Teaching Tips for Controversial Issues

At some point in your career, either as a student or as a teacher, you will encounter a controversial issue.

As a teacher, you need to be aware that it is possible to teach students about these issues and be objective and open-minded in doing so.

As a student, you need to understand the issues at the heart of the controversy, so you can see all sides of the argument, even the ones you don't agree with!

Here are 4 general questions that act as guides for getting to the heart of the matter:

#1: What is the Issue about?

#2: What are the Arguments?

#3: What is Assumed?

#4: How are the Arguments Manipulated?

• What is the issue about? Specifically, is the controversy based on people's:

VALUES: What should be? What is best?

INFORMATION: What is the truth? What is the case? or

CONCEPTS: What does this mean? How should this be defined?

By RESPONDING to these questions, students and teachers are able to be analytic, and

are able to avoid the frustration associated with trying to get to the heart of an issue.

Back to the 4 Q's

• What are the arguments? Once you have determined what the issue is about / the nature of the controversy, you now need to consider the different arguments supporting the different positions. Are the arguments based on:

VALUES: What are the criteria being used to make a judgement? Moral Criteria

are based on how ALL people will be affected. Prudential Criteria are based on

how I / MY GROUP will be affected).

INFORMATION: Question the provided information: Is there adequate

information? Are the claims in the information accurate? Is the information

appropriate to the issue? Are the sources Primary or Secondary?

CONCEPTS: With concept, meaning, or definition-based arguments, students must

see if the argument uses definitions/ concepts/ meanings that are clear. Are they used

consistently? Are they used in the proper context?

Back to the 4 Q's

• What is assumed? Once you have considered the arguments, the critical question is now: What are the assumptions, or What is taken as self-evident in the presentation of the arguments?

You must remember that it is NOT true that all positions, opinions, and points of

view are acceptable or legitimate. If there are asumptions based on prejudice,

ethnocentrism, or racism, then the argument loses much of its force.

The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights will provide you with the

universally held set of values that provide the standard level of treatment for all people.

Back to the 4 Q's

• How are the Arguments Manipulated? You must be aware that information is used to influence opinion. This means people's politics often have an influence on exactly what information you receive.

Look at who is involved, and what their interests are in the issue.

What is the rationalization for their position?

What are their reasons for taking the position they have?

How can the media both reflect and create reality? (check out the

Checklist for Monitoring the Media)

Back to the 4 Q's

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