Presidential debate and writing assignment

As some of you may know, the Rotarians (Rotary Club) employ a "Four-Way Test," an ethical and nonsectarian guide for Rotarians to use in their personal and professional relationships.

i want you to watch the Presidential debate on Tuesday evening, September 29. It starts at 6 p.m. on CNN and Fox, as well as non-cable channels,, or at 5 p.m. (pre-debate coverage, which i always enjoy) on MSNBC.  You can DVR it and watch it later, or you may be able to find it the next day on YouTube or online somewhere.  Your paper won't be due until Monday, October 5.   There is no page limit.  Write thoroughly until you're finished.

Watch the debate and apply the Four-Way Test to each candidate (Trump and Biden).  Write an essay, applying each part of the Four-Way Test to each candidate, and see how they measure up.  Try to keep your political views out of the paper; just assess how each of them applied these points to their disputation.

Here's the Four-Way Test:

Of the things we think, say, or do:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS:?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Consider ad hominems (attacks on the person, such as name-calling) in your essay.  Do the candidates argue their policies well?  Do they provide proof for their debate points?  You will write this as a text submission.  If you do this in collaboration with another student(s) BE SURE TO NOTE THIS AT THE TOP OF THE PAPER.

We will probably repeat this exercise for the Vice Presidential debates, as well.  i hope it will be a fun and interesting exercise for you!