Option One
- Visit The New York Times’ opinion website, "Room for Debate" and choose a discussion topic that is interesting to you.
- Once you have selected a discussion topic, read the opinions of the debaters.
- Choose two of the debaters and analyze their positions on the topic. Use the New York Times Argument Analysis Graphic Organizer to evaluate each argument.
Option Two
On September 16, 1960, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon participated in the first televised presidential debate. According to the terms of the debate, Kennedy and Nixon each had the opportunity to make an opening statement. In those opening statements, each candidate presented his argument for the way to help change America.
- Watch these opening statements and choose one key point from the Kennedy-Nixon Debate to evaluate.
- Use the Kennedy-Nixon Argument Analysis Graphic Organizer to evaluate each argument.
