished developing, and therefore may not be the best for making
serious decisions with long-term implications. By the time adults reach the age of 21 their
brains are more developed, less impulsive, and these individuals will be better prepared to
take on the serious responsibility of voting.
Stance #2: The legal voting age should not be raised and should be kept at 18 years of age.
It has long been presumed that 18 year olds are adults who are faced with a variety of
heavy and serious decisions. These individuals are old enough to join the armed services,
to move away from their families, and are not considered minors in a court of law.
Because 18 year olds are faced with so many responsibilities they should be granted the
reasonable privilege of voting for political officials that impact their lives.
Debate Topic #5: What is more important in life: financial success or emotional
happiness/well-being?
Stance #1: Financial success is the most important goal to aspire to in life as
reaching this goal will lead to security, stability, freedom, and the ability to live out
one’s dreams.
Stance #2: While financial success does not cause unhappiness, it is not the only
parameter by which to judge the success of a person’s life. In fact, success,
financially or otherwise, is of little use if the individual does not have a mind-set and
attitude of wellness, positivity, and happiness with what they do. Helping others,
building positive relationships, doing meaningful work, and having friendship and
passions in life could all be more important than the bottom line of one’s income
and financial assets/wealth.
My group’s debate topic is #
Our stance/perspective is stance #
Write your group’s thesis statement in the space below:
My group member’s are:
Contact information (email) for my group members: