Discovery Discussion Debate

Nuclear Arms Pro and Con guide

This is a guide to help students work through some of the issues related to nuclear weapons. Discover the idea. Discuss and form your opinions. Challenge your opinions through debate. Dr. Paul R. Friesen

Discovery Discussion Debate

Title:

Nuclear weapons: a pros and cons guide

Discover Ideas
(Outline)

Discuss the Story

(3 Question Levels)
Create Opinions

Nuclear Weapons

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Discovery Discussion Debate Before you start

Look through the idea, front to back. The ideas in red are just ideas. Students should add to these. There is an outline page for Discovery. There are graphic organizer pages for the Discussion and Debate sections. The reason for the worksheets, at the end of the book, is to help you work systematically through the material. Worksheets are helpers and can be a distraction from the rhythm and sequence in your teaching. By putting them at the end they become support pages versus places to stop, giving a smoother presentation.

Discovery
In the beginning of each story you will have a few questions to discover what you know, or think you know about a story. The Title of the article/ story will be given and you will be asked to discover the story by asking good questions. In the second part of discovery you will be asked to find words which you do not know. Some of these may be highlighted already in bold. Definitions will follow to help you discover what the writer is talking about. Discovery will help you form a plan for the discussion and debate.

Discussion
Discussion is not a debate, though it can quickly become one if there are strong opposing ideas in the group. Discussion can be a part of the discovery before you read the story. It may also come after to discuss the ideas of the story. Sometimes a persons views may change after reading the article, which is a good way to start a discussion. Discussion is interaction without a lot of structure. Be careful not to confuse discussion with argument. Debate is about argument. Discussion is about sharing your views and interacting with others who want to expand or give a differing viewpoint.

Debate
Debate is a structured idea. It means that only one person speaks in turn, and with a specific point to address. It also has a time limit, so the speaker must be precise in their argument. In a debate the key is to listen and be prepared to oppose the other teams ideas. It takes research, a lot of work, and patience. In the following story we want to begin with discovery ideas. What can you know from a title, if you dont know about the topic?

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Discovery Discussion Debate

In discovery you will form ideas to create basics ideas for an outline. In discussion you will ask questions to help you build an outline for your viewpoint. In debate you will separate the outline into two sections, for and against. At each stage you will be able to use what you have learned before, to expand on your ideas and understand both sides of the issue.

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Discovery Discussion Debate

Discovery
Title: Nuclear weapons: a pros and cons guide

Everything you wanted to know about nuclear deterrence but were afraid to ask.

ADAM HUGHES 29 Apr, 2013

http://scotspolitics.com/uncategorized1/nuclear-weapons-a-pros-and-cons-guide

What can you know from the title? . . . . . ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

What do I know about this topic? . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ What are some pros and cons? . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ What is a good argument to have or not have nuclear arms? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
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Discovery Discussion Debate

Now read the story. . Create an outline of the story / paragraphs. . There is a list of words on the side for you to find. . After you have found the words, look in the definitions, which follow the story. . Discover the words you dont know.

Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear weapons: a pros and cons guide
Everything you wanted to know about nuclear deterrence but were afraid to ask.

ADAM HUGHES 29 Apr, 2013 Despite strong arguments against nuclear weapons, most of the developed nations including the most powerful ones such as; the USA, Russia, UK, France, and China, have refused to abandon nuclear weapons. In fact, new unofficial nuclear powers like India, Pakistan and Israel have joined in, alongside rogue nations such as North Korea are said to have developed nuclear bombs while Iran too is trying to make nuclear weapons to counter USA domination of the Middle East. The countries that possess these weapons view them as beneficial, so we need to examine whether or not they are of value. In the UK, our Nuclear Deterrent is based in Faslane, Scotland, and consists of four submarines armed with 16 warheads each. Wait! There are positives to nuclear weapons, the main one being that theyre a cheaper form of insurance against aggression from other countries. Building a massive army, fighters, and armor costs a great deal of money. In comparison, building a few nuclear bombs is quite cheap. North Korea has used this strategy quite effectively to keep USA at bay, despite provoking the larger power numerous times. The problems nuclear power and weapons cause are devastating. Radiation from both accidents and normal activity with nuclear deterrence has had many tragic ramifications. Chernobyl, Fukushima, nuclear submarines damaging the environment, the death of military personnel the list goes on. The nuclear weapons industry produces a large volume of low-level radioactive waste in the form of contaminated items like clothing, hand tools, water purifier resins, and even (upon decommissioning) the materials of which the reactor itself is built. This means that there is an ever present danger to those who live and work around the Trident submarines, in Scotland. Terrorism is also a major concern with a nuclear deterrent, there is a danger that in politically unstable countries like Pakistan or Russia these weapons could fall into the hands of rogue terrorist groups. People continue to be affected by radiation even decades after incidents involving nuclear attacks. Nuclear Weapons were only used by USA against Japan when two low level nuclear bombs were dropped over Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The bombs killed thousands and caused disability and radiation
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Discovery Discussion Debate

diseases amongst survivors and helpers. These effects were still being felt even now almost 65 years after the bombs were destroyed in 1945. A nuclear deterrent also diverts funds from more productive uses. Nuclear Weapons are very costly for small countries with limited resources like Pakistan and North Korea. While the majority of the population remains mired in desperate poverty, developing nuclear weapons diverts precious resources to nuclear weapons programs. Nuclear Delivery Mechanisms like Fighters, Missiles and Submarines also cost billions of dollars and are needed to build an effective Nuclear Deterrent. It also seems to me that people may have just forgotten about the Cold War and are not considering the possibility that a similar situation may arise today. With more countries in possession of nuclear weapons there is a higher risk of something catastrophic happening. These weapons essentially make themselves redundant as the possession of them prevents their use and the use of them would leave us with nothing. The UK is part of NATO, whose main benefactor is the US, and so we would be protected by them if we were to get rid of our Nuclear weapons, which is something I highly suggest.

Vocabulary Check
Find the colored words. Write a definition you can discover from the story if possible. __________ 1. ______________________________________________________ __________ 2. ______________________________________________________ __________ 3. ______________________________________________________ __________ 4. ______________________________________________________ __________ 5. ______________________________________________________ __________ 6. ______________________________________________________ __________ 7. ______________________________________________________ __________ 8. ______________________________________________________ __________ 9. ______________________________________________________ ___________ 10. ______________________________________________________ __________

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Discovery Discussion Debate Discovery

What do I know about this topic?
List at least four (4) different ideas you have found in this story.

. __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________ . __________________________________________

Use them when you make your outline.

Discussion
Level I . Can you think of more pros or cons not in this story? Explain. . Do you think that North Korean strategy will work? Explain. . Do you think if everybody has nuclear weapons that it would be a catastrophe? Level II . Do the cost savings make nuclear weapons a better choice? . What should we do with nuclear waste? Explain. . Is there a link between nuclear power to nuclear weapons? Explain. . What benefits to health is there from the nuclear industry? Explain. Level III . Did the Cold War really end? Explain. . Can a country be seen a powerful if it does not have nuclear weapons? . Should the USA be the protector of those under attack? Explain. You now have everything you need to fill out your outline. Look at your answers, under Discussion, and fill it out to reflect the new ideas. These new ideas will help you form your debate ideas better.

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Discovery Discussion Debate

In debate you will have a statement not a question. You have to react to the statement with facts, not opinions. Discussions are based a lot on opinions and answer questions. This is where these two ideas, though similar, are different. Debate is about facts and statements. When you make a statement, from a story, you must consider what the core issue is. If you have made a good outline, you will have this already discovered. This story is from ________. The core issue could be; (one word) __________ __________ __________ __________ In todays world the topics could range from; __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________

These are all good argument that you would want to research for your argument, or write in your essay. Build the argument starting from Why? Once you have determined the Why? you can find facts to support your idea.

Countries depend on the USA for protection. They should then be the sole country to have nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons research helps develop new technology so they are important. Spending money on nuclear weapons is just as important as spending money on poverty, for a country. Before you start choose one of the above statements to focus on. Choose a for or against position. Research to find FACTS for your position. List the facts.

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Discovery Discussion Debate

Write out your argument in a long paragraph format. Include the opposite position in your writing.

You need to write out both sides so you can understand the
other sides argument.

Discovery Outline
Main topic ________________________ Find one (1) key idea in each paragraph. (3-5 words) Paragraph 1 ______________________________ Paragraph 2 ______________________________ Paragraph 3 ______________________________ Paragraph 4 ______________________________ Paragraph 5 ______________________________ Write two things about the main paragraph idea. Paragraph 1 ______________________________ A. ______________________________ B. ______________________________ Paragraph 2 ______________________________ A. ______________________________ B. ______________________________ Paragraph 3 ______________________________ A. ______________________________ B. ______________________________ Paragraph 4 ______________________________ A. ______________________________ B. ______________________________ Paragraph 5 ______________________________ A. ______________________________ B. ______________________________ In the introduction you use the 5 paragraph ideas to communicate the order of your argument/ essay. In the conclusion you repeat what you have said about the points of each paragraph.
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Discovery Discussion Debate

Graphic Organization ~ Main topic = 5 Paragraph Topics

paragraph 1 ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ paragraph 5 paragraph 2 ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

Main topic

paragraph 4 ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

paragraph 3
____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

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Discovery Discussion Debate

Discussion Graphic ~ Are nuclear weapons a problem / becoming a problem in todays society? Answer ~ I think nuclear weapons are (a / becoming a) problem because

Problem / Pros and Cons

America should be the only country with nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons spending is equally important to spending on poverty.

Nuclear weapons help develop new technologies for health. Therefore, they should be kept.

Respond

Respond

Respond

Respond

Respond

Respond

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Discovery Discussion Debate

graphic ~ choose one statement from the above. Write it here _____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ To make your argument you should understand that they are connected.

list

In the next two charts (1) list your argument facts and ideas, (2) show how your argument connects to both the center point and the other points.

Facts
For 1 Against

Add more if needed

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Discovery Discussion Debate

graphic ~ choose one statement from the above. list

If this -- then

If this -- then

Write your statement position here. ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ______________________________

If this -- then

If this -- then

If this -- then

Now start the

As a team choose which points they will speak about. Each person will listen for the opposite point and create a new response to what the other person has said. A: point 1 B: responds to the point and give a new point. C: responds to B and give a new point. After all persons have spoken each person can respond to any point given by the opposite team, or add more points from their team which will need responding to from the opposite team.

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Discovery Discussion Debate

Dear Teacher/ Student, After you have finished this please look for more in this series to challenge yourself. This is only part of a curriculum. It starts with Dr. Roys Everything Grammar. Dr. Roys Everything Grammar Volumes I and II will develop the skills of story and essay writing, while at the same time building a foundation in grammar. The repetition of grammar, combined with reason and speaking, culminating in a story or essay will prepare students for this series. Going beyond this book is a book to expand the outlines into essays. Good essays are able to build and defend an argument. Building a structure for debate will springboard off this skill set.

Dr. Paul R. Friesen

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