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 : Juvenile Tried as Adults
After watching the video on you will write a two page (2) 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 : Juvenile Tried as Adults
Lear, B. (Director). (2016). Ben Lear [Motion Picture].
"They Call Us Monsters"this documentary discusses the California's juvenile justice reform. The psychological impact of the trial of the juveniles as adults.
There have been many instances where the rights of the juveniles have been grossly violated by the administrators of justice who end up trying them as adults. Such mistrials and perceived violation of rights of children have often provoke the public outcry and ethical dilemma in the entire criminal justice system(Lear, 2016).