Sub Day- Continuing with editorials and thinking about both sides of an argument

Blog Posting:

1. According to New York Times editorial “Campus Life and Guns“, “Lawmakers in 10 states are busy adapting the issue of campus sexual assaults to the campaign to arm college students. Carrying concealed weapons on college campuses is now banned in 41 states by law or university policy.”

Please respond to the following prompt on your blog, using using reasons and examples for support: do you think that the banning of concealed weapons makes college campuses more safe or more dangerous? Why?

2. Next class we will be discussing how to build counter-arguments in preparation for our next editorial (yes, we will be writing another!). Please partner up and choose one of the scenarios below.

First, brainstorm possible arguments to be used by each side and use what you come up with to create a script of the ensuing conversation. Remember: to get what you want, each party needs to understand the other’s position well so that they can use it to strengthen their own position.

• Scenario 1: Two friends outside a movie theater. Each wants to see a different movie. (Feel free to come up with the selections!)
• Scenario 2: A parent and a child. The child wants a later curfew to attend a party with friends.
• Scenario 3: A student and a teacher. The student wants an extension on a paper.
• Scenario 4: Two friends. One wants the other to let him or her copy his or her homework.
• Scenario 5: A parent and a child. The family has planned a trip during school vacation. The child wants to do something with friends instead.
• Scenario 6: A parent and a child. The child wants a smartphone. The parents feel he or she isn’t old enough.
• Scenario 7: A parent and a child. The parent wants the child to attend college close to home; the child wants to go across the country.

Now, create a skit that illustrates the main points of each argument. We will be presenting skits next class.