Communication Studies 310

Argumentation and Debate

Fall 2005

Dr. Bert Gross

 

Office:  Smith 244

Office Hours:  10-12 daily; other hours by appointment

Telephone:  696-2808 (o)  757-8712 (h)  696-2814  (FAX)

E-mail:  gross@marshall.edu

 

Textbook

 

Inch, E.S., Warnick, B. & Endres, D. (2006).  Critical thinking and communication:  The use of reason in argument (5th ed.).  Boston:  Allyn and Bacon

 

Course Objectives

 

  1. Students will become familiar with the process of argumentation including understanding various models of argument, patterns of reasoning, types and uses of evidence, and common fallacies.
  2. Students will learn to use these principles to evaluate the argument of others.
  3. Students will learn to use these principles to create arguments of their own.
  4. Students will learn argumentative strategies that are useful in debates.
  5. Students will participate in classroom debates as a laboratory in which to develop their argumentative skills.

 

Course Requirements

 

  1. Two exams will be given.  A mid-term exam will focus on principles of argumentation.  The final exam will focus on principles of debate.  Each exam is worth 100 points.
  2. Each student will participate in two debates in class.  One debate will involve a proposition of value and the other will involve a proposition of policy.  Each debate is worth 100 points.
  3. A series of written exercises may be assigned.  Each is worth 10 points.
  4. Students who earn a minimum of 90% of the total available points will earn an A; 80% = B; 70% = C; 60% = D; below 60% = F.

 

Attendance

 

Regular attendance is expected.  A student who misses a scheduled debate may not be able to make up that assignment.  The 10 point written assignments will not be accepted after the class in which they are due.


 

Tentative Course Outline

 

Aug      22        Introduction to the course

            24        Definitions and models of argument       Ch. 1, Exercise 1, pp. 25-27

 

            29        Co-Orientation model of argument        Ch. 2

31        Argument analysis                                 Ch. 3, Exercises 1&3, pp.  96-99

 

Sep        7        Open

 

            12        Claims and Propositions                        Ch. 4, Exercises 1&2, pp. 125-127

            14        Continue

 

            19        Evidence                                              Ch. 5, Exercise 1, pp. 158-159

            21        Continue                                              

 

            26        Reasoning                                             Ch. 6, Exercise 1-8, pp. 186-188

            28        continue                                                Ch. 6, Exercises 9-25, pp. 188-191

 

Oct        3        Review

              5        Mid-Term Exam

 

            10        Arguing propositions of fact                  Ch. 7

            12        continue

 

            17        Arguing propositions of value    Ch. 8

            19        continue

 

            24        Debate 1

            26        Debate 1

 

            31        Debate 1

Nov       2        Debate 1

 

              7        Arguing propositions of policy   Ch. 9

              9        continue

 

            14        Culture and language                             Ch. 10

            16        Audience and argument             Ch. 11

 

            28        Debate 2

            30        Debate 2

 

Dec        5        Debate 2

 

            12        Final Exam at 12:45 P.M.