Spring 2020 Finale: Take a Stand!

Take a stand = defend an action or position that others might not agree with.

Part#1: Persuasive  Essay (Due 24 hours before your Stand)
Write at least a 300 word opinion essay on your 'Take a Stand' topic. Please post this in the class Band, so that ‘the panel’ can prepare for battle. A Persuasive Essay Guide is available on the course site. Persuasive Essay Guide

Part#2:  'Take a Stand' Panel (June 17/24)

You will present and defend your stand during an in-class 'Take a Stand' Panel. You will begin with a 2-5 minute opening statement (you may use notes and/or a presentation, but please do not read). You will then defend your position in front of a highly esteemed panel of sharp-witted interrogators (5-8 minutes). Your 'stand' will be recorded. Please choose topics that are specific, engaging, and easily debatable.

Examples:   

• Public university should be tuition-free for all citizens.
• All zoos are inhumane and should be banned.
• Korean women should also be required to serve in the military.
• Same sex marriage should be legal and same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.
• Animals should not be used for any scientific or commercial testing.
• God exists.
• Korea should legalize all forms of prostitution
• My wife should accompany me to my colleague’s wedding next weekend.
• Deadpool would defeat Wolverine in a battle.
• There should be a 500% tax on all instant noodle products (ramyeon).

Examples of topics that are NOT specific enough or easily debatable

• Puppies are cute.
• People should be nicer to each other.
• We use too much technology these days.

Sources of possible topics

• Procon.org (click on Topics A~Z to see a long list)
• Procon.org/debate-topics.php
• Debate.org/big-issues
• Debatewise.org
• Debategraph.org/home

*** Half the class will take a stand on June 17 and the other half on June 24. Please sign up on the group notes with your preferred date and topic by June 12. ***

Part#3: Post-panel

By June 27, please watch your video and write a short reflection. 👀

Identify strengths of your ‘stand’, examples of language usage/pronunciation that could be improved, and share any thoughts about your language skill development this semester.

😘  Be Nice to Yourselves! 
You can email your reflection to Jeff or post it in our class Band. 

Part#4:   Final Digital Challenge  (June 24)

A short, hopefully painless vocabulary and language usage challenge similar to the Midterm Digital Challenge.

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Possible ‘Take a Stand’ Topics

Do you agree or disagree with these statements? Discuss to see which might be of interest for your ‘Take a stand’ experience. Please brainstorm other possibilities along the way.

1. A university education (or GSIT degree) is/isn’t a worthwhile investment.
2. Women should also be required to serve in the military.
3. All forms of prostitution should be legalized.
4. Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide should be legal.
5. BTS is more influential than the Beatles.
6. A person should always ask for consent before a first kiss.
7. People should not start dating until after the age of 20.
8. Plastic surgery should be available at any age.
9. Wealthy nations should be required to share their wealth with poorer nations.
10. Developed countries should spend at least 5% of their budget on space exploration.
11. Boys and girls should be educated in separate classes.
12. Capital punishment should be banned / be used more often.
13. No mammals should be used for animal testing.
14. Physical appearance, fashion, and age should/shouldn’t be considered in hiring.
15. The Korean government should use gender based quotas for government jobs.
16. The government should place a tax on unhealthy foods (e.g. junk food, sodas, ramyeon)?
17. Elected government officials be required to retire at the same age as civil servants?
18. A government be allowed to surveil its citizens for the purpose of national security.
19. Same-sex marriage should/shouldn’t be legalized.
20. It is acceptable for parents to genetically engineer their children.
21. Korea should/shouldn’t accept more refugees.
22. Having a native English speaker in public school classes is/isn’t worthwhile.
23. The standardized university entrance test in Korea should be abandoned.
24. Free school lunches should be universal.
25. Corporal punishment should be reintroduced in the classroom.
26. Hagwons should close at 8 PM.
27. New fathers should/shouldn’t be given equal paternity leave.
28. Plastic surgery should be available for free to anyone who wants it.
29. Couples should live together before they get married.
30. Android is superior to Apple’s iOS.
31. Esperanto should replace English as the global lingua franca.
32. Government workers and educators should only keep their jobs if deserved = no tenure.
33. Swimming in the ocean is better than swimming in a public pool.
34. Marijuana should be legalized for medicinal/recreational purposes.
35. Dogs make better companions than cats.
36. Women are... better students / more honest / tougher... than men
37. Women should be allowed to go topless on public beaches.
38. Income beyond ₩1,000,000,000/year should be taxed at 90%.
39. High school students should wear uniforms.
40. Superman, Spiderman, Batman and/or Ironman are bad role models.
41. Aliens exist and have visited Earth.
42. Bottled water / The internet / giving money to beggars does more harm than good.
43. God exists. God doesn’t exist.
44. AI development will lead to sentient beings who should have human rights.
45. Military exemptions should also be given to academic and entertainment ‘champions’.