PARLIAMENTARY TOPICS

You will vote as a class and individually for a set of topics. After the voting, there will be 5 or 6 topic choices and you must put yourself into one of those groups. You will be required to have a minimum of 2 documented sources of evidence to support your position. These must be separate sources and will be evaluated according to the Hierarchy of Evidence listed in the syllabus.

These are some examples of topics used in previous classes. Most of these are policy topics--meaning something should be done. A few are fact propositions--meaning the speaker only needs to prove the statement is true. Be prepared to evaluate these topics according to the standards from Chapter 3:

"Controversy," "One central idea," "Unemotional terms," "Precise statement of the affirmative's desired decision," Where is the "Presumption" and "Burden of proof?"

ALSO, Be prepared to identify the topics as propositions of "Fact," "Value," or "Policy."

Spanking should be outlawed.

Abortion should be illegal.

The drinking age should be abolished.

Populations with guns are safer than populations without guns. (FACT PROP)

Driving limits should be raised to 18 to carry passengers.

Marijuana should be legalized.

Teachers should be allowed to use corporal punishment.

The United States should send additional troops to Iraq.

Voters should vote yes (or no) on Proposition 8 to deny homosexual/gay couples to marry in California.

The drinking age should be lowered to 18.

Women should be forced to sign up for selective services.

The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment. (Fact prop)