Activity 1 - Debating the Nanjing Decade

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Activity Tasks

1. ​Your teacher will place you into groups of four or five. Each member of the group will be responsible for a different part of the debate. The parts are:
   1. Opening Statement - Summarises your main arguments
   2. Rebuttals - Presents arguments against the other team, defends your team against their arguments 
   3. Questions - Asks questions that highlight flaws in other side of debate, responds to opposition questions
   4. Closing Statements - Summarises main arguments again
2. The motion for debate is: "Jiang Jieshi's reign during the Nanjing decade (1927-1937) should be considered a success." With your teacher, download and review these instructions for the debate.

Activity 2 - Researching your Positions

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Activity Tasks

1. ​​Using the following resources, each group will need to research and write their parts of the debate. Use this worksheet to help you structure your notes and speeches. Refer to your research task from last lesson to help with your preparation. Remember to consider the following categories of Jiang Jeishi’s rule:
   1. Government and Bureaucracy
   2. Society and Culture
   3. Economy and Finance
   4. Education and Healthcare
   5. Industry and Infrastructure
   6. Rural and Urban Development
   7. Foreign Imperialism
   8. Internal Security and Military Reform

Activity 3 - The Debate Begins!

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Debate Tasks

1. Opening Statements - Both teams are to read out their opening statements, one minute each.
2. Oral Arguments - Each side takes it in turn to read out their arguments and hear rebuttals. 
3. Counter Arguments - Each side gets a chance to respond to the rebuttals - two minutes each
4. Closing Statements - Each side concludes with a closing statement and persuasive argument - 1 minute each
5. Jury Delivers Verdict - Two minutes for Jury to decide which side won the debate, before explaining how they reached that verdict to the class.

Activity 4 - Has your Viewpoint Changed?

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Activity Tasks

1. Continuum - In the front of the class, stand in a line depending on your viewpoint. Those that agree with the motion stand to one side. Those that disagree stand on the other. Discuss with each other to decide where you will stand. Be ready to explain your opinion.
   
2. Vote - Finally, have a vote in class again - what do most people believe? Was Jiang Jeishi’s reign a success

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PREVIOUS LESSON - Was the nanjing decade a success?

next lesson - unit 3 menu: was the rise of communism inevitable?