Coms 311: ARGUMENTATION

Syllabus Fall 2008

Instructor: Sandra Wheeler Abeyta, MA
Course: COMS 311, section 15248, Aug 23-Dec 18
Meetings: L 102 Monday and Wed from 1030am-1150
Office Hours: Mondays 10am-1030 in Fac 102 or L-102 and by appointment
Textbook: Advocacy & Opposition, 5th Ed. Rybacki & Rybacki, Allyn & Bacon

Course Description: This is a dynamic and fast-paced oral/written communication roller coaster! It is fun if you strap in safely by keeping up with your reading and assignments, but can get scary fast if you just throw up your hands and go! You'll learn to critically examine arguments, clash with opposition intelligently, analyze types of reasoning and logic and flow the interaction of live time debate. In addition you'll finesse public speaking techniques and polish your good grammar to explore useful research methods and styles.

Course Objectives:
#1: To design and relate messages clearly for effective and appropriate oral communication
• Argue for a position within the context and understanding of a specific debate format.
• Design and present an affirmative and negative debate case clearly and effectively.
• Use the library and online technologies to research debate topics and gather evidence to support negative and affirmative positions.
#2: To apply effective listening skills to comprehend spoken messages, analyze information critically and consider multiple perspectives
• Consider the audience to establish common ground in the construction of affirmative and negative arguments.
• Construct effective refutation to opposing viewpoints in a variety of debate formats.
• Assess rhetorical style differences and choose appropriate strategies for the composition and delivery of oral and written messages.

Conceptual Outline

Establish Argumental Foundation
Understand Reasoning
Understand Elements of Argument
Construct One's Own Argument
Communicate a Position to Audience Effectively
Engage in Reasoned Clash

General Course Policies
1. Attendance: Coming to class has a HUGE impact on your grade! It tells me how committed you are and conveys passion and interest. I award 5 points for each day JUST FOR COMING! Don't miss out, these points can't be made up and poor attendance will prevent you from passing this class and may result in an administrative drop.
2. Late Assignments: Assignments are due at the beginning of class. If they are not turned in at the beginning of class they will be considered late. I will accept late written assignments only with prior warning and only within one week after the original due date. Late work will be penalized one full letter grade (regardless of whether the assignment is two hours late or two days late). Exams, attendance, quizzes, partner evaluations, and presentations cannot be made up. NOTE: Speeches and presentations made on days that you show up late/leave early will be docked one half letter grade.
3. Cell Phones: Turn off your ringers please! Set them to vibrate or silent. If your cell phone continues to go off in class, I may administratively drop you for not following course procedures. Texting during class will be treated the same as talking verbally out of turn—it is disruptive and rude. You can be dropped for texting in class if it becomes disruptive.
4. Participation: A great deal of this class will involve the discussion of concepts and in-class activities. Many of the in-class activities will be given credit/no credit participation points. I expect every member of the class to fully participate.

Department/Campus Policies
Sexual Harassment:
Sexual harassment is offensive and illegal and will not be tolerated in the classroom! Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance or requests for sexual favors or any other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature in the work or college setting. Using profanity that consists of sexual innuendo or sexist language (a slur or pejorative towards a gender)are considered a "verbal" conduct that may be an unwelcome advance. If you feel that you have been the recipient or a witness of sexual harassment by any other student enrolled in the class, please report the concern immediately to the Instructor. The Instructor, the Dean or the school student conduct personnel will address a report of Sexual Harassment immediately in a confidential, professional manner.

Academic Honesty:
Los Rios Community College District values academic honesty. Current policies prohibit dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college. All members of the academic community are responsible for the academic integrity of the Los Rios College campus. Academic Honesty Process: 1. Faculty members have the right to choose whether or not to pursue suspected cases of plagiarism and cheating.2. When addressing plagiarism or cheating with reasonable evidence, the faculty member should notify the student of the concern.3. Faculty members may consult with other faculty, the Dean of the pertinent division, and the office of the Vice President for Student Services when determining whether plagiarism or cheating has occurred.4. In situations where cheating or plagiarism has occurred, the faculty member is to determine consequences in compliance with board policy and regulations, which prohibit dropping a student from a course. The consequences may be any of the following options: giving the student a verbal or written warning, giving the student an additional assignment, giving the student a zero on the assignment assigning a grade of F for the course determining other appropriate consequences that comply with board policy and regulations.5. In situations where cheating or plagiarism has occurred, the faculty notifies the Dean of the pertinent division, and the student that a “Referral for Student Code of Conduct Violation" will be filed through the Area Dean to the Office of VPSS.6. Students have the right to grieve an action that they feel violates their student rights.7. The office of the Vice President for Student Services (VPSS) shall be responsible for maintaining records related to cheating and plagiarism. Probation, suspension or expulsions are courses of action that may be determined by the College Disciplinary Officer in accordance with District policy. Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as representing the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise. Plagiarism consists in taking the words or specific substance of another work and either copying or paraphrasing without giving credit to the source.Plagiarism is applicable to written, oral, and artistic work. The following examples are some of the many forms plagiarism may take:1. Word-for-word copying of work written by someone else.2. Failure to give proper credit for ideas, statements of facts, or conclusions derived by another.3. Failure to use quotation marks when quoting directly form another, whether a paragraph, sentence, or phrase.4. Close and extended paraphrasing of another work without acknowledging the source. Definition of Cheating: Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means.The following are only some of the many forms cheating may take:1. Copying another’s work on a test, paper, or project.2. Using unauthorized materials in an exam or collaborating on work to be turned in for credit where the instructor disallows such collaboration.3. Taking an exam for another student, purposely allowing another student to copy during a test, or providing coursework for another student to turn in as his or her own effort.4. Submitting the same work in multiple classes for credit without permission from the instructor.

Emergency and Evacuation Procedures:
In the event of an emergency, the Instructor or another authorized person may need to follow the Emergency and Evacuation Procedures established within the policy of the campus and will require your compliance and cooperation. Typically, the Emergency and Evacuation Procedures are posted within the classroom. Each of the above policies is designed for your and each persons' safety with the intent for a rewarding academic experience possible.

Required Assignments:

Performance Assignments
Practice Parli Debate 10pts
Debate 1 -50pts
Debate 2 -50 pts

3 Text Material Exams: 3 @ 30 points each - 90pts
3 Lecture Material Quizzes 3 @ 10 points each - 30pts
Final Exam: 100pts

Written Assignments
Advocacy paper - 50pts
Library Assignment (Pass/Fail for each module) - 30pts
Parli Performance Evaluation- 10pts
Evidence Assignment -50 pts
Affirmative Case Assignment- 50pts
Negative Brief Assignment - 50pts
Letter to the Editor- Ex credit up t0 16 points
Blog - 50 points
“Your Choice” - 55pts

Critiques/In-Class Assignments - 25pts

Required Assignment Point Total - 700pts

Grading Scale:
A=90%-100%
B=80%-89%
C=70%-79%
D=60%-69%
F=below 60%

Assignment Descriptions At A Glance

Advocacy Paper:
In this paper you must identify a controversial subject, and advocate a well-reasoned position. A great place to start when selecting a topic is the Opposing Viewpoints Series. This paper should be 3-5 pages in length, contain at least two pieces of cited evidence (please use APA or MLA), and utilize correct grammar and spelling. Questions I will ask as I grade this paper include: Is the topic selected appropriate? Is the thesis of this paper clear? Are the “stories” advanced by both sides in this controversy identified? Is the writer’s position clearly stated (you must take a side!)? Is the research used to support the writer’s position credible and persuasive? Are the arguments advanced logical? In general, is this paper persuasive?

Practice Debate: This assignment will be graded on a pass/fail basis (demonstrating honest effort will earn you a “pass”). This debate is a no-pressure opportunity to try your hand at parliamentary debating.

Parli Performance Evaluation: Following your first parli (“practice”) debate, write a short (1-2 pages, typed) evaluation of your performance. Consider the following questions: 1) What were the key arguments presented by the government and opposition teams? 2) Overall, which team did a better job and why? 3) What were your strengths and weaknesses as a debater? 4) What two things will you do to improve for your next debate? This assignment is due the class following your debate.

Library Assignment: Students have to visit the library website and try to attend a library instructional session. Related assignments must be completed on-line at the CRC library website. Students must complete the assignments with a grade of 70% or higher (this assignment is graded on a pass/fail basis).

Evidence Assignment: This is will serve as preliminary research for the pro and con arguments you will construct regarding your end-of-the-semester debate topic. In compiling the evidence, you’ll develop at least 20 evidence summary sheets. This assignment is a MUST DO! If you don’t complete your own packet of evidence, I won’t assign you a case/brief construction partner. See packet for more information.

Affirmative Case Assignment: This is a detailed outline of the arguments and evidence to be used when you argue the affirmative, or pro, side of your debate topic.

Negative Brief Assignment: This is a brief outline of the arguments and evidence to be used when you argue the negative, or con, side of your debate topic.

Debates 1 and 2: With a partner, you will present a complete case regarding an aspect of your debate topic, be questioned on your position concerning the case, and respond in a rebuttal to your partner’s counter-argument. Each student will receive an individual grade. Please note: You will debate both pro and con positions during the course of the semester.

Letter to the Editor (up to 16points of extra credit + 5 points of extra credit will be given to letters published in the school, or other newspaper, by the end of the semester):
Write a letter to the editor of the school paper reacting to something in the CRC Connection. Did you read something that made you angry? Happy? Annoyed? Motivated? Let the editor know your thoughts! Letter length: 200 words maximum.
Include your name and phone number somewhere so that the paper can verify author authenticity (even if you want a pen name printed in the paper).
Submission Deadline: November 1

“Your Choice”: This assignment is worth 50 possible points (If you complete two of these assignments, one will be considered extra credit).
A. Analyze a persuasive speech. Follow my handout as a guide to putline this extensive research project. This paper must be typed and 6-8 pages in length. Be sure to attach a copy of the speech text you analyzed to your paper.

B. With a partner, participate in Parliamentary Debate at the Los Rios Intramural Forensics Tournament (date: TBA). By trying your best and staying for the entire tournament, you will automatically earn all 50 points possible. If your team places 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, you will receive 10 additional extra credit points. If you do not stay for the entire tournament, you will receive no points.

In-Class Assignments: As a member of this course, you will have the opportunity to listen to a number of presentations given by your peers. During the semester, you will be asked to give constructive feedback to classmates regarding their presentations. In addition, we will be completing several assignments in class that are essential to your learning in the course.

Blog: Weekly response and virtual discussion of key terms or issues from the classroom in a real-world scenario. Log on at comstwo.blogspot.com each week before Wed. class. No make up or late blogging--5 sentence minimum entry for credit.

Week at a Glance
Week One-Meet and Greet, Add and Drop--Read Chpt. 1,2

Week 2-Mon. Holiday
Wed. Lecture Chpt 1-3, Read Chpt. 3 - Assign Advocacy Paper

Week 3-
9/8 Mon. Advocacy Paper Due, lecture on Stock issues
9/10 Wed. Stock issues quiz, lecture on parli debate, hand out exam 1

Week 4-
9/15 Mon. Quiz on Parli Debate, form debate teams, practice
9/17 Wed. Exam 1 due, practice debates, read chpt 4, 5 & 6

Week 5-
9/22 Mon. performance evaluations due, practice debates
9/24 Wed. Performance evals due,practice debates

Week 6 -
9/29 Mon. Performance evals due, practice debates, chpt 4 lecture
10/1 Wed. - choose groups, agree on prop, exam 2 study guide,
Toulmin/Chpt 5 lecture (read 6 on you own, study "tests")

Week 7 -
10/6 Mon. Discuss positions, case, breif, take exam 2, finalize prop
10/8 Wed. Library assignment, Read chpt 7-8, work on evidence cards,

Week 8-
10/13 Mon. Bring in minimum of 10 articles of evidence for check/points, Toulmin, presidential race update/discussion, Toulmin Homework
10/15 Wed. Bring in research, finish cards, Toulmin Due, Read Chpt 9-10

Week 9 -
10/20 Mon. Evidence due, cross examinations discussed and practiced
10/22 Wed. Bring research, decide on debate teams, work on case/briefs

Week 10 -
10/27 Mon. Case Due Read Chpt 11-12
10/29 Wed. Reasoning, create debate schedule, assign brief details,

Week 11 - Election: VOTE!
11/3 Mon Brief due, fallacies explained, in-class work
11/5 Wed. Quiz 3 on fallacies,prep for 1st debate

Week 12 -
11/10 Mon. Holiday
11/12 Wed. Debate 1

Week 13 -
11/17 Mon. Debate 1
11/19 Wed. Debate 1

Week 14 -
11/24 Mon. Exam 3 Due, Debate 2 (Georgine?)
11/26 Wed. No class held, see blog for assignment

Week 15-
12/1 Mon Debate 2, Your Choice Paper due
12/3 Wed. Debate 2, hand out study guide for final

Week 16 -
12/8 Mon Debate 2
12/10 Wed Study for final

Week 17 - Comprehensive Final on Monday, 12/15. bring scantron 882