Conducting a Darwin-Style Debate
Overview
Students conduct a debate with themselves by taking a stance on both the pros and cons of an issue and then writing a rebuttal for each stance.
Why Use This?
This style of debate allows students to examine the pros and cons of an issue while providing counterarguments for each, encouraging analytical and critical thinking skills.
Introduction
This assessment is set up to help you exercise your critical thinking skills by having you take both sides of a debate concerning the use of stem cells from a scientific standpoint. We all realize and acknowledge that there are other concerns that can be identified from a non-scientific perspective, but for this assessment, you are focusing on purely scientific information.
An unusual twist in this debate is that you will be debating with yourself on this issue to provide a more complete perspective of the issue and get you to think about things from all sides, which is very important when practicing critical thinking!
How Does It Work?
In this example, students reviewed a case study about using embryonic stem cells in scientific research and then provided arguments both for and against their use based on information in the case study and scientific evidence. In the instructions for the assignments, students were also given the following method to structure their responses:
1. Write an opening statement for the pros.
2. Write a rebuttal to the opening statement.
3 Write an opposing statement concerning the negatives.
4. Write a rebuttal to the opposing statement.
Part 2: Debate
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- Write an opening statement about the positives of using stem cells. The statement should be at least 400 words in length and address at least four positive aspects of utilizing stem cells. In this part of the debate, you can acknowledge opposing viewpoints, but be sure to focus on why the case for using stem cells would override those views. Since you would be preparing for this assessment as you would for a debate, please be sure to provide the scientific sources for your information and be sure to write at a college level.
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- Write a scientific rebuttal to your opening statement on the positives of using stem cells. Be sure to focus on the points that you brought up in your first statement, and, again, be sure to provide references. The rebuttal should be at least 200 words in length.
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- Now, the twist! Write an opposing opening statement concerning the negative use of stem cells. You can certainly use important points you identified in your previous rebuttal, but be sure to provide further elaboration on those points in addition to bringing up any other scientifically negative aspects of using stem cells. This part of the debate should also be at least 400 words in length, have scientific references, and be written at a college level.
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- Write a scientific rebuttal as you did for the positive aspects of using stem cells. Use the same criteria as your previous rebuttal (at least 200 words, provide scientific references, and write at a college level).
- Finally, provide a reflection (at least three paragraphs in length) on your work concerning this assessment. Address what you learned, how you discovered different viewpoints, how you felt about doing this assessment, and if you think this was a good way to do a debate or not. Your thoughts on this assessment are important and may be used to modify the assessment in the future, so please be thoughtful and thorough in your response. As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this or if I can help in any other way.
Keep In Mind
The structure of the response above can be used with Darwin-style debates on any topic and is a useful starting point for students to frame their arguments.