Human Genetics

Debating Current Issues in Human Genetics

Human Genetics is designed to introduce the principles of genetics in the context of human biology and society.  Our goals in this class are to familiarize ourselves with a few of these modern “hot-button” issues, improve our analytical skills as critical thinkers, and enhance our abilities to speak about humans.  To accomplish these goals, we will conduct three debates this semester.  We will not be trying to determine in a particular debate which, if any, position is stronger.  Rather, we are going to use this tool to enlarge our abilities in terms of understanding these issues, and the positions that people take with respect to them.

Each student in class will play a major role in one class debate, although there will be a role for everyone in each class period dedicated either to a debate or its preparation.  Preparation for each debate will be held in class before the day of the debate.  Materials are available for debate topic and are stored in electronic reserves at the library.

Class debates will take the following form.  A debate team will consist of six members.  You will be assigned to one of the three topics.  At that time, you also will be assigned either the Affirmative (arguing in support of the proposition) or Negative (arguing against the proposition) team role.  The team members for each debate have special roles.  The “Captains” will state the principal argument for their side’s position.  Team member 3 and 4 will have the role of stating secondary arguments in favor of their team’s position.  Remaining two team members (5 and 6) will have the role of responding to (“rebutting”) statements and arguments made by the opposing team.

1.  Introduction

            5 minutes          Affirmative        (Team Captains)

            5 minutes          Negative           (Team Captains)

2.  Secondary Arguments

2 minutes           Affirmative        (Third person of team)

            2 minutes          Negative           (Third person of team)

2 minutes           Affirmative        (Fourth person of team)

            2 minutes          Negative           (Fourth person of team)

3.        Five minutes to prepare rebuttals

4.    Rebuttals

1 minute           Rebuttal            (Fifth person of team, etc.)

            1 minute           Rebuttal            (Fifth person of team, etc.)

1 minute           Rebuttal            (Sixth person of team, etc.)

            1 minute           Rebuttal            (Sixth person of team, etc.)

After all team members have participated, the argument will be opened to the remainder of the class, and any member of the two classes may state an opinion or respond to an argument made by a debating team.  At the end of the class period, the entire class will vote as to which team did the best job of arguing its position.  Note, that this is not a vote to determine which position one agrees with, but instead is a vote to determine the effectiveness and logic of a team’s presentation.  Two points will be awarded to the section that receives the most class votes.