Policy Debate Brief on why The United States Federal Government should drug test welfare recipients.

Policy Debate Brief – Assignment Directions and Point Breakdown
 
40 points total; due via Canvas before your scheduled debate takes place
 
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to develop an affirmative case on a proposition of policy.

You must debate a policy proposition. As a reminder, policy propositions include terms such as “U.S. federal government or should.”

For examples: (1) The United States federal government should establish a foreign policy significantly limiting the use of weapons of mass destruction. (2) The United States Federal Government should drug test welfare recipients.  (3) The United States Federal Government should pay reparations to the descendants of enslaved Africans. (4) The United States federal government should impose price controls on the pharmaceutical industry.

 
Assignment description: You will construct a case brief. A case brief is a simplified case, where you organize all necessary information that will be utilized during a debate. (A “case” includes an in-depth examination of the topic; with fully constructed sections, in paragraph/essay format). 

1 case brief should be submitted

You are required to use the outline. Wherever you see a colon, you must insert your content next to it.

You are expected to develop at least 2 arguments from an affirmative stance; and 2 arguments from a negative stance (objections to the proposition).

Format should be: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1” margins, black ink, double-spaced. And bolded component labels.

Each section should be written in full sentences; and supported by evidence.

Include appropriate in-text parenthetical citations (APA); which are also to be cited under the “References” in the last section of the brief.

Select a proposition: For example: The U.S. Federal Government should help its citizens living in poverty. 

Definitions: Key terms: Provide definitions/interpretations of any terms that are relevant to the debate (for example: “civil disobedience”). Narrow down what you’re debating and clarify it. Only define words that need to be defined (i.e. those that are relevant and ambiguous). These words should either come from the actual proposition; or words that are essential to the debate round.

Develop two harms: that is, two problems/issues in society. For examples, (1) food insecurity and (2) financial insecurity. 

Develop your inherency: that is, the cause(s) of those harms. For example, you can select a federal policy/mandate such as “minimum wage.” In other words, the cause of (1) food insecurity and (2) financial insecurity is that federal minimum wage is too low. 

Develop a solution: that is, come up with a plan/solution to reduce/eradicate (1) food insecurity and (2) financial insecurity in society. 

Agency/department (what agency will enact/oversee this plan?): The U.S. Department of Labor will be the agency responsible for enacting a new, higher federal minimum wage. 

Mandates (what exactly will they do to enact the plan?): The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will make it its mission to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation’s workforce.

Enforcement (how will the plan be enforced): Employers who do not pay their workers the new, higher minimum wage will be fined and/or face imprisonment. 

Funding (how will this plan be funded?): For example: This plan will be funded by increasing taxes on the wealthy to increase the minimum wage for low-income workers. 

Develop advantages: that is, come up with two advantages that would follow the implementation of your plan/solution. For example: 

(1) because students are no longer experiencing food insecurity, they will be able to focus in school and make better grades, which could lead them to enter into more prestigious universities. 

(2) Because adults are no longer experiencing financial insecurity, they will be able to afford quality health care or organic, plant-based foods that will keep them healthy. 

Citing Sources
Citing sources is critically important in debate. You have to cite sources in two places: (1) in the body of your paper and  (2) and in the references page. Here’s the thing: citing sources in APA format is super easy. For examples:

According to the Washington Post (2021), SBCC students display more intelligence in all core subjects than Ivy League students. 

A recent study conducted by Brookings in (2020) found that SBCC students ranked Dr. Newman as the coolest professor of all time. 

SBCC students are the most politically active students in California (Newman, 2021)

Please don’t complicate it. In the body of your paper, all you have to do is give us two things: (1) the author of the source and (2) the date the paper was published.