Philosophy, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
York University
Fall Winter 2019-2020 Course Outline
MODR 1770 B & H Techniques of Persuasion
Term: Y
Section B
Mon, 2:30pm, ACW 304
Section H
Wed, 11:30am, HNE 035
Office hours: My office is S414A Ross. For information about office hours please check the
course’s Moodle page or what’s displayed on my office door.
Course Director: Dr. Alexandru Manafu alexman@yorku.ca I prefer live communication over
email. If you must email me, then do it me from the same email address that's associated with
your Moodle.
Prerequisite / Co-requisite: None
Required Course Text / Readings:
● Influence: Science and Practice. by Robert Cialdini. Publisher: Allyn and Bacon; 5th
edition (August 8, 2008). ISBN-10: 0205609996. Available at the University Bookstore.
● Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills – Canadian Seventh Edition. by:
William Hughes; Jonathan Lavery; Broadview Press. ISBN: 9781554811991 /
1554811996. Available at the University Bookstore.
● A selection of materials which will be made available in PDF on Moodle.
Expanded Course Description:
This is an interdisciplinary course in which we will look at persuasion along both its logical and
psychological dimension. Along the logical dimension, you will learn about the standards of
good reasoning in everyday life, as well as in science; you will develop a set of skills that will
allow you to recognize and make good arguments, recognize and avoid bad arguments, as well
as criticize arguments and ideas effectively. Along the psychological dimension, we will look
at the underlying factors that influence people’s decisions. Using a range of examples from
the world of marketing and advertising, politics, the media, etc., we will investigate the 6
principles that social psychologists have found to govern social influence and persuasion. As
part of the coursework you will analyze the persuasion around us and also create persuasion
yourself.
Organization of the Course:
Classes will include a combination of lecturing, class discussion, work at the board, as well as
interactive problem-solving.
Course Learning Objectives:
This is a practical course which aims to help you build your critical thinking and persuasive
argumentation skills. By the end of this course, you will:
● Be able to formulate and evaluate arguments, as well as to refute them.
● Be able to analyze persuasion productions around us using the principles that govern
the psychological dimension of persuasion (reciprocation, social proof, commitment
and consistency, liking, authority, scarcity).
● Recognize fallacies in reasoning.
● Be able to distinguish between good science and questionable science or
pseudoscience.
● Become a better arguer and persuader.
Weighting of Course:
6 Wiki entries: 12%
4 Homework assignments: 32%
1 Final project: 16%
2 End of term Moodle exams: 30%
Participation: 10%
Penalty points:
1% off if you ask me a question whose answer was given by me in class, or is demonstrably in
the course outline or on Moodle.
I prefer live communication over email. If you must email me, then do it me from the same
email address that's associated with your Moodle. 1% off if you email me from an email
address that’s different from the one you have on Moodle.
1% off for every email that does not respect email etiquette.
NOTE: The grading scheme above will be respected strictly. I do not typically go back and
revise the grades of students, nor do I allow students to do extra work to boost their marks.
The main reason for this is my commitment to treat all students equally, and the fact that I
like to stick to the grading scheme above.
Additional Information:
Wiki entries
At the end of each set of lectures addressing one psychological persuasion principle (there will
be 6 such sets), you will write an individual wiki entry about a persuasion production you have
found which exemplifies that principle. You may write about examples of persuasion that you
find in everyday life: at a store, in the mall, in a YouTube video, a web article, a picture, a
poster, an advertisement, a podcast, a radio show, a passage from a book, a newspaper/online
magazine article, etc. Word count: 250-500 words. Each entry is worth 2%, which will be
awarded automatically (no grading) to all and only to those entries that are reasonably well
prepared.
Homework assignments
There will be 4 homework assignments throughout the year, divided equally between
semesters. The feedback on these assignments will be offered through Moodle, and the
assignments’ solutions will be discussed in the subsequent class.
End of term Moodle exams
Each term there will be one exam, to be written during the standard examination period. The
exams will be administered through Moodle, and students will need a working computing
device and access to Moodle to take them.
Final project
At the end of the course there will be a project under the form of a creative assignment. In
this assignment you will have to create a written document by which you will try to convince
the general public/segment of the general public/representatives of an institution to either
adopt or reject a certain standpoint with regard to a matter you care about. Word limit:
around 2000 words.
Participation
The grade for participation (10%) will be broken down into Attendance (5%) and Engagement
(5%). Attendance will be taken randomly throughout the year, so to get the best grades for
attendance students will have to make an effort to attend every class. There will be 10
attendances taken throughout the year, each worth 0.5% (totaling 5%). Engagement involves
sharing personal viewpoints, answering to instructor’s questions, bringing up questions,
problems, exercises, demanding clarification for concepts, suggesting alternate solutions,
making connections, making observations, and in general being active in class.
Late assignments
The penalty for late wiki entries and final project is 10% of the value of the assignment/day.
Due to the fact that the answers to the homework assignments will be revealed on Moodle
and feedback will be provided in the following class, no late homework assignments will be
permitted.
Extensions
If you get sick or encounter other incapacitating problem before a deadline and are intending
to ask for an extension please talk to me before the deadline explaining your situation and
attaching the relevant documentation. No extensions will be provided post deadline.
Missed exams
If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to write your exam, you are required to
talk to me or email me before the exam takes place explaining your situation and attaching
the relevant documentation. If you have missed your exam due to unforeseen circumstances
you have to talk to me or email me explaining your situation and attaching the relevant
documentation. Make-up exams will be organized only in special circumstances, if there are
serious and sufficient reasons for doing so.
Technology
In this course we will use Moodle and other online tools for learning. Students are expected
to have with them in class a functional computing device: laptop (ideal), tablet (OK),
smartphone (might work too). In addition to any other form of submission that might be
requested, all coursework must be submitted through Moodle.
Student questions
Students are encouraged to feel free to interrupt and ask questions before/during/after the
lectures, and also during office hours, which can also be requested by appointment.
Office hours
The office hours are displayed at the top of this document. Students are encouraged to come
to the office hours and ask questions about the concepts taught in the course, homework
assignments, or anything they deem necessary. To accommodate students’ schedule, the
office hours can also be set by appointment.
(the area below is auto populated)
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION
The Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards Web site provides an important
read, the: STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET.
The Student Information Sheet includes:
● York’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures/Academic Integrity Website
● Access/Disability
● Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants
● Religious Observance Accommodation
● Student Conduct Standards
Additional information:
● Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
● Alternate Exam and Test Scheduling
● Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy
The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that (a) the grading scheme (i.e.
kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in
writing, within the first two weeks of class, and that, (b) under normal circumstances, graded
feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for
‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior
to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade (see the policy for
exceptions
to
this
aspect
of
the
policy
http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/gradfeed.htm
“Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades distribution
profiles.”
If Term Test will be held outside of regularly scheduled class time, include announcement of
day, date and time here (e.g., Saturday, October 28, 2006, 10 am to 11:30, room TBA).
●
"20 % Rule"
No examination or test worth more than 20% of the final grade will be given during the last
two weeks of classes in a term, with the exception of classes which regularly meet Friday
evenings or on the weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday at any time). (Approved by Senate,
November 28, 1996)