Rhetoric and Argumentation

Dr. John Giertz   Office: Fine Arts 45 Office Hours: MW 9:30-11:00, 2:30-3:30. T/R 9:30-11:00, 1:30-2:30 jgiertz@bc.cc.ca.us                                                                                                                        

You will need to access my site because there will be many forms, explanations, additional lecture notes, etc. that are vital to your success in this course.

Textbook: Freeley, Austin J., David L. Steinberg.  Argumentation and Debate: Critical thinking for reasoned decision making.12th ed. Thompson/Wadsworth: Belmont, Ca. 2005.

QUIZZES AND HOMEWORK ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW

READINGS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE: NOTE, NOT ALL READINGS ARE ON THE SYLLABUS.

DEBATES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN

SYLLABUS

Week First Day of week:  Be prepared to discuss the following Second Day of week: Be prepared to discuss the following

Week 1: 8/24-27

Opening day debate. READ Chapt 1 "miniglossary" p. 2 Chapter 1 discussion,  READ Chapter 2 (19-23; 28-38) Aristotle's model of debate

Week 2: 8/31-9/3

Chap. 1 Quiz   Inductive logic overview 169-172 Degree of Cogency exercise READ 184-187 (Causal and Sign Reasoning) Causal/Sign Discussion, Causal/Sign Quiz, Generalization and Analogy discussion Logic discussion

Week 3: 9/8-10 Monday is Labor day holiday

Read pages 163-168 Final logic discussion and logic debates. TUES CLASS Assign topics  Generalization/Analogy quiz,  Read  Evidence lecture.Wed Assign topics 

Week 4: 9/14-17

 Mon and Tues Class Library Research-Research due next time.  Congress overview  EVIDENCE CHECK SHEET Evidence Analysis Read Debate briefs  Additional reading--Chapter 19 (359-365)   Check evidenceParly Info  Robert's Rules of Order.

Week 5: 9/21-24

EXTRA CREDIT CONGRESS CONGRESS READ 152-162

Week 6: 9/28-10/1

CONGRESS FINISH CONGRESS Deductive logic 

Week 7: 10/5-8

Begin deductive logic, Handouts,Homework     Exercises due Finish Deduction, Quiz Preparation,Deduction Quiz Take home

Week 8: 10/12-15

Deduction Quiz Due, DEDUCTION PRACTICE QUIZ Value debate format,  Assign Value Topics,   Read chapter 11 do Exercise 1 (a, b) Exercise 2 (b, c) (p.212) CLICK THIS LINK! Value debate Homework due Discuss topic, assign teams Read 216-219, 237-240 Note taking practice (Flow)

Week 9: 10/19-22

Affirmative and Negative meetings Discuss readings, Practice debates 

Week 10: 10/26-29

VALUE DEBATES VALUE DEBATES

Week 11: 11/2-5

  Debrief from value debate, create policy topics,

Week 12: 11/9-12 Wed is Vets Day HOLIDAY

 Practice 1AC, Television Case  Stem Cell Case  

Week 13: 11/16-19

FINISH VALUE DEBATES  Policy Debate Read  p. 219-230;   240-250 choose policy topic from previous value topics. New 1ac and 2nc duties

Week 14: 11/23-25 Thu is THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

  Policy test terms Scantron form

Week 15: 11/30-12/3

  POLICY DEBATES.
Week 16:  12/7-10 FINALS WEEK FINISH DEBATES  FINALS WEEK FINISH DEBATES

GRADING SCALE

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CONGRESS    10%

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VALUE DEBATE 20%

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POLICY DEBATE (25% Policy Debate +Tests 5%) TOTAL FOR POLICY DEBATE = 30%

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CHAPTER QUIZZES 10%

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LOGIC QUIZZES 15% (Inductive- 5%, Deductive 10%)

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PARTICIPATION 10%

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HOMEWORK 5%

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Debate= 55%, Tests= 30%, Participation= 15%

CLASS  LINKS

Question Techniques

                   MW 1:00        TR 8:00      TR 2:35 

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

I will drop any student who is absent on the first, second, or third class meeting UNLESS you contact me to explain the absence. PLEASE contact me regarding any absences. I will continue to drop students during the semester. If you miss during the first two weeks and do not contact me you may be dropped. PLEASE contact me regarding any absences.

You are required to do all assigned work on the date assigned.  I do not allow for make up quizzes.

You are expected to be here during the entire class time. That means not arriving late OR leaving early. If you have time conflicts with this class then you need to work them out NOW! I do take off points from the participation grade if you are late or leave early.

All written work must be typed.

If you do not understand an assignment, PLEASE ask for clarification during or outside of class. You can email me questions too. Phone messages do not work as well. When emailing me please be sure to include the following information:

1. Your name as it appears on the role sheet. Sometimes students email me but do not leave their name and all I have is their email name like "Luvalicious@whatever.com. I do not want to guess which one of you likes the handle "Luvalicious." TMI!!

2. Your class time.

3. Let me know if there is a better email to use as well.

You should know how to behave in a college classroom. This means being to interact with others without personally attacking them, dominating the classroom time, being disruptive by not paying attention, having side conversations, working on other course material, etc.

All electronic devices must be SILENCED! These type of interruptions are not acceptable in any classroom setting, but especially in one which fellow students are presenting for grades.

 

Supportive Services Statement:

Students with disabilities who believe that they may need DSP &S in FACE 16, 395-4334, as soon as possible to

better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Your Bakersfield College student rights and responsibilities are detailed in the BC Student Handbook and the yearly catalog.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Construct appropriate factual, value, and policy claims associated with substantial social and political issues.

2. Research and evaluate evidence from a variety of sources.

3. Discriminate between valid and fallacious argument types.

4. Build sound and effective arguments.

5. Proper understanding and use of a variety of debate formats.

6. Advocate positions effectively in both written and oral form.