Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Debate assignment
Prohibition on Trial: Debate Al Capone on Its Benefits and Unintended Consequences
With Al Capone
Grade 11HistoryCommunity
A ready-made debate for Grade 11, shared by a teacher on Humy. Students argue a position against an AI Al Capone in a live chat. Humy grades the conversation against the rubric below.
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- Format
- Debate
- Grade
- 11
- Grading
- Per criterion
Prohibition on Trial: Debate Al Capone on Its Benefits and Unintended Consequences
PreviewInteract responsibly with the AI and verify facts. Note that teachers have access to these conversations.
Hello, I'm Al Capone. I'm ready for our debate. Make your opening argument.
The assignment
When a policy promises to protect public health, what happens if it creates a new market for crime? Step into a 1920s debate with Al Capone, whose illegal liquor business lets you challenge his claims while examining the limits of government control.
Debate proposition: Prohibition’s benefits outweighed its unintended consequences.
The 18th Amendment and the 1920 Volstead Act restricted alcohol, promising healthier communities while fueling illegal markets and disputes over enforcement. Research competing accounts of alcohol consumption, crime, and public health; then identify which evidence supports your position and which complicates it.
Prepare your case: Build a clear claim, cite credible evidence, anticipate a rebuttal, and distinguish Al Capone’s perspective from historical fact. Respond respectfully to his counterpoints and defend your conclusion with reasoned analysis.
When ready, select the start assignment button to begin your debate with Al Capone.
Rubric
Students see this rubric before they start. Humy scores the conversation against it and writes feedback for each criterion.
Grade 11 · Claim–Evidence–Reasoning · 25 points · Score only the student’s contributions, never Al Capone’s responses.
1. Position & Weighing of Consequences
5 points — Insightful: Defends a clear verdict on the proposition by weighing public-health benefits against unintended harms.
4 points — Strong: Takes a clear position and compares significant benefits and harms.
2 points — Developing: States a position but treats one side superficially or does not weigh the tradeoffs.
0 points — Not shown: Offers no discernible position on the proposition.
2. Evidence & Source Evaluation
5 points — Insightful: Cites credible, specific evidence from competing accounts; assesses reliability and explains how evidence supports or complicates the claim.
4 points — Strong: Cites credible evidence from more than one perspective and connects it to the claim.
2 points — Developing: Uses limited or vague evidence, with little attention to source reliability or conflicting accounts.
0 points — Not shown: Provides no relevant, identifiable evidence.
3. Historical Understanding & Perspective
5 points — Insightful: Accurately relates the 18th Amendment and Volstead Act to enforcement, alcohol use, crime, and public health; separates Capone’s interests from historical fact.
4 points — Strong: Uses accurate Prohibition context and recognizes Capone’s stake in the illegal liquor trade.
2 points — Developing: Shows partial context or repeats Capone’s claims without adequately questioning them.
0 points — Not shown: Provides no accurate historical context or treats invented claims as established fact.
4. Rebuttal & Reasoning
5 points — Insightful: Anticipates a serious objection, answers Capone’s actual counterpoints, and uses evidence to defend or refine the conclusion.
4 points — Strong: Addresses a relevant objection and responds to Capone with sound reasoning.
2 points — Developing: Offers a generic or weak rebuttal with limited explanation.
0 points — Not shown: Does not address an objection or counterpoint.
5. Debate Clarity & Respect
5 points — Insightful: Communicates a focused, coherent case; engages Capone directly and respectfully throughout.
4 points — Strong: Presents an organized case and responds respectfully.
2 points — Developing: Is difficult to follow at times or engages only minimally with the exchange.
0 points — Not shown: Provides no understandable debate contribution.
How to Calculate the Final Score
Choose one point level for each of the five criteria, then add the points. The highest possible score is 25 points. For example, five scores of 4 earn 20 out of 25.
Award 0 points overall for an empty submission or one with no student-authored argument about the proposition. Otherwise, score each criterion separately; a missing element earns 0 for that criterion. Do not award or deduct points for the AI figure’s performance.
The historical figure in this assignment
Meet the AI Al Capone
Al Capone
American gangster
Students talk to an AI version of Al Capone, grounded in a curated biography and selected historical sources. As with any AI, students should check important claims.
In your classroom
Ready for your class in three steps.
Open it in Humy
Create a free teacher account, open this assignment and choose Copy to my assignments to make it yours.
Share the link
Students open it and type their first name and last initial. No email, no password.
Humy grades the conversation
Each chat is scored against the rubric, with feedback for each criterion. You see every result.
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Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
Dr. Michael Calvert
Assistant Superintendent, South Allegheny School District, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his district since 2024
“We enjoyed the program last year and used it frequently.”
Jacob Chisom
World and American History, Monticello High School, Arkansas
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“My students say it’s a welcome change of pace. I’m not a fan of the “sage on the stage” model, so I try to incorporate research-oriented and self-paced activities. With Humy, students have to take charge of their learning. They’ve become more adept at critical thinking, forming better questions, and improving their reading comprehension. The interview feature has been my go-to tool. I create assignments where students must ask historical figures a set number of questions, then summarize the responses to ensure they’re truly absorbing the material. This approach lets them actively explore the past rather than passively consuming information.”
Roger Campbell
7th-grade World History, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Been using Humy in his classroom since 2024
“Humy has helped me bring historical figures, sometimes long past, to life. When my students interact with these figures in real-time, it eliminates some of the perceived “ancient” characteristics of my curriculum. This has shifted my students’ thinking away from viewing history as abstract or irrelevant. Real-time interactions make historical figures relatable, even allowing students to ask off-topic questions that help put historical lives in a more relevant context for 13-year-olds. The feature I use the most is the interview feature. After teaching a topic, most recently Gandhi and Joan of Arc, I have the students ask pointed, focused questions. We practice good conversation techniques beforehand, teaching them to listen (or read) carefully and formulate thoughtful follow-up questions rather than just interrogating. It helps students practice effective conversation skills.”
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What do students do in "Prohibition on Trial: Debate Al Capone on Its Benefits and Unintended Consequences"?
They read the task and the rubric and argue their position in a live chat. When they finish, Humy scores the conversation against the rubric with feedback for each criterion.
How is it graded?
Automatically against the rubric on this page. Each criterion gets a score and written feedback that points to the student's own work. You see every result. Students see their scores too.
Who made this assignment?
A teacher on Humy who shared it with every school. Shared assignments are listed only after they pass Humy's automated content review, and Humy can take one down if it's reported.
Can I change it for my class?
Yes. Open it in Humy and choose Copy to my assignments. You get your own copy of the task, rubric, grade and questions to change before you share it.
Do my students need accounts?
No. Students open the link you share and type their first name and last initial. No email, no password.
Is Humy free to try?
Yes. A free teacher account includes 20 AI messages a month, shared with your students, plus all five assignment formats and auto-grading. No credit card.
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