RHETORIC AND ARGUMENTATION FALL 2008

Dr. John Giertz

395 4544

Fine Arts 45

jgiertz@bc.cc.ca.us

This syllabus is also on my website. 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. NOTE. THIS IS A BRAND NEW EDITION. IT DOES HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT I WILL BE USING. You can use the 11th ed., but YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GET THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DEBATE ASSIGNMENTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN 

QUIZZES AND HOMEWORK ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW

READINGS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS COLOR--FUSCHIA?

 

SYLLABUS

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

Week 1: 8/25-28

Opening day debate. Chapter 1 "miniglossary" p. 2  Chapt 1 Quiz Chapter 19 Parliamentary Procedure Parly Info  Robert's Rules of Order.

Week 2: 9/2-4 (Monday is labor Day)

Parly Quiz Chapter 2 (19-23; 28-38) Evidence lecture.  Assign topics Debate briefs  Chapt 2 Quiz  Chapter 3   Check evidence.  Assign Practice Congress Speakers.

Week 3: 9/8-11

 Chapt. 3 Quiz  Practice Congress Congress Debates 

Week 4: 9/15-18

Finish Congress, EPISTEMOLOGY  

Week 5: 9/22-25

  Cause Effect Quiz Begin Deductive logic.

Week 6: 9/29-10/2

  Quiz Sign, Conjecture,

Week 7: 10/6-9

 Introduce value debate format. Practice debates assign topics and practice teams.

Week 8: 10/13-16

Value debates. Value debates.

Week 9: 10/20-23

Finish debates. QUIZ Analogy Deductive logic overview and terms. 

Week 10: 10/27-30

QUIZ Policy stases. Deduction. Policy debate. Topic assignment

Week 1111/3-6

Quiz on deduction terms . Policy topic and briefs discussion  

Week 12:

Deduction Quiz Practice debates.

Week 13:

Full Debates

Week 14:

Week 15:

Finish Debates.
Week 16:  FINALS WEEK FINISH DEBATES

 

 

GRADING SCALE

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CONGRESS    15%

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VALUE DEBATE 20%

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POLICY DEBATE 30%

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CHAPTER QUIZZES 10%

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LOGIC QUIZZES 10%

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PARTICIPATION 10%

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HOMEWORK 5%

 

CLASS  LINKS

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 MW                    TR 12:50                     TR 4:00

 

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

Missing more than 3 classes may result in your being dropped. 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.