Contemporary Issues
Debate Forum
Students will be given 3 debate topics this semester. For each topic the students will watch a documentary they selected regarding the topic. It must be a scholarly video/documentary or you will not receive credit.
Students will then complete an assignment that requires they develop opinions for and against the topic of the video. Students will submit their debate in black board on the following due dates:
• Debate Topic One: Criminal Justice Reform:
After watching the video on you will write a three (3) paragraph essay as follows:
Paragraph 1: Summarize in one paragraph, the main topic of the video:
• What is the Issue?
• Why is this an issue? Who does it affect.
Paragraph 2: Write an argumentative paragraph Supporting the issue: you must list three reasons you are in support of the issue. These must be complete sentences.
Example: I support the death penalty because it is a just punishment, etc.., then list two more reasons you support the death penalty.
Paragraph 3: Write an argumentative paragraph Opposing the issue: you must list three reasons you are opposing the issue. These must be complete sentences.
Example: I am opposed to death penalty because it violates civil rights of cruel and unusual punishment, etc.., then list two more reasons you are opposed to the death penalty.
Debate Topic One: Criminal Justice Reform
Burns, K., Sarah, B., & Mcmahon, D. (Directors). (2017). The Central Park Five [Motion Picture].
"The Central Park Five" is a documentary that delve deeper in the field of criminal justice reforms. There have been many incidences where the accused persons have been lynched in the broad-daylight under the guise of apprehending criminals.
The documentary is unflinching tale of crime, punishment, racial hysteria and ego among the law enforcement agencies in the United States(Burns, Sarah, & Mcmahon, 2017).