Ethical Dilemma Debate Cards

Choose ONE of the following ethical dilemma cards to debate with your partner. Remember to actively listen, use empathetic rebuttals, and practice clear persuasion.

Card 1: The School Newspaper Story

Scenario: A student journalist uncovers evidence that a popular teacher at your school has been unfairly grading students in a specific advanced placement class, leading to lower grades for some deserving students. Publishing the story would expose the teacher, but also potentially damage their career and create unrest in the school.

• For Publishing: Argue that the journalist has a moral obligation to expose the truth and ensure fairness for all students, even if it has negative consequences for the teacher.
• Against Publishing: Argue that the journalist should prioritize the stability of the school community and the teacher's career, and seek alternative solutions, like speaking to the administration privately, before publishing.

Card 2: The Online Privacy Dilemma

Scenario: Your city is considering implementing a new public surveillance system with advanced facial recognition technology, arguing it will significantly reduce crime rates. Opponents are concerned about individual privacy and the potential for misuse of data.

• For Surveillance: Argue that public safety and crime reduction outweigh individual privacy concerns, and that the technology is a necessary step for a safer community.
• Against Surveillance: Argue that the loss of privacy and potential for data misuse are too great a risk, and that other methods for crime reduction should be prioritized.

Card 3: The AI Art Controversy

Scenario: An artist uses an AI program to generate a stunning piece of visual art that wins a prestigious competition. The AI was trained on thousands of existing artworks without explicit permission from the original artists. Many human artists argue this is unethical and devalues their craft.

• For AI Art: Argue that using AI is a new form of artistic expression, a tool like any other, and that the resulting artwork is a legitimate creation by the artist who used the AI.
• Against AI Art: Argue that AI art, when trained on uncredited works, is a form of plagiarism or exploitation, and that true art requires human creativity and effort.

Card 4: The Environmental vs. Economic Growth Debate

Scenario: A large factory, which provides many jobs in a small town, is found to be causing significant environmental pollution. Shutting it down would protect the environment but devastate the town's economy, leading to widespread unemployment.

• For Environmental Protection: Argue that long-term environmental health is paramount, and the factory must be shut down, with efforts focused on retraining workers and attracting green industries.
• Against Immediate Shutdown: Argue that the immediate economic impact and livelihood of the town's residents must be prioritized, and that solutions for pollution control should be implemented gradually, perhaps with government assistance.

Partner Debate Activity: Debating with Empathy

Goal

To practice constructing persuasive arguments, actively listening to a partner's viewpoint, and responding with empathy and respectful rebuttals.

Instructions

1. Choose a Prompt: With your partner, select one debate prompt from the Literary Debate Prompts handout. This ensures you both have a clear topic to discuss.
2. Assign Roles: Decide who will argue "For" the resolution and who will argue "Against." (5 minutes) This establishes your perspective for the debate.
3. Prepare Arguments (5 minutes per person): This crucial step allows you to solidify your position.
   • Individually, take 5 minutes to jot down your main points and reasons to support your assigned stance. Identify your strongest evidence and logic.
   • Think about potential counterarguments your partner might make. Anticipating their points will help you build a stronger rebuttal later.
4. Debate Round 1 (3 minutes per person): The first chance to state your case.
   • Speaker 1 (3 min): Present your opening argument for your assigned stance. Clearly and concisely explain your position and primary reasons.
   • Speaker 2 (Active Listening): Listen carefully without interrupting. Take notes on your partner's points. Focus intently to understand their perspective, not just to prepare your own response.
5. Debate Round 2 (3 minutes per person): Now, it's the other speaker's turn to present.
   • Speaker 2 (3 min): Present your opening argument for your assigned stance. Just like Speaker 1, clearly articulate your position and supporting evidence.
   • Speaker 1 (Active Listening): Listen carefully without interrupting. Take notes on your partner's points. Again, active listening is key to genuinely understanding their arguments.
6. Rebuttal Round (2 minutes per person): This is where you respond directly to your partner's points.
   • Speaker 1 (2 min): Respond to your partner's main points. Use empathetic language (e.g., "I hear your point about X, and I understand why you feel that way. However, I believe..."). Try to address their arguments directly and respectfully. Show that you've heard and considered their perspective before presenting your counterpoint.
   • Speaker 2 (2 min): Respond to your partner's main points and offer your rebuttal. Construct your response based on what you heard, aiming for understanding and clarity.
7. Reflection: After both partners have presented, discuss briefly: This helps you process the experience and apply your learning.
   • What was one point your partner made that resonated with you or made you think differently? Consider if your partner's argument influenced your own thinking.
   • How did you try to show empathy during your debate? Reflect on how you actively listened and responded with understanding.

Success Criteria (Self-Assessment)

As you debate, consider if you and your partner are:

• Clearly stating your arguments. Are your points easy to understand and well-supported?
• Actively listening to your partner. Are you truly hearing and trying to understand their viewpoint?
• Responding to counterarguments respectfully and thoughtfully. Are your rebuttals polite and logical?
• Maintaining a positive and empathetic tone. Is your communication constructive, even when disagreeing?
• Avoiding interruptions and personal attacks. Are you keeping the debate focused on ideas, not personal feelings?

Teacher Script: The Art of Persuasion

Introduction (from Slide 1: The Art of Persuasion)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're diving into 'The Art of Persuasion,' specifically focusing on how we can debate with empathy. It's about mastering respectful arguments, a skill that's incredibly valuable in all parts of your life."

Do Now: Think-Pair-Share (from Slide 2: Do Now)

"Let's start with our 'Do Now.' Take a moment to think about a time you successfully convinced someone of your viewpoint. It could be big or small – maybe you convinced a friend to see a movie, or a family member about something important. What strategies did you use? How did you make them really listen to you?"
(Give students 2-3 minutes to think individually.)

"Now, pair up with the person next to you and share your experiences. Discuss for about five minutes."
(Circulate and listen. After 5 minutes)

"Alright, let's hear from a few of you. Who would like to share a quick example of their persuasive moment and one strategy they used?"
(Call on 2-3 students, note common strategies on the board.)

Our Objective Today (from Slide 3: Our Objective Today)

"Excellent! It sounds like many of you already have some persuasive instincts. Today, our objective is to hone those skills: 'I can construct a persuasive argument while actively listening and responding to counterarguments with empathy.' Why do you think this objective is so important, not just in school, but in your daily lives and even beyond?"
(Allow 1-2 student responses.)

Key Vocabulary (from Slides 4-9)

"To master empathetic debate, we need to understand a few key terms."

Empathy (Slide 4)

"First up, 'Empathy.' This is the capacity to deeply understand and share the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another person, even if you don't agree with them. It's truly about 'walking in their shoes' and trying to see the world from their perspective. Why is understanding someone else's feelings crucial when you're trying to convince them of something? How can it change your approach to an argument?"
(Discuss briefly.)

Persuasion (Slide 5)

"Next, 'Persuasion.' This is the art of influencing someone to adopt a belief, attitude, or course of action through reasoning, appeal to emotion, or ethical credibility. Remember, it's not about forcing someone to agree; it's about building a compelling case with strong evidence and logic."

Rebuttal (Slide 6)

"Then we have 'Rebuttal.' In a debate, a rebuttal is a direct and thoughtful response to a counterargument. It's where you provide evidence or reasoning to show why the opposing point might be incorrect, less significant, or how your own argument can address it. A good rebuttal isn't just disagreeing; it's explaining why while addressing their point and showing you've truly listened."

Active Listening (Slide 7)

"'Active Listening.' This is super important. It means fully concentrating on what is being said, not just passively 'hearing' the message. It involves truly understanding, responding thoughtfully, and remembering. When you're actively listening, what might that look like physically? What verbal and non-verbal cues do you give to show someone you're fully engaged?"
(Solicit responses: nodding, eye contact, asking clarifying questions, summarizing what was heard.)

Tone (Slide 8)

"Now, 'Tone.' This refers to the general attitude conveyed through your voice, word choice, and non-verbal cues. It significantly impacts how your message is received. How does your tone of voice affect how others receive your message, even if you're saying the exact same words? Can you think of a time when someone's tone changed the meaning or impact of what they said?"
(Discuss how tone can de-escalate or escalate a situation and influence receptiveness.)

Perspective (Slide 9)

"Finally, let's talk about 'Perspective.' This is a specific point of view or way of seeing the world, often shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and values. Understanding different perspectives means acknowledging that others may have valid reasons for their opinions, even if they differ from your own. How does understanding someone else's perspective help you in a discussion or debate? Why is it important to consider different viewpoints to build a stronger argument or even find common ground?"
(Discuss briefly.)

Collaborative Activity: Partner Debate (from Slide 10: Collaborative Activity)

"Now it's time to put these skills into practice! You and your partner will choose one debate prompt from the Ethical Dilemma Debate Cards handout. One of you will argue 'for' the resolution, and the other 'against.' Remember to focus on active listening, empathetic rebuttals, and clear persuasion. You'll have time to prepare your arguments, then conduct your mini-debate. I'll be circulating to listen and provide feedback."
(Distribute prompts and guide students through role assignment and prep as per the Partner Debate Activity instructions.)

Wrap Up: Reflect and Share (from Slide 11: Wrap Up)

"Alright, bring it back together, everyone. That was some fantastic debating! Let's reflect on your experiences. What made your communication successful or challenging during your debates? Did anyone find themselves genuinely considering their partner's viewpoint? How did practicing empathy help or hinder your ability to persuade?"
(Facilitate a brief whole-class discussion, encouraging students to share insights.)

Exit Ticket (from Slide 11: Wrap Up)

"To wrap up, please complete the exit ticket on the digital form. The question is: 'Name one thing your partner said that you genuinely considered or made you think there could be another perspective.' This helps me see how well we practiced empathetic listening today. You can access the form here [link to digital form/QR code, if applicable]."
(Monitor students as they complete the exit ticket.)

"Thank you, class! Great work today. I look forward to reading your reflections."