Hawaii Pacific University
COM 2640 Argumentation and Debate Section ____
Semester and year, meeting times
Instructor: Name, contact information and other relevant information about the instructor.
Course description: Basic argumentation theory including burden of proof, logical analysis, research,
strategies, and tactics of persuasive communication in the context of politics, business, and cultural
venues; gathering and weighing evidence, reasoning, case construction, refutation; presentation of
public address and debate.
Course prerequisite: COM 1200 and any Communication Skills A course
General Education Requirement: This course is classified under the Communication Skills Theme and
meets the requirement for a course in Communication Skills C: Other Communication Skills Courses.
General Education Student Learning Outcomes and the Five Themes: HPU’s general education
curriculum is focused around five themes. This course emphasizes the Communication Skills Theme and
provides students with opportunities to achieve the following related general education student
learning outcomes.
Students will analyze the way people communicate within and across cultures, genders, generations,
and organizations and develop skills in communicating across these domains. The course has significant
instruction in audience analysis and adaptation, which includes discussions of how difference and
identity, expressed through in various ways such as gender, ethnicity, and age, are integral elements of
debate. There is also an emphasis on organizational realities and how they impact one’s potential
effectiveness in various settings. Furthermore, the texts have extensive units on these areas and
practice debate assignments help enact these lessons through dynamic speaker/audience interactions.
Assessment is based on debates and examination questions.
Students will demonstrate critical reasoning in organizing thoughts, feelings, concepts, and information
for effective, clear, and accurate oral, written, non-verbal, visual, and electronic communication. The
text has specific readings on speech organization, non verbal communication, argumentation and critical
thinking, and persuasion. All of these areas receive extensive treatment in instruction. Students will
prepare and participate in several debate formats, all of which require critical thinking and
organizational skills. Students will also observe and critique other debates will should sharpen these
skills. Assessment is through grading of speeches, written work, and written examinations.
Students will develop the information literacy needed to determine the validity of information sources
and apply these skills in communication environments. The text has specific units on research skills, tests
for evidence, and speaker credibility. Extensive instruction is provided in these areas. Students also
learn to apply these principles in critiques of debates. Most debate formats require the use of library
research. Some of the assessment is integral to the debates. In addition, examinations will assess
students’ understanding of research and evidence.
Students will analyze the way we construct meaning and communicate it to others. The focus for
instruction is enhancing oral communication competence. Students receive multiple opportunities to
speak in various contexts before a dynamic audience and qualified critic, who provide feedback on the
speaker’s critical, strategic, and stylistic choices.
Note: Purple text shows places where specific course information must be filled in. Red text contains
explanatory notes to the instructor which should be deleted before using the syllabus. Blue explanations
above should be rephrased by the individual instructor to reflect the specific approach in that section of
the course. Course specific outcomes below are an example and may also be rephrased or modified by
the instructor.
Course-Specific Student Learning Outcomes for COM 2640 Argumentation and Debate
Through regular class attendance, participation, and conscientious application of course material,
students will learn:
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to construct clear, powerful, and complex arguments, both orally and in writing;
to assess the quality of arguments, both your own and others';
to evaluate information you find in your research, especially on the Web;
to engage in debate, vigorously and civilly;
to design debate formats that will fairly and efficiently achieve your purposes.
For the rest of these required syllabus items see the details in the faculty handbook. Delete this note
once the syllabus is complete. For online courses there are some additional requirements given at this
link.
Texts List textbooks with ISBN’s and include this language as well
All textbook information (pricing, ISBN #, and e-books) for this course can be found on the HPU
Bookstore website: hpu.edu/bookstore.
If you have any questions regarding textbooks, please contact the HPU Bookstore at:
Phone:
808-544-9347
Or e-mail:
jyokota@hpu.edu
mmiyahira@hpu.edu
Assignments and mode of evaluation
Summary of important dates and deadlines (if the schedule is a separate document and due dates are
not given with the description of the assignments).
Class rules and policies (including regarding attendance, late work and academic dishonesty)
Schedule of events (may be attached separately)