SPCH 6, Spring 2010, TR 6:50-10:00pm, C103, Section #5785
Argumentation is an incredibly important activity. Developing argumentation skills and knowledge will help you improve your critical thinking skills while in college, help you work with your organizations, and help you move your community and family in positive directions. Thanks for being here—I hope you enjoy the class and learn a lot!
If you would like more time on debate areas--Pasadena has a debate lab course (SPCH 5B). Sign up for the course - This is a great way to get extra tutoring for the class.
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This course is designed to increase your ability create logical arguments and debate them effectively. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Students will be able to construct appropriate factual, value, and policy claims.
Students will be able to research and evaluate evidence.
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Students will be able to discriminate between valid and fallacious arguments.
Students will be able to build and advocate positions effectively.
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By entering this course and accepting this syllabus, students are asked to adhere to three tenets of learning:
1. Students agree to come to class on time, prepared, and ready to contribute to active discussion with comments and questions.
Students will seek out the instructor, or whatever resources necessary, to succeed in this course.
Students are here because they want to be here. Therefore, students will put forward their best efforts in order to succeed.
1) Cantrell, D. & Brickey, B. (2009). Up For Debate: U.S. Foreign Policy Towards the Greater Horn of
Africa. Los Angeles: Picket Fence Memories (ISBN: 978-0-9822898-0-8) - Available on

Amazon.com – will be needed a few weeks into class.
1. Quizzes: Three quizzes will be given that cover the readings, class lectures, class discussion, and in-class exercises. The quizzes may include multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions. No make-up quizzes will be given. Arrangements should be made by students to take an alternative essay early if they cannot attend class the day it is assigned. Alternative arrangements will be made for students who miss an exam if they have a valid, verifiable, compelling excuse, such as a medical problem verified by a doctor’s note.
2. Communication Exercises/Skills: Individuals cannot improve their communication skills unless they practice new skills and receive feedback on their performance. Therefore, all students must participate in skill practice sessions in class and demonstrate an attempt to master the skills being presented. Because of time restrictions, in-class skill cannot be made up. Since a large part of this class involves practicing communication skills, it is important that you attend and participate in class exercises. Participation points will be awarded on the basis of participating in a variety of in-class exercises, three journals, skill builders, and discussion.
3. Reaction Papers: Each student is required to complete two argumentation and debate papers. Each paper should be typed, double spaced, and proof-read. The first paper will explore a concept from unit I whereas the second reaction paper will explore your reaction to a debate. Handouts will be given in class to further clarify the papers.
4. Debate: Each student is required to participate in 3 debates. These debates will be one-on-one on the
Africa topic as explained in class. There will be ample opportunity to practice parts of the debate and prepare ahead of time for the topic. The debate will be discussed more in-depth later in the semester.
Point Summary:
Communication Exercises/Skills
Quiz #1
Reaction Paper #1
Debate #1
Quiz #2
Debate #2
Reaction Paper #2
Debate #3
Quiz #3/Final Exam
Pts
Total Possible - ___/400 points
Due Date:
___/75
___/25 3/25
___/50 4/1
___/25 4/15
___/25 5/6
___/50 5/13-5/20
___/50 5/27
___/50 6/3-6/10
___/50 6/17

The following table indicates the number of points and the percent of total possible points associated with each grade.
Grade Percent
A
B
C
90-100%
80-89.9
Total
(320-359 points)
(280-319 points)
(360-400 points)
D
70-79.9
60-69.9
F 59.9 or below
(240-279 points)
(0 -239 points)
I do not change grades unless I have made a mathematical error. I am happy to talk with you about how you can enhance your performance, but I will not argue with you about a grade I have given. Any discussion of grades will be held privately between the individual student and the instructor; class time will not be used as a forum to address these concerns.
Furthermore, the point total that you receive at the end of the semester is your final grade. I do not
bump up students 1 or 2 points to the next grade. Please take advantage of extra credit opportunities.
There will be ample opportunity for extra credit assignments in this course. Some examples of extra credit opportunities: Observing or competing in an intercollegiate debate tournament/Reactions to opinion or editorials/extra reaction papers. All extra credit opportunities will be made available to the entire class and announced only during class. ALL EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TURNED IN BY JUNE 17.
The debate format that we will be using is called NFA-LD which stands for the National Forensics
Association-Lincoln Douglas debate format. Additional handouts will be given explaining the event in more detail. For our class we will be using the 2007-2008 topic which was:
RESOLVED: That the United States Federal Government should substantially increase assistance to the Greater
Horn of Africa in one of the following areas: economic development, human rights protection, or public health.
As part of my work with the Speech and Debate team I run a blog called SoCal-LD that you may find useful at: http://www.SoCal-LD.net
NOTE: You may not print evidence from this website to turn in for your
assignments. Please do your own research so you gain the most from this class. Turning in evidence printed from the website will be considered plagiarism with appropriate disciplinary action.
For our debates we will be drawing upon the chapters written by 9 students from around the country in the book
Up For Debate: U.S. Foreign Policy Towards the Greater Horn of Africa (Cantrell & Brickey, 2009) –
ISBN: 978-0-9822898-0-8). This book is available for $14.99 on amazon.com. You will need a copy of the book to complete your debate assignments for this class. Please purchase it as soon as feasible to ensure there are no shipping delays.

1. A course in argumentation and debate necessarily requires disagreement on important issues. If we all agreed on controversial areas it would not be a controversy. As such, it is important to always treat everyone in the class with the upmost respect – especially when you strongly disagree with a comment made by someone else. The beauty of argumentation and debate is that it provides a forum for structured disagreement to allow tough discussions to take place. NOTE: you will be asked to leave the class if your
attitude towards other students is disrespectful. Please see additional handout.
2. Speech 6 is a survey course that meets the General Education for Oral Communication requirement. You must receive a "C" or higher to get general education credit that is transferable to a university. All requirements and assignments must be completed to receive a passing grade for this course. Use the grading register to keep track of your progress in this course. As your instructor, your success in this class is very important to me. Therefore, please feel welcome to contact me at any time to discuss your progress and/or current grade in the course.
3. Regular attendance is crucial for your success in this course. According to school policy, a student is considered excessively absent and subject to exclusion from class when the hours of absence exceed twice the total weekly hours. For classes that meet twice a week this equates to four class meetings. According to school policy, absences are excused for verifiable illness, injury, or quarantine, approved educational field trips or school activities. This class supports a positive classroom environment. In order to support this environment and to minimize disruptions, please arrive to class on time and turn off cell phones and pagers before entering the room.
4. All of the assignments in this course will be announced and explained sufficiently in advance to allow students ample time to complete assignments. All assignments are to be turned in on the due date at the beginning of class. Please plan accordingly and complete assignments early if possible, to avoid any last minute problems. Late assignments may be submitted for full credit only when serious, compelling, and verifiable cause can be shown (such as a doctor’s note). Otherwise, no late papers. Papers should be typed, double-spaced, and proofread. If you have concerns, or difficulty completing any assignment,
please see me prior to the assignment due date. Students may submit any course assignments prior to the due date for feedback.
5. Academic Honesty: Academic honesty is expected at all times. Cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty, is grounds for disciplinary action. This means you will not copy from another person's exam, written skill exercises, journal, or paper and that you will not allow another person to copy your exam, written skill exercises, journals or papers. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are unacceptable and will be dealt with according to school policy.
6. Incompletes: Incompletes will be given only when all course requirements and college policies are met. It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdrawal from a class whenever the student determines that he or she can no longer attend the class. Students who stopped attending, but do not administratively withdraw from a course may receive an “F” grade.

Speech 6 – Spring 2010 -
Date: Topic:
2/25
3/4
3/11
3/18
Introduction to Argumentation
Critical Thinking, Reasoning & Refutation
Ethics & Delivery
Arguments, Evidence & Research
3/25
4/1
4/8
4/15
Notes
Introduction to Academic Debate
Affirmative Case Construction
Cross Examination, Flowing & Case Lab
Debate #1
Quiz #1
Reaction Paper #1
4/22
4/29
5/6
5/13
5/20
5/27
6/3
6/10
Spring Break
Negative Case Structure - Disadvantages
Persuasion Quiz #2
Debate #2 – Day 1/2
Debate #2 – Day 3/4
Negative Case Structure – Counterplans Reaction Paper #2
Debate #3 – Day 1/2
Debate #3 – Day 3/4
6/17 FINAL EXAM
NOTE: The final exam period is on Thursday, June 17, from 6:50-8:50pm in our normal meeting place.
*Schedule subject to change.