Political Science Assignment: Debate on 3 Policy Issues - Fall 2024

This assignment presents three major claims and the arguments supporting them. The first claim is that affirmative action perpetuates racism, with arguments citing that it does not differentiate between people and may imply minorities are not worthy of an even playing field. The second claim argues that condoms should be distributed in public schools to prevent teenage pregnancy, countered by evidence suggesting that access to condoms does not necessarily decrease teenage birth rates and that other methods are more effective. The final claim proposes raising the legal driving age to eighteen, with arguments suggesting that experience and training are more important factors than age, and that earlier driver education could be beneficial. The assignment provides evidence from various sources to support each viewpoint, encouraging critical analysis of complex policy issues.

Major Claim: Affirmative Action perpetuates racism.
(1—MC) Affirmative Action perpetuates racism. (2—MC) In “Jaimes: Affirmative action
perpetuates racism,” Jaimes states that looking at the policies of affirmative action from a
different perspective would shed more light as opposed to labeling them as either bigoted or
racist (P1). (3—MC) Affirmative action does not differentiate between the White and Black
man and since America is a nation built on principles, it is responsible for the welfare of its
entire people regardless of their culture. (4—MC) Jaimes states, “This is the thinking that has
driven the left to push its affirmative-action agenda … The idea that minorities must
absolutely rely on others in order to succeed. The implication set forth is that the standard
must be lowered for minorities. In other words, minorities aren’t worthy of an even playing
field.” (Jaimes, 2020)
Jaimes, M. (2020). Jaimes: Affirmative action perpetuates racism. [online] The Daily Iowan.
Available at: https://dailyiowan.com/2018/07/18/jaimes-affirmative-action-perpetuates-
racism/ [Accessed 9 Feb. 2020].
Major Claim: Condoms should be distributed in public schools as a way to prevent teenage
pregnancy.
(1—MC) Condoms should be distributed in public schools as a way to prevent teenage
pregnancy. (2—MC) In “Condoms Don’t Necessarily Help Teen Girls Avoid Pregnancy,”
Emma points out that a study conducted showed that the access to condoms barely decreased
teen birth rates but instead increased them (Emma). (3—MC) Failure to educate teenagers in
public schools is the root cause of all teenage pregnancy and therefore distribution of
condoms cannot be an effective way to address the pregnancy issue. (4—MC) Green writes,

“While condoms are still the most common kind of contraception used by teens, they have
higher failure rates for preventing pregnancy than hormonal birth control. As the researchers
in this study point out, girls also have less control over condom use than they do over
something like the pill; they can make a long-term decision to get on birth control, rather than
deciding whether or not to use a condom when they’re about to have sex.” (Green).
Green, Emma. "Why Condoms Don't Necessarily Help Teen Girls Avoid Pregnancy". The
Atlantic, 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/condoms-teens-
pregnancy/489626/. Accessed 10 Feb 2020.
Major Claim: The legal driving age should be raised to eighteen-years-old.
(1—MC) The legal driving age should be raised to eighteen-years-old. (2—MC)In
“Should The Driving Age Be Raised To 18?” Peters states that there are far better young
drivers than most mature drivers out in the roads today. (3—MC) Both experience and
training are necessary and so it does not matter whether the age of driving is lowered or
raised. (4—MC) Peters writes, “Maybe it would make more sense to begin teaching kids
how to drive around 14 or 15 — easing them into it gradually, and with supervision — so that
by the time they are 17 or 18 they have three or four years of experience behind them.”
(Peters).
Peters, Eric. "Should The Driving Age Be Raised To 18? - National Motorists
Association". National Motorists Association, 2020, https://www.motorists.org/blog/should-
the-driving-age-be-raised-to-18/. Accessed 10 Feb 2020.