Should the legal age of alcohol consumption be 18 rather than 21?
Or
Should we implement a junk food tax?
The discussion is designed for you to practice your academic
debate skills. You have make a choice between one of two topic
options: the junk food tax or the legal drinking age –do not
complete both discussions, just one. Once you choose a topic
option you will be assigned to the “pro” or “con” position based on
your last name. If your last name starts with A-K you will argue the
“pro” position. If your last name starts with L-Z you will argue
the “con” position.
IND101: CORNERSTONE A: FOUNDATIONS JAN2022
30080616 [8wk]
Details
Should the legal age of alcohol consumption be 18 rather than
21?
Or
Should we implement a junk food tax?
Discussion Instructions
Be sure you have read pages 3.6 through 3.9 of Chapter 3 in the
webtext prior to participating in the debate.
Use this Tip Sheet for a Great Debate
Download Tip Sheet for a Great Debate
to make sure you are following best practices to engage in an
academic debate effectively.
(If your last name starts with A-K you will argue the “pro” position.
If your last name starts with L-Z you will argue the “con” position.)
Initial post: By Thursday of Module 3, make your argument about
whether the United States should change the legal age of alcohol
consumption to 18 instead of 21. Make sure your argument is
informed by evidence that discusses this issue in at least one
other country besides the US.
Include in your initial post:
• An argument for why your side is correct.
• An argument for why the other side is incorrect.
• Make sure to back up your post with evidence from at
least 1 credible, relevant source that addresses this issue in
another country besides the US.
Tips for a Great Debate
How to Engage Effectively in a Debate in an Online Discussion Board
1. Make a Clear Claim – Make sure it is easy to find the central argument in your post.
2. Use Evidence to Support Your Argument – An argument needs evidence to back it up. Make
sure to effectively incorporate evidence from scholarly, credible, relevant sources and cite them
appropriately.
3. Build a Case – Your post may include 2-4 sub-arguments that each use evidence to “make the
case” for your overarching argument. Make sure these are organized clearly and all build toward
the same larger point.
4. Acknowledge and Consider Alternative or Opposing Arguments. Then Refute Them – You
cannot win an argument by refusing to engage with the opposing side. Make sure you are open
to other arguments, but demonstrate via evidence and argument why your argument is best.
5. Check for Logical Fallacies – By keeping the argument focused on concrete evidence,
maintaining an academic tone, and avoiding name-calling and appeals to emotion, you can
avoid most logical fallacies. Refer to Chapter 3 of the webtext for more information and then
double check your writing to look for fallacies in your own work.
6. Read and Think Before You Post – You might be eager to jump right into a discussion with your
opinion, but make sure you really read your peer’s post first, and consider all of the points they
make, before writing your retort. Once you draft a retort, read it to yourself and double-check
for errors before posting.
7. Ask Questions – Don’t assume you know what someone means if their point is unclear to you.
Ask clarifying questions. Try to use open-ended “why” questions rather than questions that elicit
a yes/no answer.
8. Don’t Assume to Understand Someone Else’s Experiences – If your peer’s argument relates to
his or her personal experiences, listen to them, and respect their experiences, even if you
disagree with the conclusions they have drawn from their experience.
9. Follow Excelsior College Netiquette Guidelines:
a. Be courteous about what you say to or about others in any electronic format. In
electronic communication the golden rule is “Remember the Human”; there is a real
person with real feelings on the receiving end of your email or post.
b. Be respectful and open to opinions and ideas that differ from yours. The exchange of
diverse thoughts, ideas and opinions are an important part of the scholarly
environment. Keep in mind that the people in your classes may come from backgrounds
and have views that may vary significantly from your own.
c. Flaming* is not appropriate under any circumstances. While everyone (learners and
instructors alike) is encouraged to share ideas and opinions openly, you should never
use insults or resort to name-calling even if you disagree strongly with what someone
else has written. Insulting remarks and name-calling are never appropriate in an
academic setting.
d. When responding to messages or posts made by others, address the ideas, not the
person.
e. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Without social cues, such as facial
expressions and body language, a remark meant as humorous could come across hurtful
or offensive. Don’t assume that the use of ‘emoticons’ – such as – are enough to convey
your tone or intent.
f. Capitalizing whole words is generally seen as SHOUTING and is often offensive to the
reader. Use all capital letters sparingly, such as to highlight an important word or point.
*Flaming is the posting of messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting in an online social
context, such as a discussion board or blog.
Additional resources on debating:
• How to Debate
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