Nuclear Energy DebatesCollaboration of Science and Language

Jim Litz

Tamra Hatch

Combining Language and Science

• Science Fair• Creating books• Newspapers in class• Local newspaper education page• Persuasive speeches• Combined field trips with language and

science components• Debates

4U in the

Missoulian

Bird Books

Beginning the Debate Process• Science

– Background knowledge

– Power Points

– Labs

– Field trips

– Research

• Language

– Research skills

– Guided research

– Impromptu speeches

– Persuasive writing

– Debate practice

Dear Parents,For the next few weeks in science and language

the students will be researching energy issues facing our world today. The culmination of this research will be a debate between homerooms.

The students will be researching issues centered on fossil fuel, alternative energy, and nuclear energy. They will prepare arguments for both sides of the issue, and at the end will be told which side of the issue they will debate.

The advantages of debates• Debating Teaches Many Essential Skills

Using debates in the classroom can help students grasp many essential critical thinking and presentation skills. Among the skills classroom debates can foster are:

* abstract thinking* analytical thinking* citizenship/ethics/etiquette* clarity* cross-examination/questioning* point of view* distinguishing fact from opinion* identifying bias* language usage* organization* personal vs. political values* persuasion* public speaking* research* teamwork/cooperation* many more!* students love debating

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson304.shtml

Title of this year’s debate

Considering population growth, the increasing energy demand world wide, and the environmental degradation that occurs with power production, should some of the additional energy demands be derived by bringing more nuclear power plants on line?

Major research topics for the energy debates

• Nuclear physics and radiation• Waste disposal• Transportation• Fuel supply, mining, and processing• Safety• Environmental footprint• Fuel reprocessing• Nuclear proliferation• Containment• Location• Issues involved in fossil fuel development - such as global warming,

acid rain, particulates, nonrenewable resources• Issues involved in alternative energy development

Research – Internet and libraryBe aware of bias and incorrect information, especially from

the Internet.A SMALL SAMPLE OF POSSIBLE RESEARCH SITES

• ABC's of Nuclear Science http://www.lbl.gov/abc/• http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/train.htm#k-12 • Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/• The Nuclear Energy Institute http://www.nei.org/• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission http://www.nrc.gov/• Yucca Mountain Project www.ymp.gov/• State of Nevada www.silver.state.nv.us/• Idaho National Laboratory http://www.inl.gov/ • http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power.htm• http://www3.iptv.org/exploremore/energy/Teacher_Resources/webquests.cfm• http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/nuclear• http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/issues/nuclear-energy-&-waste/start/fact-sheet_ne&w.htm• http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.org/dhm_archive/index.php• www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/issues/fossil_fuels/index.html - 16k -• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/• http://www.ieer.org/pubs/highlvl1.html High-Level Dollars, Low-Level Sense:• http://www.sierraclub.org/nuclearwaste/yucca_factsheet.asp

Designing a debate unitMinimum of four possible arguments supporting your position

Facts and statistic supporting your position

Effective counterarguments

Facts and statistics supporting counterarguments

• Assign sides • Select captains • Assign subtopics• Develop persuasive writing skills• Continue research• Pull together main points• Create posters and/or PowerPoints• Fine tune public speaking • Provide debate format• Practice debating skills

Tasks to be completed while teams are doing research

Debate Rubrichttp://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp304-01.shtml

Category Presidential Debates

The Senate Floor Student Council Election

Not Yet Score

4 3 2 1

AddressesIssues

Always addresses topic

Usually addresses topic Rarely addresses topic Did not address topic

Support with Facts

Uses many factsthat support topic

Uses some facts that support topic

Uses few facts that support topic

Does not use facts that support topic

Persuasiveness

Arguments clear and convincing

Arguments are sometimes clear and convincing

Arguments are rarely clear and convincing

Arguments are never clear and convincing

TeamworkUsed team member effectively Equal timing

One member does the talking 75% of the time

One member does the talking 100% of the time

No one talks

Organization

Electrifies audience in opening statementClosure convinces audience

Grabs attention Brings closure to the debate

Introduces topic and brings some closure to the debate

Does not introduce topic; no closure

Lincoln/Douglas Debate Format (Team format lower on page)

1AC (first Affirmative Constructive) – 7 minutesA good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the topicClearly state the resolutionClearly state each of your contentions    Support with reason and evidenceConclude effectivelyCross Ex of the Aff by the Neg – 3 minutesYou ask questions – have a strategy or at the very least a direction to your questioningBe courteousFace the audience1NC (first Negative Constructive) – 8 minutesA good introduction that attracts the audiences attention and interest in the topicClearly state the Negative’s position on the topicClearly state the Negative’s Observations    Support with reason and evidenceAttack and question the Affirmative’s Contentions/evidenceConclude effectivelyCross Ex of the Neg by the Aff – 3 minutes   You ask questions – have a strategy or at the very least a direction to your questioningBe courteousFace the audience 

Rebuttal Speeches – No new arguments are allowed – new evidence, analysis is ok 1AR (first Affirmative Rebuttal) - 4 minutesRespond to the Neg Observations – show how they are not as strong/relevant as the Aff ContentionsRebuild the Aff case  NR (Negative Rebuttal) – 7 minutesRespond to latest Affirmative argumentsMake your final case to the audience that the Neg position is superior to the AffTry and convince the audience the Aff has failed to carry the burden of proofSummarize the debate and conclude effectively and ask for the audience to agree with the Neg position 2AR (second Affirmative Rebuttal) – 4 minutesRespond to final Negative argumentsSummarize the debate and show the audience how the Aff position is superior – and the Aff has     carried the burden of proofConclude effectively.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Debates

DebatesPlease join us on

Tuesday,December 20th

from 6:30-8:00 P.M.for our debate over current energy issues.

Friends and family are welcome!

The debate will be held in the multipurpose room at Target Range School.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please let us know if you can provide cookies or punch for the evening. Thank you. We are looking forward to seeing you Tuesday evening! Ms. Hatch and Mr. LitzI will bring cookies. I will provide punch.

Last Minute Details

• Judges • Location• Dress code• Sound system• Programs• Refreshments• Judging forms

Enjoy the process and results

Let’s try our debating skills

Topic 1

Should spent nuclear fuel be reprocessed?

Topic 2

Nuclear waste disposal