Name:
Period:
Agricultural Revolution Debate:
A Positive or Negative Event?
Work with your debate team to research and prepare a debate position on
whether the Neolithic, or Agricultural, Revolution was a positive or negative
event for humankind.
As you conduct your research, consider how the Neolithic Revolution affected:
 People’s standard of living
 Roles of men and women; family dynamics
 The environment
 Comfort and safety
 Health
You will need to collect enough research to adequately defend YOUR position,
and pose counterarguments to your opponent in the debate. Be sure to think
about what arguments the other side will try to make!
How the debate will be formatted:
Opening Statements—Introduce your team’s position, with a general overview of
your main ideas. Do not present all of your supporting facts yet!
The order in which you will speak:
 Agricultural Revolution – Positive
 Agricultural Revolution – Negative
Presentation of Evidence—Make your case! Persuasively present your
facts/research to prove your position. (Take notes while your opponent presents,
so that you can respond to their arguments in the rebuttal.)
 Agricultural Revolution – Negative
 Agricultural Revolution – Positive
Rebuttals—Respond to the arguments your opponent made. Why do you
disagree with their position? Why is their thinking/research inadequate or invalid?
 Agricultural Revolution – Positive
 Agricultural Revolution – Negative
Closing Statements—Sum up your strongest arguments, make final points and
comments, and restate your team’s position.
 Agricultural Revolution – Negative
 Agricultural Revolution – Positive
Name:
Period:
Recommended Resources
Your textbook (World History: The Human Journey)
History Alive! textbook
Neolithic Agricultural Revolution: Causes and Implications
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/neolithic-agricultural-revolution-causesand-implications.html
Video segment about agriculture and urban revolutions
http://www.learner.org/courses/worldhistory/unit_video_4-2.html#
A collection of links about the Neolithic Revolution
http://educationcooperative.wikispaces.com/Neolithic+Revolution
The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies (10,000 BCE - 600 BCE)
This page discusses the Neolithic Revolution and the resulting changes from huntergatherer to agrarian societies that profoundly altered patterns of human civilization.
http://resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com/Key+Concept+1.2
Exceeds Standards
Quality of
Research and
Resources
Presentation
of Debate
Position and
Response to
Opponent
(Rebuttal)
Debate
Performance
Research was accurate,
covered a variety of
topics, and was specific
and detailed. Complete
list of high-quality
resources submitted.
Position stated clearly
and persuasively and
supported with a variety
of specific, relevant facts
and details.
Below Standards
Points
Possible
Research was accurate
and covered several
topics. Complete list of
resources submitted,
though some are of
questionable quality.
Research was
inaccurate or lacked
adequate detail. List
of resources
incomplete or mostly
of low-quality.
5
Position stated clearly and
supported with several
important facts and
details.
Position unclear or
not supported with
very strong evidence
or facts.
Meets Standards
5
Rebuttals were specific
to opposing arguments,
expressed with clarity,
and showed evidence of
good listening skills.
The speakers addressed
the opposing team and
the audience, made
appropriate eye
contact, and spoke with
appropriate volume and
inflection.
Rebuttal statements
effectively addressed the
statements of the opposing
team.
Rebuttal does not
effectively respond to
the opposing team’s
arguments.
The speakers addressed
the opposing team, made
appropriate eye contact,
and spoke with
appropriate volume.
Speakers lacked eye
contact and/or were
difficult to
understand.
TOTAL
5
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