235 Syllabus

Dr. Gass

HCOM 235

Spring 2009

Essentials of Argumentation

General Information

Office: College Park, room 420-5 (4^th floor)

Office Hours: Tues 10:00-11:= 15 am & 2:30-3:20 pm, Wed 1:00-2:30, Thurs 10:00-11:15 am & 2:30-3:30 pm,= or at other times by prior appointment.

Phone: 714-278-3269

E-mail:= rgass@fullerton= .edu =

We= bsite: http://= commfaculty.fullerton.edu/rgass

Text and = Readings

Rybacki, K., & Rybacki, = D. (2008). Advocacy and Opposition: An Introduction to Argumentation, 6^th. Ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.

Course Aims & Goals

Tools of argumentative inquiry and advocacy are essent= ial to a wide range of human communicative activities. This course is designed to improve students’ critical thinking skills through practice in analyzing arguments, applying tests of evidence, understanding types and forms of reasoning, identifying fallacies in reasoning, and arguing about controvers= ial public policy issues.

For specific General Educati= on learning goals see the online link.

Assignments and Requirements

Papers: You must write one argumentative essay.&nb= sp; Two options are available.

Option 1: Causal reasoning analysis (4-6 pages, 25% of course grade). Select a causal controversy on a public policy issue and conduct an analysis of the causal inferences being = made and the evidence used to support those inferences. Identify the alleged cause(s) and the type of causal argument(s).&nbs= p; Identify the alleged effect(s) or consequence(s). Evaluate the strength or qualit= y of the causal inference being made. You needn’t agree with the causal inference, you may refute it= .

Option 2: Refutational Essay (4-6 pages, 25% total of total grade) Select one of the target essays provided by the instructor and write a direct refutation of the author's major arguments. You shou= ld rebut the author’s analysis, apply tests of evidence, point out fallacies in reasoning, and identify weaknesses in inferential leaps. To conduct a thorough refutation y= ou will need to conduct outside research to locate evidence indicting t= he author's position. If you rely on websites for information, make sure the sources are qualified experts in the fields in which you are quoting them.<= o:p>

Exams: Three exams will be given during the semester. Each exam is weight= ed equally. The exams are non-cumulative. The tests wil= l be in multiple choice format.

Test 1: 40-60 multiple-choic= e questions (25% of course grade)

Test 2: 40-60 multiple choice questions (25% of course grade)

Test 3: 40-60 multiple choice questions (25% of course grade)

Extra Credit Assignments: several opportunities to earn extra credit will be provided throughout the semester. You are strongly encouraged to com= plete these assignments to enhance your learning experience. Extra credit assignments count tow= ard your score on the next exam. = The parameters for these assignments and their weight will be announced in clas= s.

Grading System and Plus/Minus Gr= ades

You will receive a letter grade on all assignments. Letter grades may include “+” and "-" designations. Letter grades correspond to a R= 20;4.0” point scale (A =3D 4.0; A- =3D 3.7; B+ =3D 3.3; B =3D 3.0; B- =3D 2.7; C+ = =3D 2.3; C =3D 2.0; C- =3D 1.7; D+ =3D 1.3; D =3D 1.0; D- =3D 0.7; F =3D 0.0. Your overall semester grade is the= based on the combined, weighted letter grades you receive on the individual assignments. For example, if = you received a “B” (3.0) on a test worth 25% of your course grade, = the weighted value would be 3.0 X .25 =3D .75.= A grade of C+ (2.3 on a paper worth 25% of your grade would be 2.3 X= .25 =3D .575.

A hypothetical student’= ;s grade might work out as follows:

Argumentative essay: &= nbsp; B- &= nbsp; (2.7) X &= nbsp; 25% =3D &n= bsp; = ; .675

Test 1: = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; C+ &= nbsp; (2.3) X &= nbsp; 25% =3D &n= bsp; = ; .575

Test 2: = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; B &= nbsp; (3.0) X &= nbsp; 25% =3D &n= bsp; = ; .75

Test 3: = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; A &= nbsp; (4.0) X &= nbsp; 25% =3D &nbs= p; = 1.0

Se= mester Grade: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; = Total =3D &= nbsp; 3.0 (B)

Attendance and Participation

You may miss a maximum of four class meetings without penalty.&n= bsp; Additional absences will result in a one letter-grade reduction in y= our course grade, per absence, subject to the discretion of the instructor. If you are tardy or leave class ea= rly you will be counted absent. Absences do not excuse you from assignments due on the dates = of an absence. Your participatio= n and enthusiasm in class discussions, exercises, and homework assignments will be taken into account if you are between grades at semester’s end.

Late Assignments and Make-Up Exa= ms

A make-up exam will be given only if a serious, compelling, and verifiable cause (such as an acute medical emergency) can be demonstrated, and the student has made every reasonable effort to contact the instruc= tor beforehand. Make-up exams will not be given for reasons such as car trouble, work schedu= ling conflicts, family or relationship crises, or non-school related travel plans. All assignments should= be submitted in class, at the beginning of class, on their scheduled due dates. Assignments that are submitted one class meeting late will be docked one letter grade. Assignments that are submitted two= class meetings late will be accepted for half-credit. Assignments will not be acc= epted two class meetings beyond their due date.

Writing Style

All written assignments should be typed, double-spaced= and carefully proofread for grammatical, typographical, and spelling errors. You should submit a “hard= 221; copy of all written assignments. You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as on the content or substance of your ideas.

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating will not be tolerated. Cheating on a test= or submitting a paper that is not your own, original work will result in a fai= ling grade. Plagiarism involves taking credit for the work of another without gi= ving due credit to that source. A complete reference must be provided whenever you refer to= the ideas, words, statistics, or other information from another source. All direct quotations must be in quotation marks and include a page number (or paragraph number for online sources).

G.E. Credit

This course satisfies the General Education requiremen= t in critical thinking. To fulfill= the G.E. requirement you must receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or bette= r in the class. A semester grade of “C-” (1.7) does not fulfi= ll the G.E. requirement.

Students with Special Needs

I am happy to make reasonable accommodations for stude= nts with special needs. The Unive= rsity requires students with disabilities to register with the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS), located in UH-101 (714-= 278 -3112). Students requesting accommodations should inform the instruc= tor during the first week of classes about any disability or special need that may require specific arrangements/accommodations related to attending class sessions, completing course assignments, writing papers or quizzes/tests/examinations.