Iowa State University
Speech Communication 322

Argumentation, Critical Thinking & Debate

Contacting Me	Prof. Jean Goodwin goodwin@iastate.edu office hours and complete contact info
Course Goals	This class promises to make you a skilled arguer when debating issues of public importance. In specific, you will be able to: 1. Make good arguments. 2. Engage others' arguments. 3. Assess reliable sources. 4. Organize argument interactions. 5. Express your philosophy. 6. Grow as a person.
Core course documents	Syllabus--course description and policies Schedule--assignments in detail About the exam Exam review sheet Answers to the exam Second exam About the final arguments The Good Argument Checklist (grading standards) Schedule of final arguments My Philosophy of Argument final paper assignment Grading standards for "My Philosophy" paper Personal Growth final report assignment Grading standards for Personal Growth Report
Course Materials	1 Questions on the first pop quiz 1 Personal learning goals assignment 1 The Neighbors 1 Ground Rules for Groups 1 Dealing with Couch Potatoes and Hitchhikers on Groups 1 The Take a Stand exercise 2 On self assessment 2 Making an argument 2 Website for Asking the Right Questions 2 One Minute Eloquence 3 Why argue? (longer) 3 My Philosophy of Argument paper assignment 3 Personal learning styles extra credit assignment 3 About stock issues (longer) 4 Golden Rice case 4 Personal growth assignment 4 How to analyze a website Web source analysis form more information on analysis of websites Examples for class 4 How not to plagiarize 5 Sample analysis of website from last week 5 Lab questions for Monday 5 Wikipedia, pro and con 5 Experts or ordinary citizens? 5 Pretend you're not right 5 The good argument checklist My assessment of the "arm the ISU police" argument 6 Tesco case 6 Formats for presenting arguments 6 Arguing values 6 Advice from a Student on Arguing Values 6 Spin is inevitable? 7 About the exam 7 About the final arguments 7 About brownout 7 Religion in public argument My analyses of the two sample arguments 8 The last experimental debate: "National Service" or "Video Games" 9 How to refute an argument 9 About stock issues (repeat of above) 10 How to "flow" a debate 10 About Peer Reviewing 10 Is Jon Stewart right? (longer) 11 Research strategies & tips 12 Gender and argument
Materials from previous classes	Revised course schedule 2005 (after Hurricane Katrina, we shifted from debating GMOs to post-Katrina issues). Syllabus 2005 Syllabus 2004 Syllabus 2003 Syllabus 2002 Course schedule 2002

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Last updated October, 2007.
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