There are four participants on each team. The debate proceeds in the following order.
Pro team opening argument, 3 minutes
Con team cross-examination, 1 minute
Pro team rebuttal, 5 minutes
Con team rebuttal, 5 minutes
Pro team closing argument, 5 minutes
Con team closing argument, 5 minutes
Pro and Con teams leave the room
Jury (the rest of the class) deliberates and votes.
September 16: Civilization, Imperialism, and Relativism
September 23: Absolutism and Constitutionalism: Hobbes and Locke
October 14: The French Revolution
October 28: Liberalism and Marxism
November 18: The Russian Revolution
December 2: The Cold War
Resolved: Because truth and morality are relative, no civilization has the right to criticize (or interfere with) another civilization.
Notes: You are not limited to debating Montaigne's perspective or the sixteenth-century perspective. You may introduce modern examples and modern perspectives to argue the case.
Team 1 -- Pro
1. Lindsay Page
2. Michael Wee
3. Christian Binger
4. Jay Jackson
Team 2 -- Con
5. Andrew Potter
6. Josh Fee
7. Jeni Wischmeyer
8. Colin Bright
Resolved: Locke's argument is more logical and persuasive than Hobbes's argument. A careful consideration of human nature, the state of nature, and the law of nature naturally leads one to conclude that humans must form a social contract creating a government based on popular consent, protection of individual rights, and clear limits to the powers of government.
Team 1 -- Pro
1. Lisa Groet
2. Ryan File
3. Erin Nelson
4. Kristen Kendrick
Team 2 -- Con
5. John Resig
6. Andrew Potter
7. Kirstie Kleopfer
8. Jay Jackson
Question: Was the French Revolution was a necessary and beneficial revolution?
Paine Team
1. Michael Wee
2. Lisa Tipton
3. Jonathan Williams
4. Steve Beyl
Burke Team
5. Lisa Groet
6. Josh Fee
7. Kirstie Kleopfer
8. Colin Bright
Question: Are capitalism and liberal constitutional government good for society?
The setting is 1848, the date of the publication of the Communist Manifesto. The groundrule in this debate is that you are not to introduce evidence from a later time period (e.g. Communism as it was practiced in the Soviet Union).
Liberal Side
1. Lindsey Page
2. Lisa Tipton
3. Johathan Williams
4. Christian Binger
Marxist Side
5. Ryan File
6. Chu-Yung Lin
7. Ryan Ray
8. Adam Smith
Resolved: Soviet aggression was responsible for the Cold War. While the Soviet Union sought to impose Communism on other societies around the world, the United States sought to defend itself and its allies against Communist aggression and to uphold the principle of national self-determination around the world.
Team 1 -- Pro
1. Jeni Wischmeyer
2. Erin Nelson
3. Kristen Kendrick
4. Laura Wellbery
Team 2 -- Con
5. Ryan Ray
6. Steve Beyl
7. Chu-Yung Lin
8. John Resig