The Industrial Revolution Role Play
~Instructions~
For this role play, you will be in a small group of students who will be playing an assigned role.
Your group will be playing the role of either child advocates, poor families, or factory owners. You
will have two days with computers during class to do your research and formulate some of your
arguments. You will need to work outside of class on this project. Your group will fill in the research
sheet, fill in the final position sheet, and present your position during the role play together. You will
 The resolution the groups will be debating is: “Parliament
should pass legislation making it illegal for children under
the age of twelve to work in textile factories.”
Your goal is to make the strongest possible argument for your position (the position of the group
you are role-playing, not your own personal position), and to possibly convince other students to
vote the way your group does. Your position does not have to be wholly in favor of or against the
resolution. I recommend that your group first discuss what you think your position on the resolution
will be, discuss it briefly with me, then divide up the links provided and begin looking for
information to support your position. You will also look for information that argues against your
position so that you can prepare to argue against opposing positions
 Consider the following as you research:
o The way children were recruited as factory workers
o The reasons why the children’s health and well-being might be damaged by factory
labor
o What the benefits of child labor might be to their families and the British nation
o What possible disadvantages might result from banning them from working
Writing Power Standards:
 3 – Establishes and maintains a manageable thesis and elaborates using relevant, concrete details
Rubrics & Feedback
 6 – Applies own and/or established criteria to reflect on own writing
Reading Power Standards:
 1 – Understanding the main ideas and supporting details
Resource Site:

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRchild.htm
Rubric
You clearly understand, and represent well, the position of your group
Your notes indicate careful, thorough research
Your evidence strongly supports each argument
You have analyzed opposing sides well and have chosen strong counterarguments
You have used class time wisely
Total
/10
/10
/10
/10
/10
/50
Rubric
You clearly understand, and represent well, the position of your group
Your notes indicate careful, thorough research
Your evidence strongly supports each argument
You have analyzed opposing sides well and have chosen strong counterarguments
You have used class time wisely
Total
/10
/10
/10
/10
/10
/50
Rubric
You clearly understand, and represent well, the position of your group
Your notes indicate careful, thorough research
Your evidence strongly supports each argument
You have analyzed opposing sides well and have chosen strong counterarguments
You have used class time wisely
Total
/10
/10
/10
/10
/10
/50
Rubric
You clearly understand, and represent well, the position of your group
Your notes indicate careful, thorough research
Your evidence strongly supports each argument
You have analyzed opposing sides well and have chosen strong counterarguments
You have used class time wisely
Total
/10
/10
/10
/10
/10
/50
Research Sheet for the Industrial Revolution Role Play
In 1 sentence answer: What is your group’s position regarding the resolution?
What are the personal interests your group (child advocates, poor families, factory owners) has in
this resolution? Why does your group care enough to argue your position? What do you have at
stake?
Take notes on what sources from the given website say about the argument, then organize the information into arguments below.
1st argument in
support of your
position:
Evidence to support the 1st argument
1)
2)
3)
4)
2nd argument in
support of your
position:
Evidence to support the 2nd argument
1)
2)
3)
4)
3rd argument in
support of your
position:
Evidence to support the 3rd argument
1)
2)
3)
4)
Three possible arguments opposing sides could have:
State argument
Argument 1
State your defense against this argument
1)
2)
Argument 2
1)
2)
Argument 3
1)
2)
Form to take notes for Role Play in:
(You should have notes for your whole group and you will turn in the notes together.)
Source
What is said in favor of
resolution
What is said in opposition to resolution