You will be assigned one of the two positions in this debate. We have read/watched together our two primary sources: the works from these two gentlemen. Through the tasks below you'll also have access to some secondary sources. For your debate you must use the sources I've provided PLUS find ONE additional source that supports your thinker's position.
Central question of the debate: Why do humans create communities? What are humans intrinsically motivated by: love or hate?
Step 1: Articulate what each side says.
TASK: Summarize as accurately as possible each of their answers to the central questions. Use one of the writing templates to begin your summary.
Step 2. Consider how much you should trust your source as VALID and RELIABLE.
TASK: Check their credentials. (go to each of their Wikipedia pages: Bloom and Lieberman). Answer: What factors about their credentials matter most to you? Why? How are you going to defend your credentials against the other thinker? How are you going to poke holes in the credentials of your opponent?
TASK: Research how other trustworthy sources have responded to the ideas. Here are some: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 . Answer: How do the reviews of their two books effect your thinking about their claims? Why?
TASK: Find ONE additional source that supports your thinker's argument. (Carefully consider where you find this source and be prepared to defend its validity.) You do not have to do a full MLA citation, but please give me basic bibliographic information: website, author, title of source. Explain how this sources supports your thinker's argument.
Answers to all the tasks above must be typed and turned in as a hard copy at the beginning of class on Friday. Each group only needs to turn in one copy with everyone's names on it.
Step 3. Prepare for the formal debate..
TASK: Prepare an opening statement (that draws on both your primary and secondary sources), organize your evidence, anticipate the counter-argument.
Notes for the debate will NOT be turned in. Have them in whatever form makes sense for your group.
Central question of the debate: Why do humans create communities? What are humans intrinsically motivated by: love or hate?
Step 1: Articulate what each side says.
TASK: Summarize as accurately as possible each of their answers to the central questions. Use one of the writing templates to begin your summary.
Step 2. Consider how much you should trust your source as VALID and RELIABLE.
TASK: Check their credentials. (go to each of their Wikipedia pages: Bloom and Lieberman). Answer: What factors about their credentials matter most to you? Why? How are you going to defend your credentials against the other thinker? How are you going to poke holes in the credentials of your opponent?
TASK: Research how other trustworthy sources have responded to the ideas. Here are some: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 . Answer: How do the reviews of their two books effect your thinking about their claims? Why?
TASK: Find ONE additional source that supports your thinker's argument. (Carefully consider where you find this source and be prepared to defend its validity.) You do not have to do a full MLA citation, but please give me basic bibliographic information: website, author, title of source. Explain how this sources supports your thinker's argument.
Answers to all the tasks above must be typed and turned in as a hard copy at the beginning of class on Friday. Each group only needs to turn in one copy with everyone's names on it.
Step 3. Prepare for the formal debate..
TASK: Prepare an opening statement (that draws on both your primary and secondary sources), organize your evidence, anticipate the counter-argument.
Notes for the debate will NOT be turned in. Have them in whatever form makes sense for your group.