Reference no: EM133719060

Assignment: Childrens Testimony Unreliable and Unfair Oral Argument

Guidelines for Oral Argument

The Oral Arguments to be presented in a debate format. Team members will each have 3-5 minutes to make opening comments. Point(s) will be deducted from your grade (1/2 letter grade) for falling below 3 minutes or going longer than 5 minutes. The order of presentations will alternate between Pro and Con team members with Pro team going first. After all team members have made their opening statements, rebuttal statements will begin in the same alternating fashion. Each team member will be given 2 minutes to make any rebuttal comments.

My expectation is that you are an expert in the area and have prepared for the presentation, at a minimum, as if you would be writing a significant term-paper. You are encouraged to know the material very well and to give a presentation that demonstrates the extent of your preparation. You are welcome to refer to your notes or use note cards during the presentation. However, you should avoid reading your prepared remarks word for word. You may stand up during your presentation or sit down during it. You are free to use any appropriate audio-visual aids. Remember, the focus of the presentation is to persuade the class that your side of the argument is the most logical. I assume that all team members are now experts in a given area and can field questions from the class and the instructor. As a result, it is assumed that you have consulted a sufficient number of scholarly sources to become an expert for the debate.

I. Each team should make assignments so those team members are not repeating information that already has been presented by someone else on the team. You need to work as a team, not two individuals. The team should make their make arguments very clear to the class. Remember, this is a debate and the legal system is adversarial. It is expected that teams will not agree, but that the debates will avoid bloodshed and any significant physical contact during the debate.

II. On the day of your presentation before engaging in the oral argument, each team should distribute the following to each member of the class and the instructor:

1. A typed outline of the points you will present along with a typed APA style list of references and legal cases used in preparing your arguments. In order to properly prepare for the debate you must have consulted scholarly sources (e.g., psychological journals with theoretical and research articles, book chapters, or legal sources such as cases and law reviews)

2. One (per group) typed three page summary of your team's comments to be handed into the instructor along with copies of the first page of your sources.

III. After each side has presented arguments, the class will have the opportunity to ask questions about the content of the presentation and the sources of the information used to prepare the arguments. This is an opportunity for each side to "drive home" the points it especially wants to make.

IV. When the debate is over, each class member will be asked to rate the following:

1. The quality of information presented by each person (10 =perfect; 0=dismal)
2. Which team presented more persuasive arguments
3. Which person had the best presentation (including content and delivery)