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Regular version of the site
Bachelor 2020/2021

Academic Argumentation

Area of studies: Public Policy and Social Sciences
When: 2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Instructors: Ekaterina Talalakina
Language: English
ECTS credits: 4
Contact hours: 28

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Academic Argumentation course is designed specifically for the parallel degree program in International Affairs to advance the skills of oral and written argumentation. This class builds on the genre distinction of oral public speaking with rhetorical strategies and persuasion techniques from the academic essay with the formal language and structure. The class activities engage students in debate participation, which serves as a groundwork for the essay writing. Special attention is given to the multi-stakeholder debates, which require the understanding of counter-arguments and limitations.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • to develop advanced competency in oral and written construction of critical discourse based on Superior-level English-language proficiency (according to ACTFL scale)
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • the skill of using logos, ethos, pathos in balance
  • the skill of using the right type of claim
  • the skill of supporting the argument with the right type of evidence
  • the skill of making inferences from evidence
  • the skill of making hypotheses
  • the skill of using concordancers
  • the skill of avoiding logical fallacies in claims
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Rhetorical strategies
    Logos, ethos, pathos
  • Types of arguments
    fact claim, value claim, policy claim
  • Types of evidence
    statistics, expert opinions, case studies
  • Inferencing
    making inferences from evidence
  • Hypothesizing
    using subjunctive to express a hypothetical scenario
  • Corpus functions
    using concordancers to determine subject-specific collocations
  • Types of claims
    matching the claims to the possible logical fallacies
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Writing
    essays, in-class tasks
  • non-blocking Speaking
    presentations, debates, role-plays
  • non-blocking Quizzes
  • non-blocking Textbook assignments
  • non-blocking Writing
    essays, in-class tasks
  • non-blocking Speaking
    presentations, debates, role-plays
  • non-blocking Quizzes
  • non-blocking Textbook assignments
  • non-blocking debates
  • non-blocking essay
  • non-blocking portfolio
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (2 module)
    0.25 * debates + 0.25 * essay + 0.25 * portfolio + 0.25 * Quizzes
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Briscoe, S. F. (2017). Policy Debate : A Guide for High School and College Debaters. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1429313
  • Mastering English through Global Debate, , 2019
  • Schönfeld, M., Eckhard, S., Patz, R., & van Meegdenburg, H. (2019). The UN Security Council debates 1995-2017. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsarx&AN=edsarx.1906.10969
  • Wink, K. A. (2016). Rhetorical Strategies for Composition : Cracking an Academic Code. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1149719

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Abu Bader, S., & Ianchovichina, E. (2017). Polarization, Foreign Military Intervention, and Civil Conflict. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.5AFC3F2B
  • Amelia Sharman. (2015). Climate stories: why do climate scientists and sceptical voices participate in the climate debate? GRI Working Papers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.p.lsg.lsgwps.wp191
  • George, E. J., & Mamidi, R. (2019). Towards Computing Inferences from English News Headlines. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsarx&AN=edsarx.1910.08294
  • Mchangama, J. (2016). Freedom of Expression and National Security. Society, 53(4), 363–367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-016-0029-1
  • Stanislav Mraz, & Klaudia Hranikova Pytelova. (2018). Foreign Intervention In Internal Conflicts. Medzinarodne Vztahy (Journal of International Relations), (4), 407–419. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.brv.journl.v16y2018i4p407.419
  • Tol, R. S. J. (2017). The structure of the climate debate. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.DB8CEFB2