Examining Political Questions to

Develop Argumentative Strategies

This is a fancy title for
learning a little something about a lot of issues.
With this kind of knowledge and
acquaintance with the issues, we can
hopefully opine on important issues
with more substance and authority.
The issues covered in this lesson are often
the subjects of the articles that we have
been reading from the OPINION pages of
The Wall Street Journal.

Examining Political Questions to

Develop Argumentative Strategies
This activity is structured in three parts:
1) Today, becoming acquainted with just where the two major
American political parties (Democrats and Republicans) say that
they stand on key political issues.
2) Tomorrow, breaking out into groups, each assigned one of these
key political issues, to do online research for arguments in favor
of and against each parties positions on our issue.
3) The following day, participating in group presentations in which
we share with the whole class at least four major arguments in
favor of and against each parties positions on our issue.

The Two-Party System

The Republican and Democratic parties
dominate American politics.
Only the candidates from the two major parties
have a chance to win most elections.

Why is this the case?

The Framers opposed political parties.
They saw parties as factions that caused disunity
and conflict. George Washington warned against
the dangers of parties.
Chapter 5, Section 1

Copyright Pearson Education, Inc.

Slide 4

Political Spectrum
Radical

Favors extreme change to create an altered

or entirely new social system.

Liberal

Believes that government must take action to

change economic, political, and ideological
policies thought to be unfair.

Moderate

Holds beliefs that fall between liberal and

conservative views, usually including some
of each.

Conservative

Seeks to keep in place the economic,

political, and social structures of society.

Reactionary

Favors extreme change to restore society to

an earlier, more conservative state.

Chapter 5, Section 1

Copyright Pearson Education, Inc.

Slide 5

ARE THE TWO PARTIES

REALLY THAT DIFFERENT?
On the NPR show This American Life, host Ira Glass notes the
widening chasm between the two parties:
Everyone knows that politics is now so divided in our country
that not only do the two sides disagree on the solutions to the
countrys problems, they dont even agree on what the
problems are. Its two versions of the world in collision.

ARE THE TWO PARTIES

REALLY THAT DIFFERENT?
The frequency of key words used in the
parties platforms indicates drastically
contrasting perspectives on the issues:
Take the mention of God, for example:
While in the Republican party platform it
appears 10 times, in the Democratic
platform it appears only once.
Mention of the Constitution (or some
variant like constitutional) is referenced
60 times by the Republicans, compared to
just 6 times in the Democratic platform.
And while Democrats make multiple
references to the urgency of addressing
climate change, there is not a single
mention of it in the entire Republican
platform.

SOME QUESTIONS:
How many of you strongly identify with one of the two
dominant American political parties?
If no, do your parents identify as Democrat or Republican?
Does anyone live in a home where your parents belong to
different political parties? How does this work out?
What factors do you believe have the most influence on
our political beliefs or identification?
Have any of you experienced a change in political beliefs
because of national events or your own life experience?
How many of you have no real feelings about either party?
Why not?

On the issue of

ABORTION
(Legal procedure, taxpayer funding)

On the issue of

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

On the issue of

HEALTHCARE (and CONTRACEPTION)

On the issue of

FIREARMS (GUN CONTROL)

On the issue of

EDUCATION
(public/school choice, college/student loans, sex education)

On the issue of

TAXES

We propose to extend the Bush tax cutsreform the tax

codeeliminate taxes interest, dividends, and capital gains
altogether for lower and middle-income taxpayers; end the
Death Tax; and repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax.

On the issue of

IMMIGRATION

On the issue of

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

On the issue of

LABOR/UNIONS

OUR NEXT STEP (IN THIS ACTIVITY)

Everyone will be assigned to a group that will be responsible for studying

one of the particular issues which we just reviewed and then for sharing
those findings about your assigned issue with the whole class
After being assigned to a group, you will go to the media center and work
with your group to do research on your issue
Your objective is to do online research, finding arguments in favor of and
against the positions taken by each party (Democrat or Republican), and
discussing them with your group.
Together you fill out a worksheet
that will serve as the basis for your
groups presentation to the class.
Your worksheet will include a list of
several good websites that attempt to
present a politically balanced view
of these issues. It is strongly suggested
that you use these sites for your group
research, as they are very helpful.

EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION THAT

YOU WILL FIND ONLINE (at the recommended sites)
PRO Alternative Energy

CON Alternative Energy

1. Reducing Oil Drilling

Over 1,300 questions on controversial

issues with over 12,000 pro, con, and
not clearly pro or con statements.

Information about the issues

we will be studying can be
found in the format shown
here at this site, ProCon.org.
In the case of this particular
question, at least a dozen pro
arguments and a dozen con
arguments are listed, giving
you an instant reference for
the kind of information you
would need to write more
effective opinion responses.

PRO: "Despoiling nature to get at the tiny trickle of oil

we have left won't make any significant difference in
what we pay at the pump - not now and not ever. And it
won't make our country any less dependent on foreign
fuel. Our thirst for oil is bad for national security, bad
for our economy and bad for the environment

CON: "It is estimated that there is enough oil and

natural gas offshore and in non-wilderness and nonpark lands in the United States - but currently ruled offlimits for production by the federal government - to
fuel 50 million cars and heat nearly 100 million homes
for the next 25 years...

The Bush administration's own Energy Department

says that lifting the ban on offshore drilling would have
a marginal impact on oil supplies and an 'insignificant'
impact on prices. Drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge would be similarly futile, shaving - at
the very most - 4 cents off a gallon of gas by 2026...

If Congress were to expand the areas available for

active exploration, we could make more domestic
energy available to Americans in the future, while
sending a strong positive supply signal to markets
today, potentially putting downward pressure on prices.
It would also strengthen U.S. energy security by further
diversifying Americans energy portfolio, and therefore
mitigating the impact of a disruption in any one
producing region of the world."

America needs to say no to pumping up Big Oil's

profits and yes to forging a new clean energy
economy."
Natural Resources Defense Council
"Build the Clean Energy Economy," www.nrdc.org
(accessed Feb. 25, 2009)

ExxonMobil
"Putting America's Energy Resources to Work,"
www.exxonmobil.com,
June 2008

2. Green Jobs for Economic Recovery

PRO: "Citizens and community members everywhere
are seeking smart solutions to our two biggest problems
- the economic downturn and the ecological collapse.
The nation is finally realizing that the solutions to these
twin crises are linked. That is because nearly
everything that is good for the environment - and
practically everything that is good in the fight against
global warming - is a job.
Solar panels don't install themselves. Wind turbines
don't manufacture themselves. Homes and buildings
don't retrofit or weatherize themselves. In our industrial
society, trees don't even PLANT themselves, anymore.
Real people must do all of that work...
A well thought out shift to a clean energy economy
offers more work, more wealth and better health to
disadvantaged communities than does any plausible,
business-as-usual scenario...
In a time of economic peril, let us never forget that
everything that is required to make America's economy
cleaner, greener and more resilient is a career pathway
for someone. Or a business contract. Or an
entrepreneurial opportunity. We can power America
through this recession by repowering America with
clean energy. We can create millions of jobs that will

CON: "Hard times stir our appetites for easy answers,

but those are too often deceptive and dangerous. The
Green Recovery plan is a prime example--its
proponents would have us believe that pouring
taxpayer money into renewable energy like solar and
wind would create an estimated 5 million new jobs, end
our reliance on imported oil and give us clean air.
As welcome as those results would be, they're based on
the illusion that renewable fuels are an energy panacea
and that the market is ignoring an easy answer that wise
politicians can clearly see. But the facts just don't
support this. Yes, renewable fuels will constitute a part
of our energy mix in the future, but they represent only
a tiny fraction of our energy needs and won't lead us
out of the economic and environmental wilderness...
Taking into account the EIA's [US Energy Information
Agency] projected increases in electricity demand, the
renewable sector would need to grow 19% per year for
22 years consecutively to meet U.S. demand by the
year 2030. Clearly, these targets are overly ambitious
and impractical...
The government cannot create wealth or jobs; all it can
do is take from Peter to pay Paul, opening up a job in
'green industry A' by eliminating one in 'fossil fuel

Another useful site is BalancedPolitics.org.

This site will also provide you with a thorough listing of

arguments on both sides of many of these issues.
It can also provide you with links to other useful sites
where you can study the issue further.
In a Nutshell

Yes
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Most violent crimes are committed with

guns; thus, restricting gun ownership
will likely reduce the number of such
crimes.
Lunatics, bullied school kids,
disgruntled workers, and others can
inflict mass casualties with guns that
otherwise wouldn't be possible.
A crime victim who has a gun may be in
more danger than an unarmed person
since the criminal may kill in perceived
self-defense.
Suicides and crimes of passion are
higher with gun availability, as it's much
easier to act immediately on your
impulses when a gun is available.
The 2nd Amendment of the Constitution
was targeted towards militia, e.g. the
National Guard, rather than individuals.
Crimes that may have been less harmful
can be made more dangerous by adding
a gun.
Legalized gun ownership means guns
have a greater chance of falling into the
hands of kids, potentially resulting in
some deadly accidents.
Terrorism, school shootings, and other
modern circumstances make guns more
dangerous nowadays.

No
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

9.

Criminals will always find a way to

obtain their guns, leaving law-abiding
citizens without any weapons to use in
defense.
Crimes are often prevented by the
deterrent effect of the possibility of
victim gun possession.
The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution
protects the individual's right to gun
ownership.
Woman and weaker individuals may
have no means of self-defense from rape
or other crimes, especially in the inner
city.
Guns in the possession of citizens are an
added protection against government
tyranny.
Police are often too overwhelmed to
protect all citizens from violent crime.
Banning guns will create another
potentially large source of organized
criminal revenue, as a black market for
guns will surely develop.
Banning guns will take away yet
another piece of our liberty, which is
one more step to socialism and
totalitarianism.
Reasonable gun control & education
steps can be put in place, so an outright
ban is unnecessary.

In the OPINIONS section of the website Debate.org,

you will find links to discussions of various questions
about the issues. In these discussion forums, visitors to
the site post comments, providing another source of
arguments for and against many of these issues.

Results for labor union

1.

Shouldn't every American be required to join a labor union?

Every American should not be required to join a labor union. Every American
should not be required to join a labor ... union. Not every industry has a labor
union because it would be foolish and unnecessary to create one. Consequently,
no one ...
Opinions Home Politics

2.

Was Jimmy Hoffa's 1975 kidnapping/disappearance caused by rival labor

unions?
labor unions is an interesting one. I do not find it to be a stretch of the
imagination to believe that the man ... was actually kidnapped as part of a
conspiracy of other labor unions. Jimmy Hoffa Situation Not Caused by Labor
Unions It's hard ...
Opinions Home People

3.

Labor Unions
I shall side against Labor Unions. First round is acceptance and introduction.
Rounds 2-4 are for arguments, and round ... 5 is conclusion. Labor Unions are a
burden on society because they cause a loss of autonomy, a less collaborative
work ...
0 comments Updated 4 Days ago Challenge Period

4.

Should Labor Unions Support an Immigration Amnesty?

No. Labor Unions need to stray from political issues. No. Labor Unions really
need to stop involving themselves in so ... many political issues. Labor Unions
were once the back bone of American labor, and they did a wonderful job of
protecting ...
Opinions Home Politics

5.

Are labor unions good?

Labor unions are good. Labor unions can be seen as good for the society in
general.Labor unions usually look out ... stores and restaurants that are open after
working hours and have affordable prices. NO, I don't think labor unions are
good ...
Opinions Home Miscellaneous

NEXT STEPS . . . . . PART 2

Working with your group, fill out the

worksheet provided to you tomorrow.
You will need to:
Explain in you own words the positions taken by the
Democratic and Republican Parties on your assigned issue.
Do online research about your assigned issue to determine
the pros and cons of the various positions taken by the
Democratic and Republican parties. Using the websites
procon.org, debate.org, and balancedpolitics.org, research
arguments both for and against the Democratic and
Republican positions on your particular issue.
In the space provided on the worksheet, write down at least
4 arguments that support the Democratic position on the
issue and 4 arguments that support the Republican position
on the issue. You may provide more than four if you wish.

NEXT STEPS . . . . . PART 3

After completing your worksheets, work together to determine
how you will present the information to the class (i.e., using
just one presenter or having each member take turns). If
possible, arrange to rehearse your presentation at least once.

Next week, each group will

present the findings of your
research on your assigned
issue to the entire class.
Please give Mr. Kay or Mr. T.
a copy of your worksheet
BEFORE the day of the
presentations, so that they
can make a one-sheet of each
groups work to be shared
with everyone in the class.

WHY DID WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN ?

With the completion of this activity, you will have compiled
an entire packet of information about the many issues that we
discussed when reviewing key points in the 2012 Democratic
and Republican Party platforms.
You will be able to then use this information as a veritable
arsenal of argumentative strategies which can help you when
writing opinion responses to newspaper articles or editorials,
such as those found in The Wall Street Journal.
arsenal (rs()n()l/) The definition of an arsenal is a collection of things, skills and/or
talents. An example of having an arsenal of information is the tax professional who knows all the ins and
outs on how to get his client the best refund.