Rubric for Historical Debate:
Industrialization Critics and Observers
(50 points)
Purpose:
Students will talk/think about the work of those that observed and critiqued the range of socialeconomic problems emerging from early industrialization. Each student will come away with
the ability to summarize each of the major ideas of the historical figures listed below, and
critically evaluate the relative merits/shortcomings of the range of ideas.
Economists/Philosophers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
John Stuart Mill
Comte de Saint-Simon
Robert Owen
Jeremy Bentham
Thomas Malthus
Adam Smith
General Instructions:
One student will be assigned to impersonate the assigned economist/philosopher. He/she may
select two people to assist in preparing to present/defend the major ideas of the
economist/philosopher, and answer a range of questions about the ideas. Each of the remaining
class members will act as audience members from the early to mid-19th century, and will develop
questions for the economist/philosopher to whom they are assigned.
Requirements:
1. Economists/Philosophers Oral presentations: Each economist/philosopher must present to the assembled reporters a three
minute “lesson” on your ideas. You many use anything you want to get your point across during
this presentation; visual aids, handouts, etc. are encouraged. Focus on the ideas that applied to
the changing social and economic realities brought on by industrialization and capitalism. Do
not present an encyclopedic biography.
Following your presentation, you will respond to questions from assigned audience members in a
news conference format. The day before the debate, you will be given a copy of the questions
each reporter plans to ask, so that you can prepare meaningful responses.
After all of the presentations and new conferences, each economist/philosopher will deliver a
closing statement to remind the audience of the major ideas presented and to argue why those
ideas are best suited to effectively address the social concerns of industrialization and capitalism.
Written materials: Each economist/philosopher team will submit:
(1) a prepared opening statement
(2) a broad outline of the major ideas presented, with space for audience members to include
specific information that supplements the major ideas - Print 33 copies
(3) an annotated bibliography of outside sources consulted
(4) a statement signed by all of the group members as to the work that each member
performed, and an assessment of the percentage of the final grade that each member
should receive.
2. Audience Members Each audience member will be assigned to an economist/philosopher. In a news conference
following the initial presentation by your assigned thinker, you will be required to ask questions
that challenge the major ideas presented. During the news conference, you will be entitled to ask
a follow-up question if you believe that the answer was unsatisfactory.
You will submit in writing:
(1) three questions that deal with the social and economic problems brought on by industrial
capitalism. The questions can take many forms, including hypothetical, inquiry about
actual incidents or examples of social problems, or straightforward inquiries about an
important proposition presented by the assigned economist/philosopher.
(2) In no less than 5 sentences, write how the economist/philosopher will likely respond to
your question.
(3) an annotated bibliography of any outside sources consulted
(4) the day after the debate, you will submit a statement of no less than one page
summarizing your views as to which of the major ideas presented were best suited to
address the range of needs of an industrial society, and which of the major ideas were
least suited to deal with those concerns. You must present specific reasons from the
debate for your conclusions.
Grading:
Economists/Philosophers –
Opening Statement (20 points)
Responses to Questions (15 points)
Closing Statement (10 points)
Total quality of presentation (5 points)
To receive any grade on the oral portion, all written requirements must be submitted prior to the
commencement of the debate.
Audience members -
Questions & Anticipated Answers (total 25 points)
Follow-up questions (5 points)
Evaluation of the Debate (20 points)
To receive any points, all written requirements must be submitted on the assigned day.
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