Identifying & Evaluating Arguments (Theme: Violence)

GP is not only about content, neither is it just about skills. As far as possible, skills should be taught through content.

Here is a possible lesson plan you can try with your students:

Lesson Objectives:
- Students to identify key arguments and supporting evidence, and critique them.
- Students to discuss whether the use of violence can be justified.

1. For a starter, show the students Images of violence.

2. Elicit responses from students about their understanding of violence. Students can also provide examples of different types of violence (e.g. war, terrorism, gender violence, domestic violence etc).

3. Provide a Definition of violence .

4. Show the students Steven Pinker's video* on A Brief History of Violence.



Ask them to do the following:

(a) Identify his main arguments and supporting evidence.
(b) Do you agree with Pinker's arguments? Why?

5. Divide students into groups of 4 and ask them to consider the following question:
"Can the use of violence ever be justified?"

Students collaborate and critique Pinker's arguments using Google Docs (assuming the teacher has taught them how to do this). Each group will have to post their Google Doc discussion on Wiki and invite the other members of the class to comment.

*Instead of using Pinker's video, students can look at a forum discussion on "Violence is not good. Violence is not bad. Violence is neutral." Ask the students to do the following:

(a) Look at 5 posts within a stipulated timeframe.
(b) Identify the main arguments and supporting evidence.
(c) What is your stand on the issue? Why?

- This may be more useful for weaker students who have difficulty following a lengthy argument. The shorter forum contributions are more accessible and easily understood. However, please highlight the informal register used by contributors.

NB: This lesson is likely to take place over at least 2 lessons (say about a week) to allow students sufficient time to collaborate and comment on posts of different groups.

Below are some resources you can refer to:

Some useful links for helping students to structure & evaluate arguments (to be covered in the previous lesson):
http://www.slideshare.net/zaid/arguments-part-1
http://www.slideshare.net/zaid/arguments-part-2
http://www.slideshare.net/zaid/arguments-part-3

Some useful resources on violence:
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/en/
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/steven_pinker_on_the_myth_of_violence.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,941694,00.html
http://socialistworker.org/2007-2/655/655_08_Violence.shtml
http://forums.ninjai.com/showthread.php?t=1368
http://lettertopeacebuilders.ning.com/

Some useful resources specific types of violence:
Terrorism/ War
http://www.slideshare.net/dewertgeo/81-the-fight-against-terrorism-presentation
http://socialistworker.org/2007-2/655/655_08_Violence.shtml
http://www.maryamnamazie.com/tv/is_terorism_ever_justified.html
Gender violence
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/gender-cn.htm