Argues that university courses in argumentation often fail to prepare students for the demands they face outside the classroom. Examines current trends in communication scholarship which suggest that cooperative or collaborative modes of argumentation should be more explicitly included in argument pedagogy. (NH)

In support of online discussions research, this review classifies and describes instructional interventions and learner characteristics that affect the quality of discussions. The review will help educators better understand factors such as group structure, mentoring, argumentation, and learner characteristics that play a role in shaping online…