Title
Skills
Political Parties and Ideologies in the US
All five skills
Activity Standard Committee Style Debate
Claims/Warrants 
Imagine Republicans and Democrats were forbidden from running in he next election. A group of you and your friends want to vote for the best president based on his/her political party.

A Socialist Party president would be best for the US at this time.

A Libertarian Party…

A Green Party…
Procedure
Timing/Pacing
Notes
Standard Multiple Perspectives Debate
 Students need knowledge of each party’s official platform.
 The lesson will require a minimum of two full periods—one for preparation and one for the debate itself—and may take longer.

Consider also discussing the notion of “wasted” votes in a system where two parties dominate (i.e., the fact that a Socialist may vote for a Democrat for pragmatic reasons). This is a separate issue, though, as the debate is about what sort of president would be best, not about how an individual should cast her vote.

Asking another teacher or an administrator to come in and judge the debate can make the activity more high-stakes and competitive.

This debate can lead into an essay assignment that requires students to defend one of the claims above.
Follow-Up Activity Essay Pre-Writing (see “note” immediately above)
Text A standard textbook entry on the subject, supplemented by official mission statements from each political party’s website if desired

Debate Notes (Must complete these to get a grade)
Claim/Resolution/Prompt: Imagine Republicans and Democrats were forbidden from running in he next election. A group of you and your friends want to vote for the best president based on his/her political party.
A Socialist Party president would be best for the US at this time.
A Libertarian Party president would be best for the US at this time.
A Green Party president would be best for the US at this time.
Introduction Should include:
Ideals of the party
Resemblance to Democrat/Republican
Warrants Must Include:
Three reasons why the party would be best for the United States at this time.

Group
Claim A
Opening Statement (90 s)
.
3)
Introduction
2)
Warrants:
1)
Answers to Committee
Questions (2 min)
Questions for Other
Groups (2 min)
Answers to Other Group
Questions (2 min)
Closing Statement (60 s)
Committee, you should vote for Claim A because…

Group
Claim B
Opening Statement (90 s)
3)
Introduction
2)
Warrants:
1)
Answers to Committee
Questions (2 min)
Questions for Other
Groups (2 min)
Answers to Other Group
Questions (2 min)
Closing Statement (60 s)
Committee, you should vote for Claim B because…

Group
Claim C Introduction
3)
3)
2)
Opening Statement (90 s) Answers to Committee
Questions (2 min)
Questions for Other
Groups (2 min)
Answers to Other Group
Questions (2 min)
Closing Statement (60 s)
Committee, you should vote for Claim C because…
Warrants:
1)

Claim A
Claim B
Claim C
Committee Member Guidelines

You are the judge in the round. Specifically, you will decide what bond we would be better off being made primarily of.

Speakers may only present their arguments or ask questions when you call on them or permit them to do so.

You are to be an unbiased and non-combative during the “Committee questioning” round.
Instead, you must ask probing and clarifying questions to gather information to help inform your judging.

You must make sure that each group is allowed to ask at least two questions during the
“Attacking questions from other groups” round. The table below will help you in this task
Group
Claim A
Claim B
Claim C
Evidence Tally Sheet
Group OS CQ
Tally of number of Questions allowed to ask during Attacking Questions (At least
2 per group in total)
AQ QA CS Total
Evidence
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Group
Claim A
Claim B
Claim C
Committee Questions
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Answers you found convincing

Committee Question sheet
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Committee Verdict Sheet
Decision (Claim) :
Decision (Warrants):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Boston Debate League © 2012

Group
Claim A
Claim B
Claim C
Misconceptions/Inaccuracies that You Caught
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Check Tasks -To be completed in order!
Our group has 3 warrants that support our claim.
Our warrants are clearly numbered 1 through 3.
We double checked that our warrants, when taken together, address all of the requirements for the opening speech.
Three reasons why the party would be best for the United States at this time.
We have completed our introduction to our group concept.
The introduction to our group concept covers the following background information about the concept:
Ideals of the party
Resemblance to Democrat/Republican
We each have a role in the debate, only the intro speakers can share a role (remember only the question answerer does not have prep time, everyone else will have time to discuss their speech with their group first).
Taglines (3-5 word summary of a warrant) are prepared for each warrant.
Our teacher has checked our warrants.
Bonus: We have questions ready for other teams.
Bonus: We have visual representations of our warrants.
Boston Debate League © 2012

Individual Grading Rubric for Committee Style Debate
Points
Possible
Earned Description
Citizenship and Participating in a Group
25 You helped your group members prepare for their part of the debate during group prep time.
5 You listened to and did not interrupt other teams when they were speaking.
Individual Part of the Debate
10
15
5
Flowing (Note taking)
20 You have warrants/key points from questioning listed in each block of notes.
Your Particular Role (if more than one role then grade yourself on the one you felt best about)
Opening statement presenter(s)
5 You numbered your ____ warrants.
15
Question Asker
Your 3 warrants clearly related to your group’s plan
10
10
Question Answerer
5
15
Your warrants connected back to the overall claim that you are advocating for
You used evidence (text) during your presentation.
You introduce yourself, your group, and you spoke confidently, passionately, and persuasively with your own sense of style/swag.
You asked questions that exposed errors, set up arguments, or obtained admissions.
You specifically referenced your opponent’s numbered warrants.
Your answers were spoken confidently.
You directly responded to your opponent’s questions using evidence that clearly supports your overall claim.
Closing Speaker
10
10
Your closing statement was passionate, clear, concise, and summarized your group’s strongest warrants.
You specifically told the judge why you should win the debate based on the strength of your plan, your supporting warrants, and/or your responses to your opponent’s warrants.
Committee Member
5
5
5
You were unbiased and non-combative during the “Committee questioning” round.
Instead, you must ask probing and clarifying questions to gather information to help inform your judging.
You helped support an engaging debate by directing speaking turns and ensuring that all teams were able to have at least two questions during the “Attacking questions from other groups” round.
You upheld the honor and prestige of a judge.
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5 You wrote and provided a well-reasoned explanation of your verdict
100 _________ Total
Grading Criteria by Category
Points Possible Self Grade of A B
If 5
If 10
If 15
If 20
5
10
15
20
4
8
12
16
C
3
6
9
12
D
2
4
6
8
F
1
2
3
4
Boston Debate League © 2012