1. The United Nations is requesting students to research and debate examples of imperialism from the 18th-19th centuries to inform their foreign policy decisions. 2. Students will form groups to research and debate Britain's imperialism in India in the mid-1800s, Europe's imperialism in Africa in the early 1800s, Western imperialism in China in the early-mid 1800s, and Western imperialism in Southeast Asia and the Pacific in the late 1800s. 3. The debate will require each group to take a position, present facts to support their claims, and discuss the historical and modern implications of imperial

1. Good morning.The United Nations needs your help. The United Nations is an international
organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to
maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and
promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.
The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for
peacekeeping, peace building, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many
other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes)
affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of
fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection,
disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy,
human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and
social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production,
and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future
generations.
We are currently in the process of making foreign policy decisions about our interactions with
member states. We would like for you, the students of the Academy of Global Studies, to
provide us with the necessary background so we can make informed decisions. We understand
you are studying imperialism in class. We would like for you to research and debate the
following examples of imperialism:
1. Britain in India – Middle 1800’s
2. Europe in Africa – Early 1800’s
3. Western Imperialism in China – Early and Mid-1800’s
4. Western Imperialism in Southeast Asia and the Pacific – Late 1800’s
You will form groups for your debate. Each issue will be represented by two groups. One group
will research and express the opinions of the colonizer or the imperialist nation. One group will
research and express the opinions of the colonized nation.
Your assignment has two parts. Your first assignment is to submit one position paper per
group. Your English teacher, Mrs. Curran, will direct you on how to prepare this piece of writing.
Your second assignment is to conduct a verbal debate. The details of your verbal debate are
listed below. You will be asked to use notecards to assist in your debate.
Your verbal debate will be conducted on 1/24/12 and 1/25/12.
We look forward to learning from you so we can make better decisions in the future. Thank you
very much for your time.
Sincerely,
The United Nations

2. Imperialism Point Counter-Point Debate
Notes of importance:
You must get facts that support your claims and state them in your debate.
Your three reasons must anticipate the counterarguments
I. Introduction
a. Greet audience and judges and state position (affirmative or negative toward
imperialism)
b. “Attention getter” (quote, anecdote, rhetorical question, definition,
astonishing fact, etc.)
c. Background/history of the issue
d. State your position - Thesis
e. State the modern impact of the position given
II. A. Body: Reason #1
a. Claim (main thesis of the argument)
b. Warrant (answers why the claim is true)
a. Fact 1 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
b. Fact 2 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
c. Fact 3 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
c. How does this connect with the imperialism studied in History class and the
book studied in English class?
d. Modern Impact (why it matters)
II. B. Body: Reason #2
a. Claim (main thesis of the argument)
b. Warrant (answers why the claim is true)
a. Fact 1 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
b. Fact 2 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
c. Fact 3 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
c. How does this connect with the imperialism studied in History class and the
book studied in English class?

3. d. Modern (why it matters)
III. C. Body: Reason #3
a. Claim (main thesis of the argument)
b. Warrant (answers why the claim is true)
a. Fact 1 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
b. Fact 2 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
c. Fact 3 (include who said and where that fact came from: must state in
your debate)
c. How does this connect with the imperialism studied in English class and the
book studied in English class?
d. Modern Impact (why it matters)
IV. Conclusion
a. Restate position
b. Further clarification of the issue; effects of their position
c. Give a solution in terms of how the United Nations should deal with modern
issues of imperialism.