Introduction to Substance Use & Misuse

Policy debate: Assessment task information and instructions

Task Description: All students are randomly allocated to a team to debate a proposition relating to substance use policy.

Part 1) Individual synopsis: This is to be completed individually (due by 4 pm on Friday April 27th).
Write a brief synopsis (maximum of 300 words, excluding references) either for or against the proposition, depending on which group you have been allocated to. This synopsis should comprise 3 short parts under the subheadings ‘Arguments', ‘Counter-arguments', and ‘Rebuttal of counter- arguments'.

The synopsis should be your own independent work (i.e. not a group effort). You are required to write the synopsis in your own words, but it should be based on evidence and arguments from the peer-reviewed literature. You need to cite at least 4 journal articles in your synopsis and include these in a reference list (APA format). You should conduct a database search and select the best references for the task (you cannot rely exclusively on the references which have been provided for you in the course).

Part 2) Opening remark (for policy debate): The opening remark is to be posted to the debate discussion board on the opening day of the debate

Team members are required to work collaboratively to develop an opening remark for the debate (maximum of 100 words). The opening remark should be based on arguments contained in the individual synopses developed by each member. A Wiki will be set up for each group to facilitate collaboration. Each individual should post their synopses to the Wiki so that they are visible to the group. Team members should take turns developing and editing the 100 word opening remark, until a final version is agreed upon. Use citations in your opening remark as you normally would in an essay, i.e. APA style (Author, Year), but there is no need to include a reference list.

Part 3) Policy debate:

You are required to post individual contributions to the debate discussion board on behalf of your team. Your posts can be in response to someone from the opposing group, or can be elaborating on a comment from one of your own group members or a previous comment you have made. You can make use of the work you did for your synopsis, including the ‘counter-arguments' and ‘resolution'. You should post your contributions at any time after both groups' opening remarks have been posted.

This is a text-based debate, which will function like a discussion board. Write your posts at the times that suit you (the debate is not in ‘real-time'). However, you are required to participate on multiple days (i.e. more than one day). You should make a minimum of 4 posts to the debate. Posts should always be succinct so that they are easy to follow (maximum of 100 words each). Use citations in your postings as you normally would in an essay, i.e. APA style (Author, Year), but there is no need to include a reference list.

Part 4) Group synthesis: Group members are required to work collaboratively to summarise and critically evaluate the debate (maximum of 300 words, due by 4 pm on Friday May 18th). This summary should comprise a synthesis of the arguments in the debate.
In developing your synthesis of the debate arguments, you need to address the question: Is there a
compromise position or creative solution that integrates some of the arguments put forward by

each side? If you answer ‘yes', please provide a description of this positon or solution, with consideration of the specific arguments involved. If you answer ‘no', please provide a rigorous justification for your response, including an explanation of why all arguments put forward by one side can be dismissed for the purposes of developing policy in this area.