China+Debate

=China Debate=

Resolved: Authoritarian China is better prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century than democratic United States.

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 * Current Articles:**
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 * __ [|Francis Fukuyama, "U.S. Democracy has Little to Teach China," The Financial Times (1-17-11)] __


 * Overview and Debate Structure**

A debate such as this is intended to identify arguments for and against the stated resolution. If you are on the PRO team, your job is to develop a thesis statement and an argument based on evidence to support the resolution. It is also your job to anticipate the CON team's argument and to poke holes in their main ideas and their use of evidence. If you on the CON team, it is your job to develop a thesis statement and an argument based on evidence to refute the resolution. It is also your job to anticipate the PRO team's argument and to poke holes in their main ideas and their use of evidence.

The debate will take the following format:


 * Opening Statements (3 minutes each)


 * Pro Team Main Point #1 (3 minutes)


 * Con Team Rebuttal (1.5 minutes)


 * Pro Team Response (30 seconds)


 * Con Team Main Point #1 (3 minutes)


 * Pro Team Rebuttal (1.5 minutes)


 * Con Team response (30 seconds)


 * etc. We'll aim for three main points per side.


 * Closing Arguments (3 minutes each)


 * Team Roles and Responsibilities**

Each team will work together to organize an argument in support of or in opposition to the resolution. The argument should include a thesis statement and supporting points. Each member of the team is responsible for her own research, writing, and presentation, but the team as a whole is responsible for the thesis and outline of the argument.

Each member of the team will take on a specific role.
 * One team member is responsible for the opening statement and closing argument.
 * Three members of the team are responsible for developing a main point to support the team's thesis, including evidence to support the idea.
 * One member of the team is responsible for organizing the rebuttals to the other side's argument. This will mean anticipating their main points and figuring out how to challenge them.


 * Assessment**