Positions

This position holds that sanctuary cities are bad. It argues they prevent the government from simply enforcing immigration law, that they blatantly disregard federal statutes, and that, by shielding undocumented residents, they encourage dangerous criminal behaviour.

This position holds that sanctuary cities are good. It argues they are vital as governments increasingly disregard immigrants' human rights, that they keep both undocumented immigrants and citizens safer, and that they let immigrants live without constant fear of deportation.

The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory explains emotion through two elements: physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. It holds bodily arousal is the starting point, which the mind then labels through cognitive processes to produce a specific emotion.

This position recommends science fiction as reading for self-isolation. It argues that, with the pandemic making life feel dystopian, one might as well lean in — suggesting works like 1984, Blindness, The Andromeda Strain and Under the Dome that mirror or offer escape from the moment.

The scientific consensus on the nonexistence of the soul goes contrary to natural human beliefs and centuries of religious teachings. However, some theories support the idea of a spiritual human essence.

Those willing to follow the evidence in climate science wherever it leads. Namely, that global warming is real, human-caused and disrupting. That said, there's nothing inherently wrong with all technology and modern life.

This position holds that Scotland should become independent from the United Kingdom. It argues that the SNP commands strong support, that Scotland holds different political values and goals from the rest of the UK, and that the pandemic exposed the divide between them.

Scotland has slowly been granted more autonomy from Westminster over the past several decades. Instead of full independence from the UK, Scotland should seek more autonomy while remaining in the Union.

The union between Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is greater than the sum of its parts. Their shared history and fate is a strength and not a weakness.

This position holds that Scotland will break the UK's two-party system. It argues the Scottish National Party has already shattered two-party dominance north of the border, and that rising Scottish nationalism signals the end of traditional two-party politics.

This position names Sean Connery as the best James Bond. It argues that, as the original screen Bond, he defined the role for everyone who followed — and that his looks and effortless charisma have never been matched by later actors in the part.

Self care has become almost a parody of itself in the Instagram world. In reality, it extends a lot further than Korean skincare and HIIT classes. It's all about finding small ways to look after yourself.

This position recommends self-help books while self-isolating, arguing that time alone makes self-acceptance and personal growth feel more important than ever. Suggested titles include The Power of Now, Grit, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Sinclair's Lifespan.

This position holds that coronavirus revealed something about human self-perception. It argues that crisis produces two clear responses — putting the individual first or the group first — and that which one a person reaches for reflects how they see themselves within the wider world.

This position names Serena Williams as the greatest tennis player of all time. It argues that she dominated the sport more thoroughly than any rival, winning almost everything there was to win, and that she revolutionised tennis and changed it forever.

Before becoming criminals, serial killers live typical lives. Even when they kill people, they have jobs, families, and live among the general public. When they are caught, people are often surprised that they were criminals.

This position holds that service can sometimes be refused on religious grounds, but not in all cases. It argues for balancing the competing interests case by case — for instance, allowing refusal where the customer has a ready alternative, while not permitting it across the board.

Not all relations with local Native American tribes were fraught. When Native ambassador, Manteo, had traveled to England and back with colonists, and returned with the particular set of colonists who arrived on Roanoke Island in 1587.

Snape saved Harry's Life in the first HP book. He also spied on the dark side for Dumbledore. Not to mention he loved Lilly, a true villain has no love in his heart. Even if Snape wasn't your average hero, he did much good.

He was a bully of a teacher to all of his students. (Except Slytherins) He also joined the Death Eaters when he was younger. A true hero wouldn't do either of those things. Even if Snape did some good things, a true hero wouldn't have been that cruel.

This position names Seweryn Klosowski — known as George Chapman — as Jack the Ripper. It points to his being a convicted serial killer who lived in Whitechapel at the very time of the Ripper murders, and who went on to poison several women, as grounds for the identification.

This position holds that sex work should be fully decriminalised, including paying for sex. It argues that this keeps sex workers safer — letting them work together, screen clients and access healthcare without fear of arrest — and that criminalising consensual sex violates bodily autonomy.

This position holds that sex work should be partially decriminalised—for example, decriminalising sex workers while still criminalising those who seek to buy sex. It argues this approach protects workers, eases access to healthcare, and reduces the pool of potentially violent clients.

This position holds that sex work should not be decriminalised. Its arguments contend that keeping brothels and solicitation illegal limits exploitation by pimps and traffickers, that decriminalisation could invite more violent clients, and that it treats women's bodies as a commodity to be bought.

Shale oil destroys the landscape and leaves a large pockmarked surface polluted by chemicals. The long run environmental problems of shale make it a poor business model, as communities are left to pick up the pieces.

This position holds that shale oil is a viable, sustainable business model given advances in technology and prices. It argues that drillers' rapid learning has pushed extraction costs below the market price of oil, creating jobs and driving US production to record highs.

Shale oil and natural gas are extremely capital intensive, and buying land, drilling and extracting the oil is far more expensive than drillers will admit to. Proof of this is that we have seen hundreds of shale oil companies go bust and almost no shale oil companies produce any free cash flow.

Misinformation and fake news is as rife around coronavirus as it was during any of our latest elections. This time, fake news could kill people. Only share what you KNOW to be true - sourced, substantiated, verified.

This position names the BBC's Sherlock the best screen version of Sherlock Holmes, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson. Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, it argues the show drew a vast fanbase and wide critical acclaim.

Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. John Watson.

This position names the 1984 Granada TV series as the best screen Sherlock Holmes, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes with David Burke, later Edward Hardwicke, as Watson. It argues Brett remains the most beloved on-screen portrayal of the detective.

This position names Guy Ritchie's 2009 Sherlock Holmes — starring Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson — as the best screen version. It argues that this reinvention is the most exciting and action-packed of the many adaptations of Conan Doyle's detective.

Arthur Wontner as Holmes and Ian Fleming as Watson (replaced by Ian Hunter for The Sign of Four)

This position recommends short stories as reading for self-isolation. It argues that a story a day suits a fractured, anxious time — bite-sized fiction that can be finished in one sitting — suggesting collections like The Thing Around Your Neck and This Is How You Lose Her.

This position favours short-term study skills for learning under time pressure. It points to techniques such as forming study groups, cramming before a deadline, and using visual and audio aids as the most effective ways to absorb material quickly.