12/21/2024 9:05:03 AM	SPCH 9 Course Outline as of Fall 2000	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SPCH 9	Title:  WRITTEN & ORAL ARG.
Full Title:  Critical Thinking and Argumentation
Last Reviewed:4/9/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		3 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Primary emphasis on argumentation as the study of analysis, evidence, reasoning, refutation and rebuttal, etc., in oral and written communication.  Significant component of instruction in written argumentation, with special attention to the essay form. Critical thinking approaches to commercial, legal, political, and academic argumentation and persuasion.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Completion of Engl 1A or equivalent.

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

The study of argumentation with emphasis on oral & written form. Significant writing component, with focus on the student essay. Examination of commercial, legal, political & academic argumentation & persuasion.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Completion of Engl 1A or equivalent.
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1994	Inactive:
Area:	B	Communication and Analytical Thinking
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	A3	Critical Thinking		Fall 1995
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	1B	Critical Thinking - English Composition		Fall 1995
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1994	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1994	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: COMM 120	Argumentation or Argumentation and Debate	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): COMM9 OR COMM3

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

The student will:

A. Write frequently (a minimum of 6,000 words of edited composition),

  including a sequence of substantial essays on issues that require

  reasoned defense, each subsequent writing assignment adding to the

  student's ability to write and reason in a more advanced way (in-

  cluding, but not limited to, structure and style).

B. Identify the basic logical precepts and traditions of argumentation

  in the Western rhetorical tradition.

C. Recognize the various types of propositions, remember the guidelines

  for clear and effective propositions and apply such in discussion and

  oral and written composition assignments.

D. Specify analytical formulas for the discovery of issues in a contro-

  versy, recognize the delineation of issues in a controversy by

  relevance and importance, and apply such knowledge in discussion and

  oral and/or written commpositions assignments.

E. Recall the principles of effective, efficient research and information

  sources useful in preparation of cases and apply such knowledge in

  discussion and oral and written composition assignments.

F. Explain the concept of evidence, of various types of evidence and

  their employment in argumentation, of standards for evaluation of

  evidence and apply those standards in discussion and oral and/or

  written composition assignments.

G. Describe the concept of reasoning, types of reasoning, the analysis

  and evaluation of reasoning and apply such concepts in discussion

  and oral and/or written composition assignments.

H. Recognize the concept of logical fallacy and correctly identify logical

  fallacies in discussion, speeches, essays and the mass media, and

  demonstrate the ability to avoid such arguments in oral and/or

  written composition.

I. Demonstrate the use of outlining to construct clear, organized and

  complete cases, and to further develop such cases into essay form.

J. Outline refutation and rebuttal techniques and employ such techniques

  in the oral and/or written attack and defense of argument.

.

K. Recognize the above consideration (2-10) in their application to

  various contexts of argumentation (such a legal, legislative,

  academic, etc.) and various forms of speaking and/or writing.

L. Participate in in-class or online discussion and debate emphasizing

  the employment of argumentation principles.

M. Complete written and experiential exercises designed to develop,

  demonstrate and assess student skills of argumentation.

N. Recognize the relationship between critical thinking, especially the

  construction of logically sound syllogisms, and intercultural

  concepts.  Understand that the valid, but untrue, categorical

  syllogism is the root of false stereotypes and racism.

O. Recognize and appreciate the differences in cognitive styles among

  different cultures.

Topics and Scope

A. Philosophy of Argumentation

  1. Argumentation and critical thinking.

  2. Argumentation and epistemology.

  3. Argumentation and political culture.

  4. The roles and responsibilities of arguers.

B. Analysis in oral and written argumentation.

  1. Concept of analysis of controversy.

  2. Types of propositions and their effective construction, including

     examination of sentence structure, and formulation and placement

     of the main proposition (thesis) and supportive statements.

  3. Language in argument and composition, including discussion of

     functions of language: expressive, directive, interrogative;

     figurative language in argument.

  4. Definition in analysis.

  5. Breaking down a controversy into issues, evaluating issues by

     relevance and importance and the application of analytical

     formulas in such contexts as the essay.

  6. The principles of outlining and case construction with special

     focus on the essay form.

C. Evidence in oral and written argumentation

  1. Types of evidence.

  2. Sources of evidence.

  3. Research principles and basic reference sources.

  4. Application of standards and tests to evaluate evidence used in

     oral and written composition.

D. Reasoning in oral and written argumentation

  1. Nature of reasoning.

  2. Inductive types of reasoning with emphasis on such composition

     issues as the effective use of examples.

  3. Deductive types of reasoning.

  4. Models of reasoning (e.g. Toulmin Model, Syllogism, etc.).

  5. Standards for evaluating reasoning.

E. Logical Fallacies in oral and written argumentation

  1. The concept of informal logical fallacies and propaganda devices.

  2. The categories and specific types of fallacies.

  3. The application of knowledge of fallacies to settings (political,

     financial, academic, etc.) with special attention to the mass media.

  4. Making one's own speaking/writing "fallacy free".

F. Refutation and rebuttal in oral and/or written argumentation

  1. Application of knowledge of analysis, evidence, reasoning, and

     logical fallacies to attack and defense.

  2. Special techniques in attack and defense.

  3. Attack and defense in essay form.

G. Stylistics in oral and/or written argumentation.

  1. The integration of interest values, clarity, retention values,

     persuasive appeal and logical cogency into effective composition.

  2. Special emphasis on essay form.

H. Argumentation settings

  1. In interpersonal, small-group, organizational, public, and mass-

     media settings.

  2. In societal contexts such as law, legislative deliberation,

     academic debate, political campaigns, etc.

  3. Adapting strategies for effective oral and/or written argumentation

     to various settings.

I. Sequence

  1 week  Introduction

  1 week  Philisophy of Argumenation

  1 week  Analysis

  1 week  Research

  1 week  Evidence

  2 weeks Reasoning

  1 week  Logical Fallacies

  1 week  Speech of Analysis

  1 week  Refutation and Rebuttal

  2 weeks Speech of Advocacy

  1 week  Psychological Aspects

Assignments:

1. Experiential exercises, such as debates, simulations, etc.

2. Extensive sequential writing assignments on opposing viewpoints and

  important issues; writing and rewriting of compositions, with a

  minimum of 6,000 words of edited composition, excluding unedited

  writing and preliminary drafts; all writing shall be at the level of

  a second-semester college composition course.

3. Written analysis emphasizing analysis and evaluation of arguments

  from a critical viewpoint.

4. Essay-type midterm examination based on lecture and reading.

5. Essay-type final examination based on lecture and reading.

6. Participation in simulated or actual debates in various media and

  arenas, including internet, letters to the editor, local government

  meetings, state government meetings, or federal government hearings.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 40 - 60%
Written homework, Reading reports, Essay exams, Term papers, Outlines for speeches
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 20%
Homework problems, Exams, Demonstrations
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Class performances, Performance exams
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 5 - 10%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Freeley and Steinberg, ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE, 10th ed., Wadsworth,

 Belmont, CA, c. 1999

Rottenberg, ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENT, 5th ed., Bedford Books, Boston,

 MA, c. 1997

Barnet and Bedeau, CRITICAL THINKING, READING, AND WRITING, 3rd ed.,

 Bedford/St. Martins, Boston, MA, c. 1999

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