This year, the NFL Policy Debate resolution states "Resolved: That the United States federal government should establish a foreign policy substantially increasing its support of United Nations peacekeeping operations." Once again, the NFL executive committee has chosen a topic for policy debate that speaks to the current state of our nation. It recognizes that, for the first time in a generation, our modern twenty-four hour news cycle is becoming dominated by foreign rather than domestic affairs.

The Justice Learning website, www.justicelearning.org will launch a new module in early October, designed to assist with research of the NFL's 2004-2005 Policy Debate resolution. The module will examine the role of the United States in the United Nations. This module is a must-use research tool for policy debaters this school year. Like the other modules on the Justice Learning site, it is packed with information from both primary and secondary sources. The information is presented in a multimedia format and is accessible FREE of charge. All users need is a computer with an internet connection and audio capabilities.

Listen Up
Once users click on the module, they will be given a brief introduction to the issues, and then they can jump right into the information. The first set of materials is in the "Listen Up" section. In this section, visitors can listen to the Justice Talking show, "U.S. v. U.N.: Has International Trust Gone Bust?" taped September 28, 2004.

The "Listen Up" section is a unique research opportunity for debaters. By listening to the show, debaters are not just gathering great information for building an argument, but also listen to a well researched and carefully planned argument being made by some of the nation's top advocates. Both coaches and students can gain from hearing this professional debate.

Preparing cards with information from the Justice Talking debate is not as much of a challenge as it would at first appear. Although there is no transcript of the show available, debaters can still use the information presented. The Justice Learning website allows listeners to pause and rewind the program. To cite the show using MLA format, debaters should use a combination of source styles, both the format for a radio program and a website.

Read On
The next section on the site, "Read On" gives users access to New York Times Learning Network feature articles. These secondary source materials have been pulled from the pages of the New York Times and formatted for the school audience. Each article is displayed as it appeared on the pages of the paper, but with some additional features. First, the article will always be available for free, unlike other Times articles that are only free for the first week after publication. Each article also has built-in vocabulary and geography features, which can be toggled on or off. Once these have been activated, key vocabulary words and geographic phrases become links, which will give the reader definitions and maps.

The secondary sources available in the "Read On" section provide debaters with material to build an argument and can also be a great introduction to further research opportunities. Teachers can also combine "Read On" articles with lesson plans found in the Teaching Materials sections. Each lesson plan corresponds with an article and can be used to focus students' attention on key information and ideas.

In Their Own Words
Debaters know that secondary sources are useful, but that primary source citations are what score the points with judges. The "In Their Own" words section of the site presents primary source material from five different institutions of democracy. These institutions - the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, the media, and the schools - play a critical role in the shaping of American policy.

Clicking on one of institutions will bring up relevant speeches, legislation, court cases, or other material created by that institution. For each quote, bill summary, or case summary, a link is provided to a complete version of the material. The goal is to streamline the research process and allow users quick access to primary source material.

Interactive Timeline
The Justice Learning Timelines provide historical perspective for each featured issue by allowing users to trace how the issue has changed over time. Clicking on one of the events leads to a more complete explanation, which can lead you to further research topics and ideas.

The Justice Learning site will continue to be updated as new information on America's role with the United Nations changes, and the role America plays in the world continues to evolve. The Justice Learning site holds a phenomenal wealth of research material for debate teams. The site should be bookmarked and used as a launching pad to research for all debaters. Whether users visit the site for its great model of professional debate or as a place to find and understand a primary source reference, Justice Learning will fill the need.

(Eli Lesser, Educational Development Coordinator for Civics@Annenberg, is the web editor for Justice Learning, and a curriculum specialist for the civics projects at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Prior to joining Annenberg, he spent six years as a middle school and high school social studies teacher, in both public and independent schools in Virginia, Delaware, and New York City. He holds a MA in Social Studies Education from New York University and a BA in History from the University of Delaware. Contact Eli at: elesser@asc.upenn.edu