[Michlib-l] MeL Minute: Let's Debate That!

[Ann Kaskinen]

[cid:image001.png at 01D9CB65.08F30520]Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by adopting a federal jobs guarantee, expanding Social Security, and/or providing a basic income.

Each year the National Federation of State High School Associations<https://www.nfhs.org/articles/nfhs-selects-economic-inequality-as-2023-24-national-high-school-policy-debate-topic/>, through a ballot process, selects the topic for the policy debate season. This year, Economic Inequality squeaked past Climate Change and Agricultural Subsidies to take the top spot. As students gear up for these heated debates, they will need to have access to past and current publications to support their positions. Fortunately, the Michigan eLibrary<https://mel.org/welcome> (MeL) has several eResources from which affirmative and negative arguments can be gleaned.

Primary Source Documents & International Publications
Two exceptional eResources in MeL with sections dedicated specifically to this year’s policy debate topic are Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints<http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ovic> and Points of View Reference Center<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebscoprofile-pov>. The thorough introductory summary<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=84783789&site=pov-live> in Points of View Reference Center is excellent, providing an overview of the ebb and flow of the wealth gap in the past century. Additionally, there is a vocabulary list to help students understand the discussion, including terms such as The Buffet Rule, Trump Tax Cuts, and Wealth Inequality. Other features that have been organized for students on this topic include articles from international publications such as the Toronto Star and Manila Times; radio & tv transcripts; primary source documents (with dozens of items from the Congressional Digest); point/counterpoint arguments; and Academic Journal articles, including the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity.

Audio & Video Recordings
Like Points of View Reference Center, Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints also organizes the variety of resources in the National Debate Topics section on the resource home page. Audio recordings from National Public Radio programs (among others) and video clips from sources such as NYTimes Video Collection and Independent Lens offer students additional mediums for information access. With items such as Income Inequality by State as Measured by the Gini Index, the infographics in this eResource are especially helpful.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates & Forensics Competitions
There are many advantages in using these eResources beyond this season’s debate topic. With hundreds of subjects organized by issues such as Air Pollution, Book Banning, and Granting Puerto Rico Statehood, Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints and Points of View Reference Center are the perfect eResources to kick off research for Lincoln-Douglas debates, extemporaneous presentations at forensics competitions or even persuasive papers for class.

If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact melerhelp at mcls.org<mailto:melerhelp at mcls.org> for help.

Brought to you by Ann Kaskinen from the MeL Team.

Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First.

Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, visit http://mel.org<http://mel.org/>, or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new>. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks.

MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only.
The MeL project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.


Ann Kaskinen
MeL Engagement Specialist, K-12
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
517-325-5333
kaskinena at mcls.org<mailto:kaskinena at mcls.org>
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