Eng 207 Choosing a Debate/Discussion/Persuasive Writing Topic
Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________
Choosing a topic through Consensual Majority: I would like the class to choose a topic for us all to work on, and I would like you
to choose a topic that interests the largest number of people in the class. To do so, we will follow this method:
1) Each person in class will choose two or three topics, ranked by first, second and third choice.
2) Everyone will share his or her choices with their groups, and then each group will choose the top two three choices, using
the same ranking system.
3) Groups will share their three choices with the class a whole.
4) The topic that is most frequently placed on each group’s top-three list will be the topic chosen for the rest of the semester.
Note: this differs from typical “majority rule” voting procedures, and it is more probable that the class as a whole will choose
something like “a very popular second choice” or “a second choice that 60% of the students chose” instead of “the first
choice of the largest minority” or “the original first choice of 30% of the voters”. Hopefully this system will yield a topic
that interests nearly everyone.
Criteria: The topic you choose should be:
1) Debatable and specific: “Sports” is not debatable; “ending college athletic scholarships” is debatable; "We should end UI
football scholarships" is debatable and specific, as is "UI women's teams should sue for Title IX enforcement."
2) There must be opposing arguments within the class; we have to be able to disagree on the topic and argue about it in class.
3) Currently politically relevant. Something many people, at least within our class, have a stake in discussing.
4) Currently covered in the media, or at least recently covered in the media.
5) Relevant to empirical data; we need to be able to analyze and critique how different sides use factual information
(including, if nothing else, statistical data).
6) If religious, secular as well; do not choose a topic that can only be validated by references to a religious text; you may, of
course, validate your personal opinion through reference to a religious text, but such texts cannot be your sole means of
persuasion or evidence (or you will be unable to persuade those of other faiths).
7) Interesting enough to keep us talking for the next month or so.
8) Complex enough to generate serious research.
9) Simple enough that we can all become relative “experts” within a matter of weeks; common enough that all of us have an
equal opportunity to discuss it with equal authority.
10) Something that you are open to discussing and open to having your opinions criticized by others in the class as well as
the instructor. In other words, do not choose something near and dear to your heart if that topic is so personal that you will
feel personally attacked when others argue against your position. Can you discuss the topic without going ballistic?
11) If possible, "outside of the box" and locally, regionally, or UI relevant; a UI-specific, local or regional topic would allow
primary source research and allow you to research thru interviews etc.
In short, what are you interested in? What do you think it would be fun to debate and write about? What do you think is an
important topic that yourself as well as many of us would personally benefit from discussing and understanding?
List of your choices: Below, rank the topics you would most like to have the class work with this semester; place the “best” topic first
etc. Please make sure that before you choose a topic that you can make a decent case for that topic fitting the above criteria. (Don't list
the same choice more than once, you ninny!)
First Choice:
Second Choice:
Third Choice:
Justify your first choice: Write a paragraph arguing that your first choice is the best choice for the class to work with; explain and
justify your reasoning. How would the class benefit from choosing this topic? Why should we choose this topic?