C1 Inter-class debate

Topics / resolutions

1. Eating meat is no longer sustainable or ethical.

2. The global domination of English is a bad thing.

3. The USA has dominated the world for too long. It's time for other nations to take the lead.

4. Competitiveness makes society a better place.


Choose one topic from each list

Prepare both sides of the argument for the first class

Which side will be determined randomly. You get 5 minutes to prepare.

20 minutes, two debates, feedback


Proceedings

1. Teams make introductory speech (all speakers speak)

2. Affirmative team makes first speech.

3. Negative team makes first speech.

4. Teams take turns to give speeches.

5. Teams present summary of their arguments and their conclusion.

Reading: Ethical Grey Areas (vocab intro)

a breakdown in







rooted in








discretionary








black and white







grasp








monopoly








to squeeze sb








piece of the pie








insider trading








shenanigans








implement








clean up one's act








catch on








perpetrator








shredding

(Any Level) Inflatable street art

Joshua Allen Harris creates inflatable street art by creating structures made from plastic bags. He positions the bags to look like trash on top of subway grates but once the air travels upwards it inflates the bags into animated sculptures.

Video:

Inflatable street art by Joshua Allen Harris

(Speak Easy) LMNOP

L is for Lazy

M is for Moronic

N is for Next

O is for Oh dear

P is for Pumpkin










Lazy

Are you lazy? Does laziness sometimes help you in life?



Library

How often do you go to the library?
Would you consider becoming a librarian?


Left wing

What does "left wing" mean?
Do you think that left wing ideas are generally positive?
Are you left wing?
Which politicians in your country are left wing?



Leather

Is leather fashionable at the moment?
Do you own anything made of leather?
What leather items appeal to you...? A leather jacket, leather shoes, leather pants, leather hats, leather furniture, leather upholstery, leather bracelets...


London

Did London bridge fall down?
Do you know anyone from London?
Is London overrated or underrated?
Where exactly in England is London?
What colour do you think of when you think of London?
Do you know any of the history of London?


Love

Do you love your country?
What is the best moment in a love affair?
Is it possible to be in love with more than one person?
Do you fall in love easily?
Is love overrated?
How many kinds of love are there?

Sam

Notice the things in bold:

Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use?

There are already multiple countries for example Canada and Uruguay which have legalized marijuana for recreational use. The legalization of marijuana is a topic which is getting more and more attention in Switzerland and there are many people who want to change the Law and legalize marijuana.

The supporters are saying that the impact on your health is not as serious as other accepted drugs like alcohol or tobacco. To legalize marijuana would reduce the consummation of alcohol and cigarettes what makes your life healthier.

The opponents saying that even though, the impact of marijuana on your health may not be as hard as alcohol or tobacco, marijuana changes the mentality and personality of a person and can often be a gateway to harder drugs. We have not done enough of research to know what the health issues of marijuana really are.

The legalization would open a new market and is an opportunity to make money and more important taxes income for the government. There is still a huge amount of money missing the social insurances and with the new income it would be possible to fill this cab.

We are not prepared for making marijuana legal. The youth would get access to it even earlier and we do not know about the impact on other people. There are going to be more accidence with cars and bikes causing of marijuana.

There is a huge black-market of marijuana in Switzerland. Even though the research may not be enough and we do not really know what is going to happen if we would legalize marijuana in Switzerland it does not really matter because its already reality. Switzerland...

Suggestions

Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use?

There are already multiple countries, for example Canada and Uruguay, which have legalized marijuana for recreational use. It is a topic which is getting more and more attention in Switzerland and there are many people who want to change the our drug laws and legalize marijuana.

The supporters are saying that the impact on your health is not as serious as other legal drugs such as alcohol or tobacco. What's more, they say that to legalize marijuana would reduce the consummation of alcohol and cigarettes, with positive health impacts.

Opponents say that even though the impact of marijuana on your health may not be as severe as alcohol or tobacco, marijuana alters the mentality and personality of a person and can often be a gateway to harder drugs. We have not done enough research to know what the health side effects of marijuana really are.

Some say that legalization would open a new market and is an opportunity for a profitable industry to grow, bringing tax revenue to the government. There are still huge gaps in our social welfare systems and with the new income it would be possible to fill this gap.

But are we prepared for making marijuana legal? Were it to be legalised, young people would get access to it even earlier, and we do not know what the impact of that would be. Moreover, there might be more accidents with cars and bikes due to marijuana use.

There is certainly a huge black-market for marijuana in Switzerland. And even though the research may not be incomplete and we do not really know what will happen if we legalize marijuana here. The fact is, it is already reality. Switzerland...

Essay topics and structure

Options:

1. Should marijuana be legalised for recreational use?
2. Should nuclear power be phased out?
3. Should euthanasia for psychiatric patients be legal?
4. Should people be allowed to say whatever they want, or are there limits to "free speech"?



Structure

P1. Introduce the topic
P2. 3 arguments for/against
P3. 3 argument for/against
P4. Crunch paragraph - refute ideas you disagree with. Offer your best idea/s.
P5. Rephrase your basic argument and conclude

Tip 1. If you're against the proposition, use P2 to state arguments for. That way P3 will flow on easily to P4.

Tip 2. Remember to plan your essay. Save your best idea for P4. Make P4 longer and more developed than the other paragraphs.

(NZ Culture) Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu

At 85 characters, this place name is one of the longest in the world.

Read more:

Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu

Near Porangahau in Hawke’s Bay is an unassuming hill known as "Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu", which translates into English as "the place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as 'landeater’, played his flute to his loved one." Locals simply call it Taumata Hill.

Tamatea was a famous chief and warrior. One day, while travelling through the back of Porangahau, he encountered another tribe and had to fight them to get past. During the fight his brother was killed. Tamatea was so grieved over the loss of his brother that he stayed at the battle site for some days. Each morning he would sit on the hill and play a lament on what is called the koauau or Maori flute.