Theory and Practice of Argument

36C: 40 Fall 1996
Dr. David B. Hingstman
Office: 353-2263, 143 BCSB
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.,
Thursday 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., and by appointment.

Course Objectives:

You will become a more skilled advocate by improving your skills in researching, constructing, organizing, and presenting arguments on disputed subjects. You will also learn how to analyze and refute the arguments of others. You will develop a better understanding of how scholars apply the tools of formal and informal logic in a variety of disciplines to improve the quality of academic argument.

Common Texts:

There are two required texts: Richard D. Rieke and Malcolm O. Sillars, Argumentation and Critical Decision Making (New York: HarperCollins, 3d. ed., 1993), available at the IMU Bookstore; and a fall 1996 subscription to the New York Times (Monday - Friday OK, $28.40, form provided).

Oral Arguments/Written Outlines:

This course will provide you with a good deal of practice presenting arguments orally. Each graded presentation should work from a carefully constructed outline in which you clearly state each major claim and set forth what information supports it. In addition to materials gleaned from the New York Times, you will gather materials for your debates from magazines, newspapers, and books in the library.

Public Debates:

In addition to your participation in discussion groups, you will be asked to attend no fewer than three public debates during the semester from among the five to be presented by the A. Craig Baird Debate Forum. These will occur in Levitt Auditorium in the University of Iowa College of Law near the intersection of Burlington & Riverside. The five debates will take place on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on the following days: September 5, September 12, October 17, November 7, and November 14. There will be evaluation forms at the debate for you to return to your discussion group instructor to show that you have met the requirement.

Attendance:

Your discussion group instructors will provide this information. Attendance at lectures will improve your performance on the midterm and final examinations.

Course Requirements:

Your discussion group instructors will provide detailed information about discussion group activities and grading scales. There will be a midterm examination in BCSB 101 at 1:30 on Thursday, October 10. The location and time of the final examination will be announced in class when the Registrar releases that information.

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the use of other peopleUs work without recognizing it. When you draw information from written or other sources, you need to acknowledge those sources. Never turn in the work of others as if it were your own. Plagiarism can result in a grade of RFS for the course and notification to the Dean for possible additional disciplinary action.

Complaints:

If you feel you have been treated unfairly, do not hesitate to discuss the matter with me. I will try to be as reasonable and fair as I can. Problems that cannot be resolved satisfactorily in that manner may be taken to the Department Chair.

Use of the University Library:

You will be consulting a variety of periodicals in the library. It is imperative that there be no damage done to those materials. Any article you use should remain available to others. Clip articles for the newspapers you subscribe to, but NEVER tear out an article at the library. Violation of these rules will result in University disciplinary action.

Unusual or Unexpected Materials:

In researching for this class, you may encounter materials that shock or offend you. Any materials presented in lecture or discussion by instructors or students should be pertinent to the purposes of the class and selected with good judgment. You may request alternative topics for discussion if you find a particular topic shocking or offensive.

Special Accommodations:

I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require some modification of seating, testing or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangement may be made. Please see me or your discussion group instructor after class or during office hours.

Tentative Lecture Schedule:

The assigned readings from the Rieke and Sillars text should be completed by the lecture which accompanies that assignment. You will need to do the reading both to understand the lectures and to complete your discussion group activities.

Date/Lecture Topics/Reading

August 27 Lecture: Course overview

August 29 Lecture: Elements of Argumentation Chapter 1

September 03 Lecture: Analysis in Argumentation Chapter 3

September 05 Lecture: Argument Structure: The Toulmin Model Chapter 6

September 10 Lecture: Arguments from Sign or Cause

September 12 Lecture: Arguments from Generalization, Analogy and Authority

September 17 Lecture: Argumentative Fallacies Chapter 13

September 19 Lecture: Evidence as Support Chapter 7

September 24 Lecture: Values as Support Chapter 9

September 26 Lecture: Credibility as Support Chapter 10

October 01 Lecture: Formal Validity Chapter 2

October 03 Lecture: Informal Validity

October 08 Lecture: Midterm Review October 10 Midterm

October 15 Lecture: Case Building I--Presumption and Burden of Proof Chapter 4

October 17 Lecture: Case Building II--Stock Issues for Policy Claims

October 22 Lecture: Case Building III--Language and Structural Considerations Chapter 15

October 24 Lecture: Refutation I Chapter 12

October 29 Lecture: Refutation II

October 31 Lecture: The Fields of Argument

Nov 05 Lecture: Argument in Law I Chapter 5

Nov 07 Lecture: Argument in Law II

Nov 12 Lecture: Political Argumentation I Chapter 14

Nov 14 Lecture: Political Argumentation II

Nov 19 Lecture: Argument in Business Chapter 11

Nov 21 Lecture: Argument in Science I Chapter 8

Nov 26, 28 NO CLASS

Dec 03 Lecture: Argument in Science II

Dec 05 Lecture: Argument in the Arts

Dec 10 Lecture: Argument in Philosophy

Dec 12 Lecture: Final Review