REQUIRED TEXTS:

• Hill, Bill & Leeman, Richard (1997). The Art and Practice of Argumentation and Debate.
• Sprague, Jo & Stuart, Douglas (1996). The Speaker's Handbook (4^th Edition).
• Course Packet (will be available at Kopy Korner, located at the corner of Main and Progress. No credit cards allowed, checks are accepted)

As a successful participant in this class, you will be formulating persuasive arguments and articulating these arguments in front of an audience. You will be speaking in planned presentations, as well as unplanned impromptu assignments.

If you keep up with the readings, complete the assignments to the best of your ability, and give your best effort in this course,

• You will learn to think more clearly about general issues as you research and argue one specific issue with a partner who supports an opposing viewpoint about the issue.
• You will better understand how argumentation is used in various decision making contexts as we discuss issues and arguments in class.
• You will learn to analyze and evaluate your own and others' argumentation tendencies and techniques.
• You will learn to create ethical, logical, and more persuasive arguments.
• You will become a better public speaker and a better consumer of public arguments as you give speeches and analyze others' arguments.
• You will learn to think more quickly on your feet by engaging in impromptu arguments and class discussion.

Students will complete the following assignments:

• Three argument analysis worksheets (testing reading comprehension and analytical skills)
• Three in-class argumentative presentations (each presentation building on one issue)
• Three in-class question/answer sessions (practicing ability to think, question, and respond quickly)
• Final Argumentative Case Outline (8-10 pages plus references; basis of final presentation)
• journal and portfolio (one-page journal weekly, one portfolio at semester end)
• Various in-class assignments (impromptu speaking, in-class analysis of arguments, etc.)

Grades will be determined based on the following assignments:

• Argument analysis worksheets 15%
• Argumentative presentation and Q/A Session #1 15% (including case outline and bibliography)
• Argumentative presentation and Q/A Session #2 15% (including case outline and bibliography)
• Final Argumentative presentation and Q/A Session 25%
• Final Argumentative Case Outline and Bibliography 10%
• Weekly Journals and end-of-semester Portfolio 10%
• Audience Participation and Class Discussion 10%

Participation in this course is crucial for your success. If you do not keep up with readings and attend class, you will fall behind in the material (concepts and tools build as we move through the semester).

Expectations for Writing Assignments

• All written work must be typed on standard paper, stapled (no folders), and turned in on time. For each 24 hours an assignment is late, you will lose one letter grade.
• Always make a (hard) copy of everything you turn in. You will receive zero (0) points for missing papers, regardless of circumstances.
• You should submit work that is organized, clear, and free from grammatical or style errors. This requires revision and proofreading. Each spelling error and typo will cost 1% of your grade for that assignment. If you need help with your writing, talk to me or go to the university writing lab for free tutoring sessions!

Expectations for Speaking Assignments:

• Each formal argumentative presentation is considered a professional event. You are expected to arrive on time, dress appropriately, and be prepared.
• Speeches should be rehearsed adequately. This is not a beginning speaking course. Rather, this is a course where you practice advanced oral communication strategies. Time limits will be strictly observed.
• All speeches must be given extemporaneously--using limited notes and adapting to specific audience needs or environmental contingencies. In other words, speeches may not be memorized or given from a manuscript.
• If you cannot speak on your assigned day, you are responsible for finding someone in class to switch speaking dates with you.

Other Policies and Expectations:

• In this class, you are expected to take responsibility for your learning. This includes completing reading assignments by the day they appear on the syllabus, attending class, and participating in class discussions. This also includes ASKING QUESTIONS WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL AND SLOWING ME DOWN WHEN NECESSARY!!!
• During class, we will respect and honor all positions or viewpoints, as long as these positions are supported with evidence and reasoning.
• Make-up assignments do not exist. If you are absent, you receive a zero for any particular assignment due during your absence, including all speeches, impromptu events, and in-class assignments.

Student observance of the Honor Code:

The honor code will be strictly enforced in this course. All assignments submitted must be original work completed by the student. All aspects of your coursework are covered by the honor system, and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

To be safe, carefully document your sources. Thoroughly review the following information about plagiarism to familiarize yourself with possible problems. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, you are responsible for talking to the instructor for clarification. PLEASE DO NOT GUESS . . . ASK!

Plagiarism is a serious university offense. Plagiarism may take many forms, each of which is unacceptable, according to the standards of academic honesty as governed by the Virginia Tech Honor System.

Any written and oral work you present as your own for this class should be completely your own; content, organization, language choices, visuals, and ideas, UNLESS you CITE THE SOURCES from which you have borrowed ideas, phrases, visual, etc.

• intentionally or unintentionally using someone else’s words, phrases, or ideas as if they were your own,
• quoting material from a source without enclosing it in quotation marks and providing the exact source,
• paraphrasing material from a source without giving credit and providing a citation for the source,
• quoting material from a source in an oral presentation without giving credit to the source,
• paraphrasing material from a source in an oral presentation without giving credit to the source.

Plagiarism in any form will result in a zero for that assignment and may be taken to the honor court. Any other violations of the honor code will be taken to the honor court.

Argument Analysis Worksheets

• To practice analyzing arguments, you will be given several worksheets as homework assignments. Each worksheet requires you to examine and evaluate one or more statements or arguments, using specific analytic tools discussed in class and/or in the textbooks.

Argumentative Presentations

• During the first two weeks of class, you will select a topic partner and a specific "term topic" that will be the basis of all three presentations. For each presentation, you will be presenting your position on the topic, and arguing against the position of your partner.
• Each presentation builds on the previous presentations so that by the end of the semester, you have a complete, well-researched, and well-constructed argumentative case.
• Presentations will grow in content, complexity, and length. Content from each presentation may (should) be used to augment subsequent presentations (in other words, keep what works, throw out what doesn't work, and make your arguments better as the semester progresses)

Question/Answer Sessions

• In addition to presenting your own position and supporting that position with well-researched evidence, you will engage in a question/answer session with your partner. This Q/A session will be designed to allow you to question your partner's statements, assumptions, or evidence (and your partner has the opportunity to do the same).
• After the Q/A session, you will be allowed to compose a brief oral response to your partner's presentation.

Argumentative Case Outline

• For each argumentative presentation, you must turn in a complete outline of your presentation, using the guidelines specified in class and in the textbooks.
• All evidence used must be included in the outline and must be cited appropriately.
• Bibliography must be included with the outline. APA format required.
• Significant research is required to make a sound and reasonable argument. Specific source requirements will be given in class. You may choose to research the issue with your opposition to maximize resources.

Journals

• Each week, you will turn in a one-page journal reflecting on anything, as long as it relates to the course in some way.
• The journal is designed to help you keep track of your own thoughts about the concepts in the course, misgivings about your progress, and accomplishments throughout the course. Also, the journal provides me valuable feedback about the course and how you feel you’re doing in the class.
• Completion of the assignment is the basis of evaluation (I won’t critique your writing or content)

Portfolio

• Save your work during the semester, including all rough drafts. At the end of the semester, you will compile a professional portfolio that highlights your accomplishments and includes all the materials you collected and created during the semester.
• This assignment is designed to allow you to make a professional argument about your effort, progress, and achievements in the course.

General Evaluation Criteria for argumentation assignments:

In general, assignments will be evaluated according to the following criteria. More specific criteria will be provided when the assignment is discussed in class.

• Preparation and Analysis: Each assignment requires and should demonstrate careful analysis of the issues, audience, major claims, supporting claims, reasoning, and evidence.
• Research: To analyze others’ arguments or to formulate your own arguments, you must be well-informed on the topic. The extent to which you demonstrate your familiarity with the issue throughout the assignment will influence its evaluation.
• Organization and Clarity: Your central proposition (thesis, main claim) should be clear. Secondary claims should be organized coherently to develop a systematic line of reasoning. Writing should be precise and direct; avoid indirect or vague writing. Also, the connections (links) between supporting evidence and claims must be clear to the reader. If I can’t follow your line of reasoning, you haven’t written it clearly enough.
• Quality of Support: Your arguments should be firmly grounded by a variety of relevant and significant support (evidence). Again, extensive research on the issue is necessary to develop adequate evidence to support claims.
• Ability to articulate ideas clearly: In oral presentations, mastery of basic public speaking skills is presumed. You should be able to articulate your ideas in front of an audience clearly and concisely.

To access the Course Schedule, click here