PRMS Making the Case: 8th Grade Debate Topics: Topics

4: Fast Fashion

Can fast fashion retail ever be sustainable?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

The fast fashion industry is shifting toward sustainability by using sustainable materials and offering recycling programs.

• A Sustainable Future for The Fashion Industry
• Who Will Take Your Old Cashmere?
• How High Jewelery Is Becoming More Sustainable and Ethical

Viewpoint 2: Negative

The fast fashion industry is polluting the environment with an excess of unsold inventory.

• Playing Fast and Loose with the Lives of Garment Workers
• Fast Fashion: Cheap Clothing at a Great Cost
• Why Fast Fashion Is Destroying Our Planet...and Your Wallets

Find more sources for 'Fast Fashion'

 

5: Endangered Species

Should the Endangered Species Act be maintained?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

No, the Act's economic impact and potential for misuse outweigh its benefits.

• Lankford, Colleagues Work to Overturn Biden's Rule on Endangered Species Act
• Wildlife Agency Fails to Address Extinction in Changes to Endangered Species Regulations
• Businesses Putting Animals in Danger of Extinction

Viewpoint 1: Negative

Yes, it has effectively protected endangered species from extinction.

• Bird, Plant Species on Navy-Owned Island Are no Longer Threatened, Endangered
• This Butterfly Was Once Thought Extinct. Now It's off the Endangered Species List
• Tiny Fish a Big Part of Tennessee History

Find more sources for 'Endangered Species'

 

6: Overpopulation

Should strict population control measures be enacted to protect the environment?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Overpopulation has a detrimental effect on the environment.

• Is Overpopulation Really Worsening Climate Change?
• Earth Day to Earth Disaster
• This Earth Day, Let's Talk About Overpopulation

Viewpoint 2: Negative

The negative impact of overpopulation on the environment has been exaggerated.

• Population Decline Isn't a Problem (And 'More Babies' Isn't a Solution)
• China's Population Takes a Drop
• Tokyo Is so Crowded the Government Is Paying Families to Leave

Find more sources for 'Overpopulation'

 

7: Water Use

Should mandatory restrictions be implemented to conserve water?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Governments should adopt better water conservation policies.

• U.S. Is Set to Carve Up Colorado River's Water
• Arizona Is Racing to Its Last Drop of Groundwater
• 'Water Is a Human Right': City of Jackson Still in Dire Need of Infrastructure Help to Fight Water Crisis

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Water conservation should be up to the individual.

• City Should Do More in Water Conservation
• Declaring War on Thirsty Grass
• Where Water's Scarce, Lawns Are Cut Out and Carted Away

Find more sources for 'Water Use'

 

8: Animal Experimentation

Should animals be used for biomedical and commercial research?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

No, animal testing is not necessary to progress biomedical or product-safety research and leads to the needless suffering and death of millions of animals.

• Humane Society International Welcomes Partial Ban on Animal Testing for Cosmetics in Brazil
• Animal Testing Should Be Banned
• By Appointing a Visionary Leader, Biden Could Seal His Legacy as a Champion of Americans' Health

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Yes, the use of animals is needed to achieve advances in human health and ensure products are safe for human use.

• Animal Research Essential to Medical Innovations
• Animals Are Our Overlooked Allies in the Fight Against Covid
• Animal Research Crucial in COVID-19 Vaccine Development

Find more sources for 'Animal Experimentation'

 

9: Renewable Energy

Should renewable energy sources replace fossil fuels?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Renewable energy sources should replace fossil fuels because they are plentiful and environmentally friendly.

• Oil Industry Workers Flock to Renewables
• New York’s Wind Power Future Is Taking Shape. In Rhode Island
• Is a Dam in Rural Portugal a Key to Our Alternative Energy Future?

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Renewable energy sources are not cost-effective and are unreliable compared to fossil fuels.

• Establishing Wind Energy in Germany Hasn't Been a Breeze
• Offshore Wind Farms Threaten New Jersey's Shellfish Industry
• War in Ukraine Drives Up Cost of Renewable-Energy Projects

Find more sources for 'Renewable Energy'

 

Are environmental laws enough to prevent health problems in humans?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Environmental policies are a beneficial method to prevent health issues.

• EPA Plans to Stop 6 Power Plants from Dumping Toxic Coal Ash into Unlined Ponds
• E.P.A. to Propose Restrictions on Asbestos
• Biden Administration Launches Crackdown on Pollution from Power Plants

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Environmental regulations are not effective enough to prevent health issues.

• The E.P.A. Has Failed the People of East Palestine
• Feds Are Sending Medical Experts to Ohio Toxic Train Wreck Site as Residents' Safety Concerns Simmer
• 3 Chicago-Area Oil Refineries That Dump Toxic Chemicals into Lake Michigan and Other Waterways Are Among Worst Polluters in US, Study Shows

Find more sources for 'Environmental Health'

 

11: Alternative Medicine

Should alternative therapies be assimilated into mainstream medicine?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Yes, alternative medicine should be used to complement conventional medicine.

• For Some, Yoga, Massage, Meditation Spell Relief
• Physicians Shouldn't Condescend to Those Preferring Alternative Medicine
• New Age Care Finds a Place In Therapy

Viewpoint 2: Negative

No, alternative therapies have not been proven effective and are potentially dangerous.

• Beware the Lure of 'Natural'
• Potential Dangers of Alternative Medicine
• Following the Internet's Orders

Find more sources for 'Alternative Medicine'

 

12: E-waste

Is electronic waste a problem?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

E-waste contains chemicals that may damage the environment if disposed of improperly.

• 'A Mountain That Just Keeps Growing'
• Used Solar Panels Could Clog Landfills if They Are Not Recycled Properly
• World's Richest Countries Damaging Child Health Worldwide: UNICEF

Viewpoint 2: Negative

E-waste recycling is more environmentally-friendly because it minimizes waste.

• Are You Contributing to Electronic Waste?
• Expiring Solar Panels, EV Batteries and Wind Turbines Can Create Huge Waste
• E-Waste: The Circular Economy Will Cure Many Ills

Find more sources for 'E-Waste'

 

14: Concussions in Sports

Should sports leagues do more to limit the risk of concussions and other head injuries?

Viewpoint 1: Positive

Yes, rules and policies should be changed to make sports safer.

• The NFL's Protocols Didn't Save Miami QB
• NHL Still Has Its Head in the Sand
• NHL Must Do More to Avoid Health Crisis

Viewpoint 2: Negative

No, rules and policies should not be changed because athletes understand that sports are inherently risky.

• We Used to Care That Football Players Got Concussions
• We Look Past Pro Football's Greater Risks
• NHL's Attitude to Concussion Cuts No Ice with Families of Victims

Find more sources for 'Concussions in Sports'

18: Peak Oil

Have we reached global peak oil production?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Global oil production is nearing its peak and we must turn our attention to alternative sources of energy.

• Fossil-Fuel Demand Could Peak by Mid-2020s
• We May Be Past Peak Oil
• How Much of the World's Oil Needs to Stay in the Ground?

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Global oil production has not peaked; petroleum reserves are at all-time highs.

• How Much Fossil Fuel is Left?
• Oil Demand Could Peak by 2025 As Energy Transition Gains Steam
• One of Dirtiest Oil Patches Is Pumping More Than Ever

Find more sources for 'Peak Oil'

 

19: Antibiotics Resistance

Should farms be banned from providing antibiotics to livestock?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Antibiotics should be banned from livestock in order to prevent more cases of antibiotic resistance.

• FDA and USDA Need to Get on Board with the CDC About Reducing Antibiotic Use in Raising Animals for Food
• FDA Needs to Follow Through on Its Plan to Ban Carbadox in Animal Feed
• Antibiotic Residues in Livestock Products: A Public Health Hazard

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Antibiotics are needed to keep livestock herds healthy and prevent disease outbreaks.

• Vaccinations and Antibiotics Are Hallmarks of Herd Health
• Feed Prescriptions to Ensure Appropriate Antibiotic Use
• National Pork Board: U.S. Pig Farmers Embrace Responsible Antibiotic Use

Find more sources for 'Antibiotic Resistance'

 

20: Food Safety

Is the federal government doing enough to ensure the safety of the nation's food supply?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Lapses in food safety measures may lead to outbreaks of foodborne illness.

• FDA Report Faults Agency's Food Unit for Leaderless Dysfunction
• Epidemiologists: The Federal Government Is Failing Americans on Food Safety When It Comes to Pork
• Food Expiration Dates Don't Have Much Science Behind Them

Viewpoint 2: Negative

The USDA and the FDA have made food safety and protecting the public's health a top priority.

• U.S. Begins New Food Safety Program
• Lab-Grown Meat Is Safe to Eat, Regulators Say
• Food Recalls: How Technology Could Alert You Before You Eat That Tainted Salad

Find more sources for 'Food Safety'

 

21: Vaccines

Should vaccinations be compulsory?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Yes, vaccines should be required for the sake of public health.

• Biden's Vaccine Mandates Must Remain Intact
• Vaccine Mandates Are a Matter of Community Self-Defence -- and Justice
• COVID-19 Vaccinations Should Be Mandatory

Viewpoint 2: Negative

No, vaccines should be a personal choice.

• COVID-19 Vaccinations Should Not Be Mandatory
• A Weakness in the Argument for Vaccine Mandates
• Mandating Vaccines Disrupts Personal Responsibility

Find more sources for 'Vaccines'

 

22: Global Warming

Are human activities causing global warming?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Human activities, such as greenhouse gas emissions, are causing global warming.

• Climate change: The Greenhouse Gases Causing Global Warming
• Large Glacier Near Seattle Has 'Completely Disappeared,' Says Researcher Who Has Tracked It for Years
• Fact Check: Global Warming Caused by Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Not Mysterious Ocean Warming

Viewpoint 2: Negative

Global warming is the result of a cyclical change in the weather.

• MLB Home Run Counts Are Rising -- And Global Warming Is Playing a Role
• Cold Weather Events Heat Global Warming Concerns
• Climate Change Didn't Unleash Giant Iceberg, Scientists Say

Find more sources for 'Global Warming'

 

23: Vegetarianism

Is a vegetarian diet better than a diet that includes meat?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Yes, a vegetarian diet is the healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and more ethical option.

• Is Veganuary Bad for You? A Nutritionist Explains Why Plant-Based Diets Need Proper Planning
• Vegan School Meals Do More Than Keep Children Healthy
• Veganuary 2023 to Reinforce India's Love for Plants and the Planet

Viewpoint 2: Negative

No, a vegetarian diet can be less healthy and is not necessarily more environmentally or ethically sound.

• Why I Won't Do Veganuary This Year -- or Ever Again
• Vegetarian Women Are at Higher Risk of Hip Fracture Than Habitual Meat Eaters
• 'I Tried to Improve my Health Through Veganism, but It Made my Life so Much Worse'

Find more sources for 'Vegetarianism'

 

24: Driverless Vehicles

Do the benefits of driverless vehicles outweigh the risks?

Viewpoint 1: Affirmative

Yes, the advantages of safer roads and cleaner emissions outweigh the risks associated with driverless vehicles.

• Ottawa Firm Teaching Cars to Sense Snow
• Mercedes Leapfrogs Past Tesla on Automated Highway Driving
• Autonomous Farm Tech and Digital Connectivity Show Way Forward in Agriculture

Viewpoint 2: Negative

No, the risks associated with software problems and the unpredictability of artificial intelligence outweigh the potential benefits of driverless vehicles.

• When Will Cars Be Fully Self-Driving? The Technology Isn't Anywhere Near Where It Needs to Be to Replace Human Drivers
• Self-Driving Car Services Want to Expand in San Francisco Despite Recent Hiccups
• Tesla's Self-Driving Technology Comes Under Justice Dept. Scrutiny

Find more sources for 'Driverless Vehicles'

 

Ruddy Hour 1

Jack, Vishista, Briggs, Henry

Omar, Drew Ben, Levi

Blake, Andrew, Billy, Austin

Kennedy W, Luke B., Alison, Bailey

Ghazal, Linh, J.J., Emma Mies

Cole, Tyler, Avery, Piper

 

 

Knoll Hour 3

Lucy, Laasya,McKenna, Kyler

Anderson, Madhav, Grace, Emily

Nicole, Charani, Harper, Violet

Ryan M., Isaac D., Jake, Enzo, Matthew

Dane, Calvin, Ronan, Will

Jason, Graham, Isaac L., Ty B.

Bennett, Aishwarya, Quentin, Kensington

 

Knoll Hour 4

Evan T., Nirnaya, Kayla, Gavin,

Shyam, Camden, John P., Easton

Adi, Akshar, Chase B., Aneesh

Yousef E., Owen, Sarah Y., Bradley C.

Sunjay, Luke, Chase B., Harper, Isabella L.

Yazan, Isaac S.

Tanvi, Izzy, Andre, Abby

Ben, Voytek, Henry, Dylan

 

 

 

Debate Time:

1st Affirm: 2 minutes

1st Negative 2 minutes

2nd Affirmative 1:30 minutes

2nd Negative 1:30 minutes

Crossfire: 1 minute total both teams

Time to call: 1 minute per team-can be all at once or broken up

If 3rd affirmative/negative, 1:30 seconds added to each side

Debate Total Time: 10 minutes