UN Atomic Bomb Commemoration:

Undecided Legislator Worksheet

Debate How should the United Nations commemorate the dropping of the
Atomic Bombs in WWII?
Question:
Goal: For a WWII Commemoration Event, the United Nations must present an image memorial
that conveys how we should remember the dropping of the Atomic Bombs.

➔ As an undecided legislator you must choose and image that: supports the "Atomic Bomb
as Triupmph" or supports "Atomic Bomb as Victimization".

➔ In order to make this decision, you need to come up with three challenging questions to ask
both the pro and anti side of the debate:

◆ Research information that proves America was right to drop the atomic bomb, and
brainstorm 3 questions for why we should remember the use of Atomic Bombs as a
Victory in WWII.

◆ Research information that proves America was wrong to drop the atomic bomb,
and brainstorm 3 questions for why we should remember the use of Atomic Bombs
as a tragedy in WWII.

◆ You can use information from notes, debate materials, and other outside sources to
help you craft your questions and fill in the yellow boxes below:

Atomic Bomb Undecided Legislator Chart

Debate Preparation:
Questions to ask the affirmative (Pro): Atomic Bomb As Triumph
1. How positive are you guys about the bomb being released as whether it being a good
thing or not? It is very positive about the bomb being used because if not so many
people’s lives would’ve been lost anyways if the bomb didn’t drop .
 Pro Atomic Write down 2 pieces of evidence (Images, quotes, data, etc.) with analysis that
Bomb proves why we should remember the use of the Atomic Bomb as a victory:
Arguments: 1. “They expected one of them have inspect on the war”
Use this
evidence to 2. “ Things got messy and ended in negative terms”
help formulate
your questions.

Questions to ask the negative (anti): Atomic Bomb As Victimization

2. What did the US do to Japan and what were the effects of it? They treated Japan as if
they were their little brown brothers.

Anti Atomic Write down 2 pieces of evidence (Images, quotes, data, etc.) with analysis that
Bomb proves why we should remember the use of the Atomic Bomb as a tragedy:
Arguments: 1. “Pondering the hills have served the soldiers with distance of tragedy”
Use this
evidence to 2. “The United States signed a contract which affected the war”
help formulate
your questions.

Final question: (must be the same question for both sides):

Atomic Bomb Undecided Legislator Chart

During the Debate:
Goal: Fill out the chart below as you listen to both sides debate the issue. List a min of 3 reasons
per side(think about the strongest evidence presented to you).

Reasons given for Reasons given for

the Atomic Bomb as Triumph the Atomic Bomb as Victimization

They believe that if they didn’t drop They thought that the coming of the bomb was a
personal event. They believed they had a better
the bomb then the Japanese would scenario for the US.
have more of an issue to war. They
also thought the even if they decided
to drop the bomb the japanese
would have also decided to attack
their civilians.

Then, start to analyze how each debater performed. Before you make a final decision, think about
these questions:

● Did the debater clearly state his or her position?

● Was the position supported by evidence?
● Was the evidence analyzed effectively?
● What evidence presented by one side went unchallenged by the other side?
● What contrary evidence was presented?

Atomic Bomb Undecided Legislator Chart

After the Debate:
Goal: Based on all of the arguments and evidence make your final decision on what image should
be used for the Commemoration of the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb.

A. The three reasons and/or pieces of evidence that most influenced my decision, in order of
importance, are:

1. (Most Important): Showing the difference in action between the wars that happened
and what took place after

2. (Second Most Important): injured soldiers

3. (Least Important): citizens' reasons during the war.

B. After evaluating the reasons and evidence presented by all advocates, explain in a
paragraph response, which image should be presented as the memorial for the Dropping of
the Atomic Bomb Commemoration. Explain by using a min. Of one piece of evidence in
evidence based claims format.