The Role-Playing Debate (50 Points)
We will hold a role-playing debate set among suffragists in the United States in 1911.
In a debate, you do not know ahead of time which side of the debate you will be asked to argue. Therefore you must prepare to argue BOTH of these positions:
Position #1) We need to continue the moderate movement. To be victorious, we must be seen as non-threatening.
Position #2) We need to develop more confrontational tactics. To be victorious, we must get headlines and attention.
Step 1: Submit Your Written (Typed) Arguments (20 Points)
What to do:
- Make sure you’ve watched Lecture #8 up through Part 11 before you start preparing for the Debate. Spend some time reviewing your notes from Parts I and II of Lecture #8.
- Think of who your 1911 character(s)s are. It is perfectly acceptable to imagine a different character for each position if it helps you formulate your arguments.
- As a person in 1911, consider:
- In the years before 1911, what strategies (moderate vs. confrontational) worked well for the movement and which strategies did not?
- How old are you? Where are you from? How have you been involved in the movement?
- It may be helpful to include a brief description of who your character is, writing in the first person. Example: I am a 19 year old white woman, attending college in New York
- Compose at least six arguments for Position #1 and at least six arguments for Position #2. For each argument, remember that is it 1911, and you do not know anything that happens after 1911.
- Each argument must be at least two complete sentences. Sentence fragments will NOT be graded.
- Submit your typed arguments (SIX arguments for Position #1 and SIX arguments for Position #2) by the date and time listed on Blackboard.
Debate