Debate Theses
Before conducting their debates, all groups were required to submit a thesis statement for approval. The approved statements all had to align with the three step thesis statement framework and be accurate in terms of what they would actually argue during their debate.
Nicole, Anastasia and Nem were not only all in different groups, but also all responded to different topics.
Nicole’s group disagreed with topic 2, “By engaging in private time with the commander, Offred cheated on Luke.” Their statement was as follows,
Nicole, Anastasia and Nem were not only all in different groups, but also all responded to different topics.
Nicole’s group disagreed with topic 2, “By engaging in private time with the commander, Offred cheated on Luke.” Their statement was as follows,
This statement contains specific examples and a clearly stated argument. It unfortunately lacks a reflection on authorial intent – though it does gesture towards it through its discussion of dystopian society.
Part of the reason for the lack of inclusion of an authorial intent is that Nicole's group were the first to debate; as such, they didn't have as long to workshop their thesis statement with me.
Anastasia’s group agreed with topic 3, “By engaging in private time with Offred, the Commander cheated on Serena Joy.” They wrote,
Part of the reason for the lack of inclusion of an authorial intent is that Nicole's group were the first to debate; as such, they didn't have as long to workshop their thesis statement with me.
Anastasia’s group agreed with topic 3, “By engaging in private time with Offred, the Commander cheated on Serena Joy.” They wrote,
Anastasia’s group successfully included all three elements of a thesis statement as presented by the thesis statement framework and created an interesting, theoretically persuasive argument.
Finally, Nem’s group agreed with topic 4, “By encouraging Offred to have sex with Nick, Serena Joy cheated on the Commander.” Their argument went as follows,
Finally, Nem’s group agreed with topic 4, “By encouraging Offred to have sex with Nick, Serena Joy cheated on the Commander.” Their argument went as follows,
Like Anastasia’s group, Nem’s group included all necessary elements of the framework and constructed a sophisticated (though perhaps overly flowery!) thesis statement as a result.
In all three cases, while the expectation of aligning their words within a specific framework does, in some senses, limit the students’ own creativity, it also supports them in getting to their arguments quickly and explicitly in a way that was missing in their initial thesis papers.
In all three cases, while the expectation of aligning their words within a specific framework does, in some senses, limit the students’ own creativity, it also supports them in getting to their arguments quickly and explicitly in a way that was missing in their initial thesis papers.