Debate: Cost/benefit of selected drug therapies. – ARGUING FOR AGAINST

Course Assignment: Structured Debate

Objectives:

Upon completion of the assigned structured debate activity, the learner will:

1. Analyze and integrate evidence from several sources to create a position statement about a particular professional issue.

2. Engage opposing views and values influencing professional issues by processes of recognition, reflection, and synthesis.
3. Apply effective conflict management and communication skills in debating ethical and/or professional nursing issues.
4. Recognize the impact of financial, social, and health care policy on practice within a dynamic health care system.

Each student will be assigned to a team and responsible to argue “for” or “against” a proposition related to one of the above topic areas. For all class sessions, select students not assigned to the debate will be asked to rate their peers’ debate performance, audience engagement, and to track audience participation through questions or dialogue.

Topic:  Cost/benefit of selected drug therapies. – ARGUING FOR AGAINST

Drug prices should reflect objective measures of benefit but should not exceed values that harm patients and societies; policy and legislative initiatives are required to make drug therapies more affordable.

PRIOR TO THE DEBATE: 

1. Begin preparation and planning for the debate activity at least 2 weeks ahead of time. Identify your topic area and your *assigned partner(s). Reflect on and write down some of your assumptions related to the topic. What do you believe about this particular issue?  What has your experience been with this issue?  What values/ethical/moral beliefs do you hold related to this topic?  Plan to discuss these written reflections with your partner(s).
2. Identify your assigned stance for the debate (affirmative or negative). Together with your partner(s), begin to plan your construction of speeches, rebuttals, and questions to pose for the opposing team.
3. With your assigned partner(s), search for and read scholarly articles, policy briefs, and other resources associated with your topic. You should access a variety of reputable sources and references. You are encouraged to search the literature for additional support to your proposition. It helps to know and anticipate both sides of the argument, but the focus should be on understanding and synthesizing literature related to whatever side of the proposition you have been assigned.
4. Prepare your affirmative or negative constructive speech. Each team will be responsible to provide and educate listeners on broad topic information, its history, and current evidence in their initial constructive speech. Plan how to advocate your position effectively, using the literature to support your argument. You will want to present the information in an understandable and persuasive way. Practice your speech, presentation style, and diction – you will not be persuasive if you are simply reading from your notes. Recognize that personal opinion really has no merit in a debate.
5. Prepare a bibliography of references and sources in APA format. Post a copy to D2L by 1700 on the assigned date for your debate. Make copies for course faculty to have on hand during the structured debate activity.

*Assigned partners are those who are on your team. If you are the affirmative team Vs if you are on the negative team. The affirmative team and negative team do not share resources.

Structured Debate Format: