KQED | News and Public Affairs: You Decide


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perspectives & opinions

Note: KQED Interactive produced these popular online "devil's advocate" activities between 2001 and 2004. The intention of You Decide was to foster critical thinking around issues of national debate. Many of these issues continue to inspire contentious discussion. The lesson plans provided here are intended to serve as evergreen resources for educators. KQED.org will maintain this archive indefinitely.

We recognize that nothing about these subjects is black and white. You Decide activities invite you to become part of the debate through a critical exploration of the issues. In the end, perhaps you will ask different -- and better -- questions than those presented here.

[Note: The teacher guides on this site require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader]


	Should the American space program send a manned mission to Mars? Yes \| No Email activity to a friend

Educator? Download the teacher guide for this activity.

	BBC: Race for Mars (bbc.co.uk)
	NOVA: Mars Dead or Alive (pbs.org)
	The Mars Society (marssociety.org)
	CBC: In Depth: Mars (cbc.ca)
	Wikipedia: Exploration of Mars (wikipedia.org)
	NASA: Mars Exploration (nasa.gov)
	ExploreMarsNow (exploremarsnow.org)

The 9th Annual Webby Awards
Nominee for Best Politics Web site - 2005

The Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism, J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
$10,000 Grand Prize Winner - 2004

The Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet Golden Dot Awards
Winner, Best Non-Commercial Online Journalism - 2004

Online News Association/ USC Annenberg School for Communication Online Journalism Awards
Finalist, Creative Use of the Medium (Affiliated) - 2003

Is the Bush Administration's "No Child Left Behind" policy of high-stakes testing good for America's students?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Do Americans pay too much in federal income tax?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should the United States government reinstate the military draft?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should the U.S. federal government continue the ban on assault weapons?

Yes | No

Should the American space program send a manned mission to Mars?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should the United States adopt a single-payer, universal health care plan?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should couples consider global population issues before having more than one child?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should Saddam Hussein be executed?

Yes | No

Should fast food companies be held legally liable for the impact of their products on consumers' health?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should American public schools be allowed to set aside daily classroom time for student prayer?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should the United States replace the Electoral College system with a direct democracy?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should same-sex marriages be legal in the United States?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide

Should the U.S. federal government legalize marijuana?

Yes \| No
Educator? Download the teacher guide