Pasadena City College
Speech 6: Argumentation and Debate
Winter 2008
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2:00-5:00
Instructor: Stephanie Fleming (Hood)
Phone: 626-585-3214
Office: C 109
Email: slhood@pasadena.edu *this is the best way to reach me!!!!
Office Hours: by appointment
TEXTBOOK:
Freeley, A.J. & D.L. Steinberg. Argumentation and debate: Critical thinking for reasoned decision
making (11th ed). Wadsworth/Thomson Learning: Belmont, CA.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Construct appropriate factual, value, and policy claims associated with substantial social and
political issues in both oral and written forms.
2. Research and evaluate evidence from a variety of sources bearing on relevant claims.
3. Discriminate between valid and fallacious argument types in oral and written forms.
4. Build sound and effective arguments in oral and written forms.
5. Utilize proper vocabulary, nonverbal and verbal delivery skills in a variety of debate and
discussion formats.
6. Advocate positions effectively in both oral and written forms.
COURSE CONTENT: Though there are various ways of teaching argumentation, from a classical
approach to a very rhetorical approach, I utilize the format of teaching debate as the means of
instructing the skills of argumentation. During the semester, each student will be expected to
debate at least two times. Students will also be asked to learn and apply argumentation and
rhetorical theories.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is important and therefore required. If a student is not in attendance,
that student will not have an understanding of the material. Missing lectures is directly correlative
to how one does in the class. The teaching of argumentation is a cumulative process.
Each unexcused absence will result in a 5 point deduction from the final grade total.
Arriving late or leaving early: 2 tardies or early departures equal one unexcused absence.
Excused absences must be documented. (doctor’s note, etc.)
The one restriction on attendance: it is mandatory that students be in attendance on the days
they are debating. An absence on the day(s) of your debate not only is an injustice to your
opponent and your partner (for team debates}, but also puts the entire schedule behind. Any
debates you will be participating in will be given ample lead time notice to make any
arrangements necessary. If you miss your scheduled debate, you may not be allowed to make up
the points missed.
WRITTEN WORK: Assignments must be turned in on time. All assignments are due at the
beginning of class on the dates indicated in the syllabus or in class. I do not accept late
assignments unless prior arrangements have been made.
THE SOCIAL CONTRACT: means that both students and instructor will work to create a
supportive, exploratory and intellectually challenging academic community. This demands
preparation for class discussions and commitment to the full participation in all engagements as
well as providing sensitive, critical response to the work of your colleagues. Do not use electronic
devices such as cellular phones or beepers in class. If you interrupt a fellow student’s speech
(cell phone, entering late, etc.), your grade for that speech will be reduced.
ACADEMIC HONESTY is the cornerstone of college-level education. Plagiarism is generally
defined as the act of using someone else’s ideas, words, or organization without giving them due
credit. Any student caught plagiarizing material will be prosecuted to the full extent of the
College’s guidelines (Please see the student handbook). You must clearly distinguish your ideas
and words from the work of others. Under no circumstances should a student use work from
another source and claim it as her or his own. I take cheating very seriously and the
consequences are real. Don’t do it.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Each assignment will be graded on a 100 point scale and then the assignments will be weighted
according to the following breakdown:
10%
VALUE AFFIRMATIVE CASE: Following the lectures on Value Debate, each
student will write an Affirmative, learning to employ proper structure and advocacy.
The topic will be from the same area as the student has chosen for the actual debates.
Length and format will be discussed. Two copies will be turned in. It is imperative
the student rum this in on time. The penalty for turning this in late is 50 POINTS, if
turned in within one week after the due date.
10%
VALUE CASE RESPONSE: Each student will receive an affirmative written by
another student on the same topic. The student will have one week to write a
response to the arguments made by the other student. Turning this in late equals a 25
point reduction, if turned in within one week after the due date.
15%
DEBATE #1: Students will participate in parliamentary style debate. Students will
be paired in teams of 2 for this debate. Students will have ample time to prepare
possible arguments. While speaking ability is factored into your grade,
demonstrating the skills that you have learned in formulating arguments and
responses will be the primary focus for your grade.
10%
MIDTERM EXAM: An exam consisting of multiple question styles.
10%
POLICY CASE CONSTRUCTION: Each student will be asked to turn in a copy
of his or her policy affirmative case. A failure to turn the policy case late will result
in no credit earned on this assignment.
20%
DEBATE #2: Students will participate in parliamentary style debate. Students will
be paired in teams of 2 for this debate. Students will have ample time to prepare
possible arguments. While the grading focus for this debate is similar to Debate
#1, I am expecting that your skills have matured. Therefore, this debate is worth
a larger percentage of your overall grade in the course.
10%
FINAL EXAM: An exam consisting of multiple question styles.
15%
JOURNAL: The journal is a collection of various assignments that students will
complete both in class and on their own. Entries must be legible, clearly labeled,
organized properly, and place in a folder. I will check the journals twice: on the
day of the midterm, and on the last class meeting for the semester. Late journal
entries are not accepted.
Final grade total: A: 90-100 % B: 89-80%
C: 79-70% D: 69-60%
F: 59%and below
Tentative Schedule:
Class Meeting
Tuesday, January 8
Wednesday, January 9
Thursday, January 10
Tuesday, January 15
Topic
Course Overview
Argumentation, Communication
and Ethics
Academic Debate
Propositions
Writing Affirmative Cases,
Group Workshop
Wednesday, January 16
Writing Value Affirmative Cases
cont.
Writing Value Negative Cases
Thursday, January 17
Debate #1
Tuesday, January 22
Debate #1
Wednesday, January 23
Thursday, February 7
Tuesday, February 12
Debate #1
Exam Review
Midterm Exam
Policy propositions
Stock Issues
Writing Policy plans
Writing Policy Plans cont.
Group Workshop
Types of Reasoning
Fallacies & Refutation
Building the Policy Negative
Case
Final Exam
Debate #2
Wednesday, February 13
Debate #2
Thursday, February 14
Debate #2
Thursday, January 24
Tuesday, January 29
Wednesday, January 30
Thursday, January 31
Tuesday, February 5
Wednesday, February 6
Assignment
Chapter 1
Chapters 2-3
Chapter 4,
Pgs 185-189
194-199
200-204
Value Affirmative Case Due
Value Negative Case Responses
Due
Journal Due
Pgs 66-69
189-199
Pgs 204-222
Chapter 8 & 9
Chapters 10 & 14
Chapter 13
Policy Affirmative Case Due
Journal Due
While I will try diligently to follow this schedule, I reserve the right to amend this schedule at anytime
during the course and students are responsible for changes announced during class.
STUDENT PROGRESS
Students are encouraged to keep a record of their grades to help ensure success in the class.
Assignment
Grade (out of 100 points)
Weighted percentage
Total
Value Affirmative Case
_____________
X
10%
______
Value Case Response
_____________
X
10%
______
Debate #1
_____________
X
15%
______
Midterm Exam
_____________
X
10%
______
Policy Affirmative Case
_____________
X
10%
______
Debate #2
_____________
X
20%
______
Final Exam
_____________
X
10%
______
Journal
_____________
X
15%
______
TOTAL GRADE
____________