Course:  Argumentation – Speech 25
Instructor:  Angela Prelip
Email:  angela.prelip@fresnocitycollege.edu
Phone:  (559) 977-7959

Text:  Hollihan, T. A., & Baaske, K. T. (2005).  Arguments and arguing: The products and process of human decision making, 2nd ed.  Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc. 

Objectives:  
This course is designed to instruct students in the fundamentals of analysis, reasoning, advocacy and criticism of ideas.  There will be an emphasis on derived conclusions based on valid evidence and sound inferences without using fallacies of thought and language.  Students will demonstrate these basic principles through an oral presentation and written assignments.
At the end of this course students should be able to:
1.	Create propositions of value, fact and policy.
2.	Engage in group problem solving using rational arguments to settle disagreements.
3.	Create and deliver a speech on a public policy issue.
4.	Identify logical fallacies in both written and verbal discourse.
5.	Critically evaluate evidence presented in support of an argument.
6.	Critically evaluate reasoning presented in support of an argument.

ADVISORY: Eligibility for English 1A recommended.

Class Participation:  
This is an online hybrid course, which requires students to participate in discussion groups and critiquing exercises.  It is imperative that you participate in order to learn and support your classmates. Students will be expected to answer discussion questions which will be posted by the instructor in the discussion section.  Students are required to respond in detail to the discussion question(s) by the assigned due date. Points will be given for participation in discussion groups, critique postings and other posting assignments worth a total of 200 points.
Please note that all students are required to come to the Reedley Campus (room CCI 203) on the following dates:
June 9th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Orientation
July 19th from 10:00 – 2:00 p.m.  Speeches
July 26th from 10:00 – 2:00 p.m.  Speeches
All students are required to attend, so make sure you are available on those dates.  Except for an extreme emergency, there will be NO excuses.  A zero will result for non attendance. 

If a student decides to drop from this class, it is the students’ responsibility to complete the proper paperwork.

Late Assignments:  All assignments, exams and student speeches are expected to be completed on time as assigned; however, the instructor understands that there might be an occasion when a student must turn in an assignment late.  Any late assignment will be penalized two full grades.  Late exams and speeches will not be accepted.

Lectures:  For each chapter the instructor will place an MP3/Movie file for students to listen to.  These audio files will replace face to face class lectures.  Students will be responsible for listening to these files when posted.  
 
Quizzes:  There will be twelve quizzes worth 20 points each.  All quizzes should be taken on Blackboard.  Quizzes must be completed by the assigned due date.  The two quizzes with the lowest score will be thrown out (or counted as extra credit points).  Quizzes will focus on material presented from your textbook and Instructor’s Thoughts.  Students will not be allowed to makeup a quiz if they fail to complete the quiz by the date and time assigned.  Do not wait until the last moment to complete quizzes.  If Blackboard is down student are still expected to complete the quiz by the assigned due date. 

Assignments:  

Issues Analysis & Research Report
Oral presentation: 
Proposition of Policy
Defending the Opposition
Oral presentation will be 7 minutes in length and must include outline, brief and reference page in APA format.

Issue Analysis Papers:
Proposition of Fact
Proposition of Value
Papers must be 800 words in length and must include brief and reference page in APA format.
	
All topics must be approved by the instructor before paper or speech is turned in for a grade.  Guidelines for student’s presentation and papers will be found in Blackboard under Classroom Documents.

Plagiarism:  As stated in the Fresno City College 2006-2008 Catalog: “Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating: the use of another’s words or ideas without identifying them as such or giving credit to the source. Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, failing to provide complete citations and references for all work that draws on the ideas, words, or work of others, failing to identify the contributors to work done in collaboration, submitting duplicate work to be evaluated in different courses without the knowledge and consent of the instructors involved, or failing to observe computer security systems and software copyrights.  Incidents of cheating and plagiarism may result in any of a variety of sanctions and penalties, which may range from a failing grade on the particular examination, paper, project, or assignment in question to a failing grade in the course, at the discretion of the instructor and depending on the severity and frequency of the incidents.”
 Borrowing someone else’s words/work without proper citation is illegal and will not be tolerated!

Accommodations:  Please note, most of my emails and presentations will be in an audio format!  If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including alternate media requests, please notify your course instructor immediately.  Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.

Additional Policies
1.	Disagreements over grades should be resolved the day the grade is assigned.  NO grade changes will be made after this time.  There are no exceptions.
2.	Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, MP3 players or any other electronic device(s) before entering the classroom.  Such devices should NOT be used during class.  If a student is caught using a cell phone or any other communication device or electronic device that is not needed as part of an accommodation agreement, the student will be asked to leave the classroom.  If a student is caught a second time using any type of communication or electronic device during class, the instructor reserves the right to ask the student to leave and the student will not be allowed back to class for two class sessions.  If any student is asked to leave and not permitted back into class for two class sessions, a disruptive student report will be completed and filed with the proper Dean(s).  Any student that is required to miss two class sessions will not be allowed to make up any assignments or exams.
3.	Please come on time.  Never interrupt a student delivering a speech.  Wait until the student has finished his/her speech before you enter the classroom.

Grading:
Issues Analysis & Research Report			 	125 Points
Discussion Questions						200 Points				
Quizzes							200 Points
Proposition of Policy Speech					100 Points
Defending the Opposition Speech				125 Points
Proposition of Policy Paper					125 Points
Proposition of Value Paper					125 Points

Grading Scale
900 – 1000 points	A
800 – 899 points	B
700 – 799 points	C
600 – 699 points	D
599 or less points	F

Please note – This syllabus and schedule is subject to change.  

Reedley College
Speech 25: Course Outline
(This course outline is tentative.  Expect date changes)
Week 1 – June 9 
Orientation!! – will meet on Reedley College Campus Room CCI 203 from 6:30 – 8:30 
Read:	Assignment Guidelines- found in Course Documents
What is Plagiarism? - found in Course Documents
Chapters 1 through 3 in textbook
Lecture number 1
Discussion Questions

Week 2 – June 16
	Read chapters 4 through 7 in textbook
	Lecture number 2 and 3
Discussion Questions

Week 3 – June 23
	Read chapters 8 through 10 in textbook
	Lecture number 4
	Discussion Questions	
Post your ISSUES ANALYSIS & RESEARCH REPORT by midnight on June 20th.

Week 4 – June 30
	Read chapters 11 through 14
Lecture number 5
	Discussion Questions
Proposition of Policy Papers due by midnight on July 3

Week 5 – July 7
	Read chapter 15
Lecture number 6
	Discussion Questions

Week 6 – July 14
	Lecture number 7
	Discussion Questions
Proposition of Policy Speeches on July 19 at Reedley College, Room CCI 203 from 10:00 – 2:00

Week 7 – July 21
Lecture number 8
	Discussion Questions	
Defending the Opposition Speeches on July 19 at Reedley College, Room CCI 203 from 10:00 – 2:00

Week 8 – July 28
Lecture number 9
Discussion Questions
Proposition of Value Papers due by midnight on July 31