Chapter 30: Communicating in Groups

• Form a group to debate the most effective methods of combating teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, or drug abuse


• Form a group to debate the need for laws ensuring the separation of church and state


• Form a group to debate whether U.N. troops should function as soldiers or as peacekeepers


• Form a group to debate the pros and cons of capitalism or another political or economic system 


• Form a group to discuss why Americans should or should not have national health care


• Prepare a group presentation explaining the kinds of sacrifices Americans should be prepared to make for environmental or security reasons (or for another reason the group determines)


• Form a group to discuss the best way to ensure that all children have the chance to get a free, high-quality education


• Form a group to discuss the best ways to get computers and other forms of modern technology into schools in poor neighborhoods


• Form a group to discuss whether or not affirmative action programs should be abolished


• Prepare a group presentation on the importance of learning a second language


• Prepare a group presentation in which you propose appropriate roles for the United States and the United Nations in containing and confronting global threats


• Form a group to discuss the pros and cons of high schools offering birth control devices to students


• Form a group to debate whether or not women and/or gays and lesbians should be allowed to become priests


• Prepare a group presentation suggesting ways to deal with rising anti-American feeling around the world


• Form a group to discuss multicultural trends in the books, films, or other works of art from a particular country


• Form a group to discuss whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state, become independent, or remain a commonwealth


• Form a group to debate whether or not the death penalty in the U.S. is racially biased


• Prepare a group presentation on the fairness or unfairness of the treatment of U.S. citizens accused of aiding terrorists


• Prepare a group presentation explaining the effects of globalization on Americans


• Form a group to discuss the best ways to discourage athletes from using drugs to increase their performance


• Form a group to discuss why gay couples should/should not adopt children


• Form a group to discuss the pros and cons or cultural meanings of large chain stores (Blockbuster, Barnes and Noble, Starbuck’s Coffee) replacing smaller, Mom-and-Pop stores


• Form a group to discuss and define the difference(s) between a cult and a religion


• Form a group to discuss the best strategies for getting young people to register to vote


• Form a group to discuss media treatment of women/gays and lesbians/African Americans/another group


• Prepare a group presentation to citizens of a neighborhood in which police have used racial profiling; explain ways to rebuild trust between the police and the community


• Prepare a group presentation in which you represent different academic disciplines to discuss whether or not teachers should be given competency tests


• Form a group to debate the pros and cons of allowing each state to control its own education system


• Form a group in which each member will present one step in the demonstration of a procedure, such as painting a picture, baking a cake, building a shelf, arranging flowers, performing a chemistry experiment, doing taxes, investing in the stock market, or solving a mathematical equation