Teaching with the News

Conflict in Iraq: Confronting Policy Alternatives

Updated Edition - March 2008

An important debate is taking place in the United States concerning U.S. policy. This is not a new debate. Some would date it back to the pre-war period in 2002 through early 2003. Others would begin with the discussion prior to the first Gulf War in 1991. At this point in the conflict, discussion is focused on the question of the U.S. presence in Iraq. What is our purpose? Who should be involved in solutions? Are U.S. troop levels right? How long should U.S. troops stay? What does this mean for the larger question of America's role in the world today?

Conflict in Iraq: Confronting Policy Alternatives is an interactive lesson plan that engages students in consideration of divergent policy alternatives concerning Iraq. This lesson replaces previous online lessons on Iraq.

This lesson includes:

Policy Options: Three Policy Options help students think about divergent policy alternatives, each driven by different underlying values, each with merits and trade-offs. The Options provided have been developed with input from the research staff at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. The Policy Options can be printed for classroom use from the Choices web site. A summary of options prior to the Iraq War is also available.

Lesson Plan: A two-period lesson plan is provided. It is focused on role-play and deliberation exploring the three Policy Options. Teachers are encouraged to integrate the suggested background resources into their courses as appropriate. A map of Iraq is available as a pdf.

Ballot Activity on America's Role in the World: After consideration of this issue, we invite you to give students an opportunity to wrestle with the larger question of America's role in the world using an online ballot activity. What do they think about America's role? What issues are of most concern to them? What kind of world do they want in the 21st century? A 5-day published unit, The U.S. Role in a Changing World, is also available.

Additional Resources from the Choices Program

Conflict in Iraq: Searching for Solutions is a one-week curriculum unit that helps teachers provide their students the opportunity to consider the history of Iraq, the present conflict, and to participate in informed discussion about the U.S. role in Iraq today.

Coming Soon! Scholars Online provides video taped interviews with researchers designed for use in classrooms, for homework, and for professional development.

Supplemental Materials for Conflict in Iraq: Searching for Solutions provides links to additional resources related to this issue.

Additional Online Resources

BBC News Online
Provides contiually updated interviews, news stories, analysis, and fact sheets on post-war Iraq.

Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS)
Provides continually updated interviews and news stories on a range of issues related to post-war Iraq.

Global Policy Forum
Public opinion polls in Iraq gathered by the BBC, ABC, and NHK news programs.

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Review a list of Choices publications: In addition to its online resources, the Choices Program publishes a wide range of curriculum units on historical turning points and current issues. All published units include extensive background readings and accompanying lesson plans. Ordering is available online.