For the past few weeks, Mrs. Croissette's CP English class has been assigned debates. The class was separated into six groups towards the beginning of October. Each group was allowed to choose their own topic to debate about. The groups must have different topics. Each topic was then assigned to them. However before they could get the topic of their choice, they needed to create six subtopics to do research on. The group was then broke down into two small groups of two or three. One small group would be put onto the pro side of the argument. Then the other small group was placed onto the con side of the argument. They were given multiple weeks to research their topics and subtopics. Every day that they had in class, the time was dedicated to research, unless the group decided to mess around. However, that would be their fault. During this time, they were given very little work to do on the side, besides a vocab packet. So the groups had plenty of time to research their topic and find plenty of information. The groups were allowed to write any and or all of their information on note cards. They were allowed to use the note cards to read off of during the debate. The only things that need to be handed into Mrs. Croissette was the work cited page that contained all the websites they used to find their information and the students rubric so they could get a grade. 

Each of the six groups had four to six people in. The groups with only four people were assigned more than one subtopic. In the first debate, there were six people. The six people included Emily, Shaun, Rebecca, Mariah, Jeffery, and Nicholas. In the second debate, there were six people. The six people included, Chloe, Kayla, Alyssa, Ashlynn, Carly, and Emily. The third debate consisted of six people, also. The six were Amber, Hailey, Madison, Colby, Tyler, and Belle. The fourth debate only consisted of four people. They four were Conner, Nick, Bryson, and Greg. The fifth group made up six people as well. The six included McKenzi, Chelsea, Taylor, Alexis, Bianca, and Christina. The last group consisted of six people. The six were Odessa, Ethan, Beau, Albert, Hayden, and Bryce. Everybody got along with each other and presented professionally. 

    Since last Monday, the class has been presenting their debates to the entire class. One day was assigned to each group and that was the day they were to present. On Monday, the first group debated about the use of smartphones and whether they were useful or not. Then on Tuesday, the second group debated about the death penalty and whether capital punishment should be used or not. Then the third group went on Thursday, and their debate was about medical marijuana and whether it should become legal or not. Finally on Friday, the fourth group debated about about video games and the effects that they have on people. Today, on Monday, there was another debate on animal testing and whether it is fair or not. Then the final debate is on Tuesday. The group will be debating about gun control and whether the group believes that gun control should be put into effect and monitored. After the final group goes on Tuesday, the debates will be graded and the class will go back to the regular schedule. Each group was graded when they presented the debate. Each participant was graded individually on how well that person did when discussing the debate. Nobody was graded on how well or poor another member of the group did. The students were also graded on their own personal attire. The debate was a total of 200 points and will be placed as the final grade on the first marking period.

Chloe Fortenbaugh, Chelsea Weller, and Taylor Apple