Briefs for arguments

Com 2110

Young, A.

Brief Assignments

1st Brief Due: February 16

2nd Brief Due: March 23

Purpose of the Brief: The purpose of the brief is to systematically organize your arguments that you will use in your in-class debates. This organization allows you to quickly assess your arguments, anticipate arguments your opponent will make, generally prepare for your debate(s). The briefs are worth 75 points.

Requirements for the Assignment:

1) The brief must contain at least 14 pieces of evidence. The evidence should contain a full source citation, following this format:

Full Name, Qualifications, Title of Article of Book, Title of Journal/Magazine/Newspaper (if needed), the date of publication, page number or web address, the date accessed on the web.

2) The brief should be type-written and adhere to the formatting and principles of a logical outline.

The Arguments: Below I outline the arguments you should search for and make in your brief. Please look for just these arguments or arguments that are fairly similar to these. The idea here is that everyone in the class will be making generally the same arguments so that if I have to pair you with anyone in the class, you have materials to debate them. I outline both AFFIRMATIVE and NEGATIVE arguments. Whatever side I have assigned you for your first debate, you will research the first brief as that side. For the second brief due later in the term, you will switch sides and research the opposite way from the first assignment.

If you were assigned to be AFFIRMATIVE for this debate, you will find evidence/arguments that say:

Blame – You should make one blame argument in your brief. It should be:

· Capital punishment is still widely used in the United States (1 piece of evidence)

Ill – You should make three ill arguments in your brief.

· Capital punishment has a disproportionate impact on minorities (2 pieces of evidence).

· Capital punishment results in the death of innocent people (2 pieces of evidence).

· An argument of your choosing (2 pieces of evidence).

Cure

· Life without parole is an effective replacement for capital punishment (2 pieces of evidence)

· The death penalty has to be abolished – reform will not work (1 piece of evidence)

Cost

· Capital punishment does not deter crime (2 pieces of evidence).

· Life without parole is cost effective (2 pieces of evidence).

If you were assigned to be NEGATIVE for this debate, you will find evidence/arguments that say:

Blame

· Fewer people are being sentenced to death in the United States (1 piece of evidence)

Ills

· Racial bias in the capital punishment system is decreasing (or not true) (2 pieces of evidence)

· Protections exist to guard against innocent people being put to death (2 pieces of evidence)

· The death penalty is humane OR reforms are improving implementation of the death penalty (2 pieces of evidence).

Cure

· Abolishing the death penalty will no effect on racism in the criminal justice system (2 pieces of evidence)

· An argument of your choosing (1 pieces of evidence)

Cost

· Capital Punishment deters crime (2 pieces of evidence)

· Life without parole costs more than the death penalty (2 pieces of evidence)

I. (Blame) Public support means capital punishment is still widely used in the United States.

Full Citation

Evidence

II. (Ills) Capital Punishment is bad for our country.

A. Capital punishment has a disproportionate impact on minorities.

Full Citation

Evidence

Full Citation

Evidence

B. Innocent people are killed because of capital punishment.

Full Citation

Evidence

Full Citation

Evidence

C. Capital Punishment hurts the executioners.

Full Citation

Evidence

Full Citation

Evidence