Syllabus
Administrative Information
Course Description:
This course applies the nature of critical thinking to written and oral argument. Students will analyze inductive and deductive reasoning, argument construction, forms of evidentiary support, and fallacies of argument and language, as well as engage in instruction and practical experience in argument construction and delivery. The objective is to develop your critical analysis skills, become better and more persuasive communicators, and expand and refine your knowledge base to make you a better consumer of persuasion and a better democratic citizen. You are taking this class because Forbes reports that the top two skill sets employers wish college graduates had mastered before entering the workforce are “effective communication” and “real world critical thinking” (http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertfarrington/2014/05/28/the-two-key-traits-employers-need-from-todays-college-graduates/Links to an external site.). In addition to taking this course, a well-prepared graduate will have participated in a number of internships, jobs, and/or volunteer positions that allow them to apply the skills learned in this class in their professional lives.
Readings (They're older, but inexpensive)
Grading, Make Up/Late Work Attendance, Honesty, and Communication Policies
- Grading and Academic Honesty
- There are 310 points total in this class and it uses a traditional grading scale.
- Student work is graded in as timely a manner as possible. There is usually a one to two week turn around time for assignments. Delays may occur when the instructor travels to debate tournaments with the Cal Poly Debate Team.
- Average student work is expected to be high quality, original, thoughtful, and reflect a professional mastery of written and oral communication.
- Any student caught in any act of dishonesty, academic or otherwise, risks a failing grade for the course.
AI tools such as ChatGPT can be a useful starting point for researching and generating ideas for arguments—provided you know what you’re doing. It excels at proofreading for syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling and can be valuable in helping you organize and outline your thoughts before drafting your work. However, AI is only as reliable as the information it draws from, and the internet is rife with Frankfurtian “bullshit”Links to an external site. and misinformation. Solely relying on AI in an attempt to shortcut the work for this class will result in failure. Your instructor will know when you’re using AI because:
•You will not know your arguments thoroughly.
•Like a classic “Jamesian Asshole,” who feels entitled to cheat, you’ll read from a manuscript rather than delivering a polished, professional presentation. This is intolerable, unprofessional, and shows disrespect to your peers, your instructor, and yourself.
•You won’t be able to respond effectively to follow-up questions on your work. You’ll embarrass yourself in front of your instructor, your classmates, and maybe even that cute person you were considering asking out for coffee or a beer.
•Your work will lack a convincing college student voice.
•Your work will be dull, uninspired, and devoid of meaningful insights. It will waste not only your time but also your instructor’s, and he will come to resent you, which will interfere with his ability to otherwise be a valuable mentor.
- Late/Make Up Work
- All work that is turned in by the deadline will be graded.
- Work that is turned in within 1-5 business days of the due date will be graded without penalty—no excuses or reasons needed or wanted, just give us a heads up.
- Work turned in more than 5 business days late will not be graded. No exceptions.
- Requests for assistance with assignments
- If for any foreseeable reason you are struggling to complete assignments on time, contact your instructors at least 72 hours prior to the assignment being due for assistance. Clarity about course requirements is your responsibility, and should not be assumed. If you have any reasonable doubts about whether you’re clear on course requirements, contact the instructor ASAP. Your having procrastinated on getting started is not your instructor's problem. He has responsibilities beyond you.
- `Requests for assistance with assignments made with less than 72 hours before the due date will be responded to at the instructors convenience.
- Requests for assistance with assignments made within 42 hours or less will not be responded to.
- Attendance
- If you are going to miss a substantial amount of class because of extra curricular activities this quarter, consider taking this course during another quarter when you’ll have fewer schedule conflicts.
- Missing class means you’ve missed something important and have likely missed points.
- Missing class is not an excuse to be uninformed about work missed or projects due. Keep in regular contact with your classmates as your primary resource for understanding what you’ve missed in the event of an absence.
- Office hours are your opportunity to interact with your instructor outside of regular class hours.
Content Warning
This class addresses topics that are inherently controversial. At any time, and without prior notice, we may find ourselves discussing issues that could make you feel uncomfortable. You may experience unpleasant emotions in response to differing points of view expressed by your peers or their chosen styles of communication. Discussions may include, but are not limited to, topics such as violence, abortion, war, hate speech, oppression, mental and emotional abuse, child molestation, critiques of religion and politics, identity politics, and the use of racist or sexist language.
You will encounter curse words such as “asshole,” “bullshit,” and “fuck” during readings or discussions. However, the use of slurs will be strongly discouraged unless their inclusion has a strong academic foundation (e.g., referencing a slur in a discussion about whether all uses of slurs constitute “asshole” behavior or whether reclaiming such terms can be empowering).
If you find yourself feeling emotional distress during class, you are encouraged to quietly and calmly exit the room to compose yourself. The expectation is that you will return to class if you are able, as your participation in these discussions is valuable and your unique perspective is important.
If you are unable to return, that is okay. However, please discuss the situation with your instructor in person during office hours or schedule an appointment. Additionally, if you are aware that a scheduled discussion topic may cause you distress, please inform the instructor in advance and in person.
Classroom Conduct
This course invites engagement with controversial topics that may evoke strong emotional reactions or discomfort. It is highly likely that at some point, a position taken by a student or presented in class may offend you deeply. This is one of the challenges inherent in living in a free society. In this course, every student’s First Amendment rights will be respected and protected, and multiple perspectives on each issue will be explored throughout the semester.
Additionally, please note that it is illegal for your instructor to discuss any student’s grades with anyone other than the student, the student’s designated durable power of attorney, or Cal Poly faculty. Do not ask the instructor to discuss another student’s grade with you. Such a request constitutes a demand for your instructor to engage in illegal activity and may result in a request for you to drop the course. Repeated requests of this nature will result in a failing grade for the requester. Furthermore, being offended by a position presented by another student does not provide justification for requesting that their grade be lowered.
Students are expected to behave professionally and respectfully toward both the instructor and their peers. Any student whose behavior is deemed disrespectful in a way that disrupts the learning environment will receive a warning. Continued instances of disrespect will result in a reduction in their course grade, and ongoing violations may lead to course failure. Hate speech or calls for violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances and will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
All students are required to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/leadership/vpss/student-code-of-conduct-and-discipline/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
Students With Disabilities: If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. It is College policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact their instructor to discuss their individual needs for accommodation. http://www.cuesta.edu/student/servs_classes/dsps/
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