Course Grading Standard:
100-90=A
89-80=B
79-70=C
69-60=D
59 and below=F

COMM 3071-Argumentation & Debate--Section A; NH 1032 T/Th 2:00pm-3:15pm Department of Communication Arts College of Fine Arts Valdosta State University

Dr. Mike Eaves

Office: 1029 Nevins Building

Office Phone: 259-5116, email: meaves@valdosta.edu

Class Web Page: http://www.oocities.org/meaves1/debate.html

Consultation Hrs: Tuesday and Thursday--8:30-9:30am and 1-2pm; Wednesday 12-2pm AND BY APPOINTMENT for Fall 2008 Students

Course Purpose: Using the Eaves and Cates text, assigned readings, and lecture material, the student will be informed about parliamentary debate. This course satisfies the General Speech Emphasis in the Senior Core Curriculum requirement for students majoring in communication arts. In addition, this class could be used as a guided elective in most majors. Students will take a midterm and final exams, participate in two debates, and participate in class. Catalog Description: Pre-req COMM 1110; Theory and application of argumentation Incidentals: I prefer email as a way to contact me outside of class. Of course, I have office hours for your convenience. Students will behave professionally in class. The use of cell phones in class is not permitted. There are no make-ups for missed work or debates. General Education Outcomes for the class: Students will express themselves clearly, logically, and precisely in writing and in speaking, and they will demonstrate competence in reading and listening. Tests will require the students to be comptetent in reading materials. The debate speeches will require the students to clearly and logically express themselves in the speech. Debate speeches are also an exercise in listening. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze, to evaluate, and to make inferences from oral, written,and visual materials. Tests will require the students to analyze and evaluate argument and speech style. Course Outcomes: 1. List and describe theories of argumentation and decision making; 2. Explain the analysis, characteristics, and support of argument; 3. Write and prepare either an affirmative case or a negative case; 4. Demonstrate refutation, clash, analysis, logic, delivery, and cross-examination skills; 5. Use the language of argumentation and debate; and 6. Participate in one classroom debate, either affirmative or negative.

Course Attendance: Required. If the student misses 20% or more of the class days, he or she is subject to a failing grade for the course. Any student who has perfect attendance (excused or unexcused does not matter here) will have THREE (3%) added to their final average for the entire COURSE! Students will be penalized for being late or leaving class early. Two lates=one absence; two early departures=one absence. A student who is late and/or leaves early more than two times in a semesters, even with perfect attendance, disqualifies him- or herself from the 3% bonus on final average. Absence penalty= 1 absence=0 penalty but no bonus; 2 absences=2 points off final avg.; 3 absences=3 points off final avg; 4 absences=5 points off final avg.;5 absences=10 points off final avg.; 6 absences= 20 points off final avg.; 7 absences=subject to failing class.

Exams: Each student will take a MIDTERM and a FINAL exam. The final exam is comprehensive, covering the entire semester. There will also be quizzes throughout the semester. In addition, student will have to turn in chapter exercises from his or her own book. No xeroxing of the book exercises is allowed.

Speeches: Each student will participate in two debates. One debate will be around midterm. The final debate will be the two weeks before the final exam period. More specific guidelines for the formats of such speeches will be made available on the class web page at the appropriate time.

Course Objectives: Students will identify basic elements of the argumentation process, concepts/functions of argument, rules and procedures of parliamentary debate, and two performances in parliamentary debate.

Course Calculation:

Midterm-20%

Final Exam-20%

Debate One-15%

Debate Two-20%

Quizzes-15%

Chapter Exercises-10%

Total=100%

Course Required Materials:

Fundamentals of Parliamentary Debate by Eaves and Cates (copies at VSU Book Store). You will have quizzes and exercises to do from the text book. No photocopies of exercises or hand written exercises will be acceptable. Student must turn in the entire book and will have it returned the following class.

TENTATIVE Weekly Course Schedule:

Week:Content Chapter(s) 1                                                    intro ch 1 2                                                   2 3                                                     3 4                                                    4 5                                                   5 6                                                    6;midterm 7                                                    7-8 8                                                   debate 1 9                                                  debate 1 10                                                debate 1 11                                                  ch 9 12                                                    ch 10-11 13                                                  debate 2 14-15                                          debate 2                                                     debate 2

Final exam will be Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 2:45pm-4:45pm

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating in all its forms: on tests, not giving credit to sources in a speech, falsified evidence for a speech, stolen notes or interviews, etc. will subject the student to an Automatic F in the class and the matter will be turned over to the Department Head of the Communication Arts.

Special Student Services:Students requesting classroom accommodations or modifications due to a documented disability must contact the Access Office for Students with Disabilities located in room 1115 Nevins Hall. The phone numbers are 245-2498 (V/VP) and 219-1348 (TTY).