Communication ~~ Reedley College ~~ Spring 2019
Communication 25: Argumentation

Instructor:  James Bartram 
Cell Phone: 978-2154 
E-mail: james.bartram@reedleycollege.edu
My office hours are 5:00-5:50 Tuesdays in Soc 37-38. I will also be glad to meet before or after class, please contact me to make arrangements. 
 
	Required Materials: 

Textbook: 
ARGUMENTS+ARGUING
Author	
HOLLIHAN	

Edition	
3RD 16	

Published Date	
2016	

ISBN	
9781478629290	

Publisher	
WAVELAND	

Five scan-tron forms (882) 

Course Description
 
Argumentation is designed to provide students with the methods of critical inquiry and advocacy. Emphasis will be placed on analysis, presentation and evaluation of oral and written argumentation. This course focuses on identifying fallacies, testing evidence, and advancing a reasoned position while defending and refuting arguments. Students will write a minimum of 6,000 words during the course of the semester. This course fulfills the G.E. requirement for Critical Thinking (Foundation A3). G.E. credit requires a grade of “C” or better. (C-id designation Comm 120) This course has a prerequisite of completion of English 1A and Communication 1 is suggested.

Paperless Classroom

In an effort to save paper I do not hand out paper copies of the syllabus, class calendar, assignments or other course materials. I will make them available on Canvas for download. I also ask students to submit all final written work on canvas as well. For this reason, I have no problem with students using electronic devices to follow along with instructions and I urge students who prefer paper to print them before class.

 
Classroom Deportment
 
Each student is expected to respect the rights of the other students in the class and the instructor.  The exploration of controversial ideas is an essential component of this class. Students who do not behave in a respectful manner will be asked to drop the class.  When presentations are in progress students arriving late are to stay outside until the presentation is complete. Interrupting a presentation for any reason other than a severe emergency is inconsiderate and will not be tolerated. The use of electronic devices should be limited to following course materials and in class research. Do NOT take pictures, or otherwise record in class activity without permission. 

Student Rights
Students are encouraged to become familiar with the “Campus Policies” section of the Schedule of Courses.  This material includes information regarding cheating and plagiarism, disruptive classroom behavior, and other instructional issues. Students caught cheating in my class will receive a zero on the assignment and any assignment connected to that assignment (e.g. cheating on a debate will result in a zero on the debate, briefs, the reflection and on all audience evaluations). Any student caught cheating will also forfeit all participation points. In addition any student caught cheating will NOT be allowed to take the final exam.
Students with disabilities: If you have a verified need for an academic accommodation or materials in alternate media (i.e., Braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.     
Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 

1.	Critically formulate, advocate and evaluate oral arguments using logic, discriminating between valid and fallacious forms of reasoning in a variety of debate formats. 
2.	Construct and deliver dynamic, competent and ethical presentations that are adapted to the purpose and audience.
3.	Utilize organizational patterns and research materials that incorporate sufficient, credible, and relevant evidence. 
4.	Explain the principles of human communication by critically evaluating public speeches through constructive critique and self-analysis.	
Specific Course Objectives
 
 At the completion of the course the student will be able to:
1.	Recognize, develop, and defend arguments orally.
2.	Use research and organization to formulate arguments for oral presentation and refutation.
3.	Evaluate others’ arguments and oral presentations.
4.	Analyze audiences in order to formulate effective arguments. 
5.	Recognize fallacies and illogical arguments.
6.	Develop and advance a reasoned position on a debatable issue. 	
 
~~~
 This schedule and syllabus are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor – it is the responsibility of the student to check on announcements made during any absence.

“Per Title V Regulation 58170(e), students must be referred to academic support services by counselors or instructors. With this statement on my course syllabus, I am referring any students in my class in need of academic support to tutorial services. Tutorial services may include: the tutorial center, writing center or the communication lab. Referral reason: Mastering the content, study skills, and basic skills of this course is aided by the use of trained peer tutors.”

Assignments      
Graded Item	Points Possible	Score	
Introduction speeches	Credit/No Credit	 	
Advertising Arguments Presentation 
*Signature Assignment	50	 	
Advertising Arguments Opinion Handout 	20	 	
Toulmin Model Hand Out	50		
SP-AR Debates (2 @ 50 pts. each)
Spontaneous Argumentation Debates	100	 	
Argument of Fact Brief	25		
Argument of Fact Presentation	100		
Cooperative Debate
    (Individual 100 pts.)
    (Group presentation & Dyad work 25 pts.)
    (Win 15 pts.)
    (Peer Evaluation 10 pts.)
*Signature Assignment	150	 	
Cooperative Debate Briefs with Claims
25 pts each	50	 	
Audience Evaluations (Flow Sheets)	25	 	
Participation	100		
Movie Argument Analysis	30	 	
Quiz 1  	50	 	
Quiz 2  	50	 	
Quiz 3	50		
Quiz 4	50		
Final  	100	 	
Total Points Possible 	1000	 	
        *Signature Assignments – are indicated above. 

The following numerical guidelines will be used in the assignment of final grades.
 
The instructor reserves the right to increase points for students who are on the margin; this will be done on the basis of attitude and participation throughout the semester and is solely at the discretion of the instructor.

900-1000   =    A
800-899     =    B
700-799     =    C
600-699     =    D
599- 0        =    F

Grade Checks and Canvas - Grades are kept as current as possible and you may check them with me before or after class or my email. I post a second set of grades on Canvas. Canvas will also be used for course documents and announcements.  
Just a Note Regarding My Teaching Philosophy
If you are absent do not approach me to ask “what did we do when I was gone?” Each student must assume full responsibility for all notes, assignments or announcements made during class.  I cannot and will not re-teach a lesson in my office or in the hallway before or after a class. My power point presentations are for students who come to class – students who are not in class will have to rely on the book or notes from a friend. Just because you miss class when an assignment is given out or when an assignment is due does NOT excuse you or extend the due date. 
Attendance
 
Due to the nature of this course, attendance is important. Roll will be taken at each class session.  I will drop anyone who misses the first day of class. I will also drop anyone who misses the second day of class. Per college policy I can drop any student who misses 4 class periods. If a student misses 4 classes prior to the drop date I will drop that student. Roll will be taken at each class session.  Class points will be drastically reduced by absences. Understanding that perfect attendance can only happen in a perfect world each student is allowed one week of absences (for example in a class meeting 2 days a week that is 2 absences). I will no longer investigate or decide if an absence is excused or not. Every student has one week of freebies – after that I will deduct 25 points for EVERY absence regardless of reason. These points will come from your participation points first. If points exceed participation points I will deduct from your audience evaluation points. Once participation points are depleted students will NOT be allowed to earn extra credit OR take the final exam. Make sure you understand this – you have a free week of absences after that all absences will deduct points as stated. NO EXCEPTIONS!!  Arriving late to class and leaving early are unacceptable and will result in a reduction of participation points. Four tardies or early departures are equivalent to one absence. It is the students’ responsibility to keep track of their absences. If you know in advance that you will be absent please inform the instructor so that accommodations can be made for speeches or quizzes prior to your absence. Also understand that notifying the instructor does not excuse the absence and any assignment due during that absence MUST be made up prior to not after the fact.  

Please be aware that I WILL enforce this policy and will not make exceptions! 
It is your responsibility to keep track of your absences and tardies 
I will not give warnings.  

Late and Missed Assignments
 
I do NOT accept any handwritten papers.
I have a very strict policy on late work.
ALL WORK IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS – or at the time designated on Canvas. DO NOT COME IN LATE AND ASSUME I WILL ACCEPT YOUR WORK. 
Also if the door is locked do not come through the lab door – you are officially absent and your work will not be accepted. Doors will be locked on presentation days.  

Additional Point Assignments
 
In addition to the assignments I will be offering limited extra credit assignments. They will be briefly announced in class and posted on Canvas. It is the student’s responsibility to look them up and turn them in by the deadline posted on Canvas.  Extra credit assignments submitted by students who have missed signature assignments (see list of assignment for *signature assignment designation) will not be accepted. In addition, students who have six or more absences will not be allowed to earn extra credit or take the final exam. The sole purpose of extra credit assignments is to enhance learning not to take the place of assignments.   

Brief Descriptions of Assignments:

Toulmin’s Model Handout: Students will complete a handout outlining several arguments. Understanding Toulmin’s model is vital in understanding how arguments are constructed. This handout will give practice in examining how arguments are constructed. 
 
Advertising Arguments: Students will prepare a presentation no longer than 5 minutes in which they will illustrate to the class how arguments are made in advertisements. Grading will be based on presentation, a handout showing the claim and your opinion. These presentations will be assigned and must be presented on their assigned dates. I will not allow extensions or make ups. 
 
Movie Analysis: In class we will view a movie that makes several claims. Students will take notes and evaluate the arguments set forth by the movie. A two-page evaluation and explanation of the arguments will be turned in at the beginning of class.
 
Debates & Presentations: Debate and presentation dates will be pre-assigned. I do not allow anyone to give their debates on a day other than their assigned date. Do not ask for an extension. If you are unable to present on your assigned date you will be given a 0 on that presentation. I will only allow make up presentations for severe medical excuses. Make ups will be on the basis of time available. Debates will include SPAR and Cooperative formats. Each student will participate in 2 spar debates. SPAR stands for SPontaneous ARgumentation.  These debates are short impromptu debates. Students will also participate in a mini group debate preparing claims and data in a written format. Finally each student will also participate in one Cooperative Debate. The cooperative debate will be a group assignment where a dyad will formally debate another dyad on a controversial local, national or world issue. These debates will follow competitive Debate format and will be researched in advance. More information regarding the grade distribution and formats will be given in class at a later time.

Quizzes & Final: There will be 4 quizzes and a final exam in this class. The final exam is comprehensive but will only contain items either previously tested or from the final content of the course. Material for the exams will come from lectures, reading assignments and class discussions. 
 
Finals:  Finals are held in the same classroom but not necessarily at the same time. Please note schedule below so that you are aware of the time and date of your final. I will also NOT allow students to take the final prior to finals week, unless there is a verifiable MEDICAL reason. Some students may not be allowed to take the final due to plagiarism, cheating, attendance or lack of completing all signature assignments. 
Final is comprehensive and will cover all content from the course. Students with 810 points or more in the course will not need to take the final.
** Signature Assignments: Assignments designated as signature assignments must be completed in order to earn extra credit or take the final exam. Students who do not earn a grade on any signature assignment will not be allowed to take the final exam and will not be allowed to earn extra credit. These assignments are also used to assess Student Learning Outcomes.