Oral Communication Class Activities
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
DEBATE PROPOSITIONS OF FACT, VALUE AND POLICY
Unit(s): ARGUMENTATION
Purpose:
The purpose of this activity is to give students directed and
independent practice identifying and creating debate
propositions.
Objective:
Students will recognize the differences and scope of the various
types of propositions.
Materials:
Copies of "Identifying Types of Debate Propositions" for each
student.
Procedure:
- Discuss the nature of debate propositions of fact, value
and policy.
- Give guided practice using "Identifying Types of Debate
Propositions."
- Give independent practice in creating propositions of fact,
value and policy using suggested topics or topics of your own
choice.
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
"Identifying Types of Debate Propositions"
Directions:
Analyze each proposition, identifying each as F for fact , V for value, or P for policy.
- Resolved: That asbestos used in building construction endangers the health of those
who use the building. ______
- Resolved: That high school graduates should be required to enroll in a
high school computer literacy course. ____
- Resolved: That the health of the economy is more important than national
security.______
- Resolved: That prayer should be allowed in school.______
- Resolved: That freedom of the press is more important than the individual's right to
privacy.______
- Resolved: That capital punishment is preferred over life imprisonment for capital
crimes______
- Resolved: That AIDS research should be a top priority.______
- Resolved: That nuclear energy is a viable source of this nation's electrical
supply.______
- Resolved: That there should be a moratorium on adding to the endangered
species list.______
- Resolved: That national health insurance should be provided to all
U.Scitizens.______
- Resolved: That extracurricular activities should be banned in public
schools.______
- Resolved: That parental consent should be required for all abortions on
minors.______
Suggested topics for student-written debate propositions:
Music Sports
Welfare Science
Discrimination Drug abuse
Commercials Prison reform
School curriculum Recycling
Safety requirements Environmental issues
Constitutional rights Animal rights
ANSWER KEY
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
"Identifying Types of Debate Propositions"
- Fact
- Policy
- Value
- Value/Policy
- Value
- Value
- Policy
- Fact
- Policy
- Policy
- Policy
- Policy
