Debate analysis

We had two good debates today. There was obviously a good deal of thought and research that went into them. Here are some points that you could take up if you're going to write your essay about tasers. I've tried to focus on how to counter particular arguments. There are also tactical pointers for people in future debates.

Debate 1: For team

1. tasers are "given" to police forces:
   Taser is a company there to make money. They charge as much as they can for their weapons. Police forces have to pay for them by using tax money.
2. many tasers are used therefore they are useful:
   Many McDonald's hamburgers are sold, but that doesn't make them healthy.
3. acknowledged that tasers can be dangerous, but...:
   This was an effective technique that took the wind out of the other team's sails.
4. largest independent study to date shows...:
   This is very specific and powerful. In general, new studies are better than old, large is better than small, and independent is better than company funded.
5. Not an alternative to guns: an alternative to batons & pepper spray:
   This argument reframes the debate. It makes tasers look less dangerous and could catch the other team unprepared. It On the other hand, it could be seen as a bit dishonest because when the police have been asking for tasers, they've specifically argued that they would be an alternative to guns.
6. Police can't help it if the person has a preexisting condition that makes them more susceptible to tasers:
   The law doesn't allow this argument in an assault. That is, if I punch somebody with force that wouldn't kill a normal person, but this person has a thin skull and I kill them, I'm on the hook for their death.

Debate 1: against team

1. studies show:
   This is too vague. Which study? How big was it? When? Who did it?
2. Compared number of firearms deaths with # of taser deaths (similar numbers):
   Brings some perspective and challenges the idea that tasers are safer than guns. In other words, a gun may kill 50% of the times (I'm just making up the numbers) and a taser only 3%, but if tasers are used 20 times more often than guns, then they'll kill just as many people.
   
3. Police are untrained. Police can be "blinded" to potential harm:
   This reframes the debate away from the technical side of tasers to the messy personal side of human nature, something that the for side will have more trouble addressing. It also brings in an emotional element: It's not just that the police "don't realize"; they're actually "blinded" by the taser.
4. The Polish man in Vancouver "didn't even speak English":
   More emotion here. Emotion can be powerful in an argument, but you have to be careful not to be dishonest in its use.

Debate 2: for team

1. Many law enforcement officers were tested:
   Easily countered by saying that these people are some of our fittest people. What happens when used on average people?
2. Safe when used properly (Tasers don't kill people. People kill people):
   But there's no guarantee they will be used safely. This is not just a debate about tasers, but about ALL police having them. Don't leave police out of the equation.
   
3. Used only 60 times a year & saved 4000 lives:
   The numbers look impressive, but the math doesn't work. Tasers have been around for 9 years. 60 times 9 is only 540. How did this save 4000 lives?
4. If somebody were trying to harm me, I'd use a taser:
   But there's lots of evidence that tasers are used to get compliance rather than to avoid harm.
5. Alternative to baton, not guns (see above)

Debate 2: against team

1. Used narrative about Polish man in Vancouver.
   Narrative went on too long and drifted off course. Other team could say it's not representative.
2. After the extended example, just switched approaches:
   You need to tell people the point of the example: so what?
   
3. Used a lot of emotion (see above)
4. A bit flat in delivery:
   If you show some passion, you'll seem more believable.
5. Repeated own point about epileptics:
   When you repeat yourself it looks like you don't have enough arguments.
   

More editing

You may do the following individually or in groups: By Monday, February 4th, look at the following student essay make any needed comments or corrections. As before, you'll have time in class to compare notes and then we'll discuss it as a group.

1. Copy edit it looking for:
   
1. run-on sentences
2. fragments
3. Missing or misused apostrophes
4. Commas, especially after prepositional phrases or before coodinators
   
5. Subject-verb agreement issues
6. Any sentence that is grammatically or or hard to understand
2. Make suggestions on overall structure:
1. suggest removing anything that is off topic
2. suggest alternative points
3. where there is no clear transition from one point to the next, suggest some link or a more logical order
3. Make suggestions about support
1. Note where support is lacking
2. Note where support is given but it is inappropriate

Education: Good Grades, Bad System

Since the beginning of time academics such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Socrates proved to be ahead of their time with the inventions and philosophies of the world. They always opted for free universal education so everyone may better understand the way things work and grow. Back then as now education was reserved for only the privileged. The upper class who society felt deserved to know the workings of the world. Regarding the current aspect of education there are only two types of students who are able to go to post secondary education, students that can afford the fees and students who are geniuses or athletic stars and receive scholarships for the academic or athletic capability. College and university education should be available to all who wish to learn, not just those with good grades.

Children and the elderly are the two least important peoples in societys eyes. This is for the reason that they do not fit into the category of what is known as a “productive citizen”. Meaning that someone who is considered meaningful to society is one that makes contributions (makes money and puts it back into the economy). At this point in time there are high prerequisites for a great deal of jobs. Certain degrees that can only be obtain by going to college or university. However there are also strict prerequisites to get into these facilities. You generally need good grades to be accepted into school but also must have the money to pay for the education. The government does not comprehend the fact that if education was more open and everyone, even people with not so good grades but were eager to learn could make a huge difference in society. There would be more doctors, nurses, lawyers, social workers and much more. There should be no restriction regarding grades or money, that’s unfair and unjust.

As a child I never had to fight for anything like food, shelter, clothes or protection from family. There are more children in this country then can be fathomed that deal with these issues day in and day out. Trapped in a vicious cycle with little incentive to break free from what they know best. Education is the key for all people to empower themselves. It would serve to be a great incentive for kids and teens that are trapped in domestic violence and poverty. These factors generally inhibit and discourage from even choosing to try and achieve a higher form of education, the fact that there are other factors like money and grade prerequisites are not even fathomable to these young adults.

My father came to Canada from Scotland by demand from several companies requesting his expertise in his area. When he came he was treated as if he was a refugee, they required numerous references and prerequisites and even made him take further courses just to work here. Immigrants have potential to be extremely beneficial to certain countries that lack people for a certain area of expertise. However in Canada we have an overwhelming amount of immigrants in schools based on the fact that they can pay the doubled tuition. There are very few programs that offer a generous scholarship offer for people coming from another country. There are tests and more prerequisites set in place to ensure that they only allow “smart” kids into the schools. This takes away from the kids who perhaps learn in a different way then what is taught or tested. People with intellect but cannot excel at tests or have the financial support cannot receive a formal college or university education, this takes away from the amount of productive citizens we could have in society.

Education should be free for everyone. The opportunity to learn should be available to anyone regardless of income, color, home country, domestic situation and grades. Iran has free college and university education and they are expanding at an astonishing rate because there are very few restricting factors which inhibit anyone from achieving a higher form of knowledge. That should be a shining example of how this country is suffocating people who could potentially save lives one day, find a cure for illness or even speed up the line at the DMV. College and university education should not only be for people with good grades, but for everyone.

Out-of-class Essay

Remember that your first out-of-class essay is due by Thursday, February 7. It should be on one of the following topics:

1. Student tuition fees risen much faster than inflation over the last 10 years. Students typically oppose any such increases suggesting that high tuition costs are preventing students from getting the education they need. In contrast, the college and the government of Ontario typically argue that without such increases, the quality of education will suffer.
   Argue that tuition should OR should not be free for all students
2. Recently the issue of tasers has been discussed extensively in the news. The police argue that they use tasers regularly in dangerous situations where a gun might otherwise be used with lethal consequences. On the other side we have deaths such as the of Robert Dziekanski or the famous “don’t tase me bro” incident, both available for viewing on YouTube.
   Argue that sasers should OR should not be standard equipment for front-line police officers.
3. Environmental concerns and global warming in particular have become very hot issues.
   Argue that we as a society should deal with this issue through legislation OR through technology OR through personal change. If you don't agree with any of those, argue for some other solution.
   

Outlines

Here's a bad example, and here's a better one. These two outlines relate to the debate on tuition.

Debate wrap up

Today we had our first debate. Thanks to those who went first. It's always difficult to be the first, but thanks to you we now have a better idea about what is expected.

For next Monday, everyone should bring to class an outline (printed or handwritten) of a potential essay related to the topic of tuition fees. Your outline should have at least as much detail as the example in this powerpoint file. The topic for your outline is:

Student tuition fees risen much faster than inflation over the last 10 years. Students typically oppose any such increases suggesting that high tuition costs are preventing students from getting the education they need. In contrast, the college and the government of Ontario typically argue that without such increases, the quality of education will suffer.
FOR: Tuition should be free for all students

As always, if you don't understand something or are having a problem, contact me and we'll try to sort it out.

Today's debate

Today's debaters should post their sources here. Please, note that two sources have already been posted as comments to this post.

APA style

We'll be looking at APA style in class on Feb 25, but if you need to use it for any papers before then, you can check out this website that creates the reference for you.