Instigator / Pro
32
1581
rating
38
debates
64.47%
won
Topic
#750

Should the Basics of Law Be Taught in High School? (As an Elective)

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
12
9
Better sources
10
10
Better legibility
5
5
Better conduct
5
5

After 5 votes and with 3 points ahead, the winner is...

K_Michael
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
30,000
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
29
1471
rating
2
debates
0.0%
won
Description

Should high schoolers have a basic knowledge of law? I think so. Not that it should be required, but there should be a class for it. I would hate to go to law school only to realize that I don't like it.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Both sides are in agreement about teaching of law as a key agreement - the matter of argument is whether this teaching should be mandatory or optional.

The debate comes between an optional or a mandatory class. But con makes a better argument as to why teaching the law should be mandatory, and pro appears to agree with his case, arguing it should be a required elective.

As this resolution really boils down to semantics, I’m forced to decide based on my interpretation of the resolution. The resolution and the description appear to clearly imply an optional and non-required element - and as such I feel that both sides agreeing it should be required counts as con negating the resolution.

Arguments to con.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

The contender was more arguing for a better version of the instigator's argument instead of an opposite or a difference that was enough to say he was on the opposing side.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Both conceded, there was no serious disagreement, this topic should probably be debated again with a clearer title such as "Should every college have to offer a law course"

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Both sides seemed pretty solidly Pro. Con wanted to up law to a requirement and Pro was fine with that.

Criterion
Pro
Tie
Con
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Both conceded.
Had there been a definition for elective, this could still be weighted. As is, there were too many unanswered questions; such as is a normal elective different from a required class?