Argumentation and Debate

Argumentation and Debate Syllabus
COMM 2100

Instructor:             Lacey Benns-Owens
Office:                    Hickman 147                          Email:      lbenns@colubiastate.edu
Phone:                    540-2875                                 Web:      http://lbenns.columbiastate.edu
Office Hours:       TBA

Required Text:   Barnet/Bedau: From Critical Thinking to Argument: A Portable Guide, 2nd Ed.

Course Description: This course introduces students to logical and rhetorical analyses of speech, writing, and thinking. The greatest emphasis will be in understanding the nature of logical proof, although ethical proof must be considered as well.

Course Objectives: Students will:
·         Achieve competency in public speaking
·         Achieve skills in small group and problem-solving sessions
·         Learn to manipulate media in the creation of public address
·         Learn about the art of persuasion/logic to ethically persuade
·         Learn how to think critically about issues and propaganda
·         Practice researching, writing and presenting data
·         Recognize the terms and interdisciplinary fields of communication

Course Requirements: Grading will be based on the following:
·         Individual student presentations and essays
·         Small group activities and presentations
·         Attendance and participation
·         Tests and/or quizzes given throughout the semester

Grading and Evaluation: The grading scale will be as follows: 100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59-¯=E

Course Policies:

Attendance Policy

You will be expected to attend every class meeting, engage one another in an informed and spirited manner, and complete all assigned responsibilities on time. In other words, when you signed up for the course, attendance and participation became two of your assigned responsibilities. Like any other assignment, you will be awarded points for meeting this responsibility (50 pts total). Beginning the second week of class, points will be awarded for on-time, full-class-period attendance. If you are not here for any reason, or do not complete the assignment (come late, leave early, sleep…), you do not receive the points (5 points/day). Remember that the reason for your absence does not change the fact of your absence and that three or more absences will affect your letter grade.* ** ***

In addition, there may be in-class group activities, projects and/or assignments you may miss if you are absent. It is your responsibility to contact me to receive this information.

Listening well is also considered an on-going assignment. You should be respectful to the person who has the floor, in class and during presentations. Not doing so will result in loss of attendance and/or assignment points. Class disruptions will result in the student’s removal.

*Absences resulting from REQUIRED school-sponsored events may be excused. A written note from the sponsor will be required before the date of the absence and any work and assignments due must still be turning in on or before the given due date.

**If you are sick on a day you are scheduled to make a presentation, it will not be considered an excused absence unless you have a doctor’s note.

*** Cases of special circumstances may be considered

Make-up work: Make-up or late assignments may be accepted by the instructor with a minimum penalty of 30%. All make-up work must be completed within one week. After two late assignments, no more late work will be accepted. If you are unable to turn in assignments because of illness, you must have a doctor’s note in order to receive full-credit. Some in-class activities may not be eligible to make-up.***

Academic Honesty: It is expected that students will complete course work through honest and ethical means. Any manner of cheating and/or plagiarism is a violation. Any student violating this policy will receive a “0” on the assignment and may automatically fail the course. The Student Handbook offers a complete definition of plagiarism.

Class Policies

Class Disruptions

All cellular phones, beepers, etc must be turned off during class. If a device goes off during class, you will not receive your attendance points for that day. If it goes off during presentations, points will be deducted from your speech grade as well.

It will be the goal of this class to foster an open and supportive communicative environment. No derogatory language or ridicule will be accepted and will result in the students’ removal from the class.

Disability Services

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students are encouraged to register with the Counseling and Disability Services office for possible assistance with accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to voluntarily and confidentially provide appropriate documentation regarding the nature and extent of a disability. Students requesting special accommodation are encouraged to contact Counseling and Disability Services (931-540-2572) at the beginning of the semester.

Readings

Because much of this class will be discussion-oriented, you will find it necessary to complete the assigned readings. Come to class prepared with thoughts, ideas and questions.

Communication

I will occasionally send valuable information for the course and will use only Columbia State email to do so. All students should have access to their Columbia State email account and should check it regularly. When contacting me via phone or email please allow 24-48 hours for response.

Speech Topics

You will select your own topic, to be approved by the instructor, for each speech. There will be no duplicate topics among students. It will be your responsibility to tell me your topic. They will be on a first, come first serve basis.

Assignments

All assignments to be turned in must be typed, double-spaced, 10-12 point font, 1-inch margins, stapled and proofread. Any outside sources must be included in a Works Cited page using MLA format.

Course Schedule- Fall 2007

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the creator.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by Columbia State Community College. If you have questions or comments,
please contact lbenns@columbiastate.edu.

This page was last updated on July 06, 2006