Courses: Storytelling, persuasion, gender and communication, argumentation and debate. Objectives: In this essay, I map a unit-specific activity for an undergraduate class in argumentation and debate. I argue for the integration of a trans-affirming pedagogy as a key rhetorical frame in communication studies courses. Such pedagogical commitments…

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)

Claims the argumentation or argumentation and debate course in American colleges and universities would be bolstered by a dual focus on possibilities for argumentation. Suggests a unit on negotiation would provide students with instruction and activities of clear potential benefit for public-sphere deliberation and professional development. (NH)

Given the nature of current forensic practices, there is no sound pedagogical linkage between argumentation and forensics. The past 30 years have witnessed a consistent decline in the scope and diversity of forensic activities, and forensics has become synonymous with contest debating. Debate has become a technical, specialized, jargonized…

One of the most important educational objectives of high school is to teach critical-thinking skills, and no class does this better than strategic debate. Professor Mike Allen, lead author in a definitive study on debate and critical thinking, lauded debate's promotion of critical-thinking skills. Additionally, researcher Joe Bellon discusses the…

"Argumentation" as an academic course should not be limited to or regarded as primarily a study of advocacy. Most of the current texts in the field of argumentation are directed toward skill in oral advocacy or persuasion. This emphasis works to the disadvantage of the student. Students should be able to use the principles learned in…

An English as second language (ESL) student at the college level must learn to write adequate compositions. However, most ESL composition texts focus on grammar and sentence structure. A method is proposed for teaching composition to advanced ESL students which reorders the accepted sequencing of materials. Rather than proceeding from sentence to…

Uses the judicial model of reasoning employed by the Supreme Court as an exemplar in teaching critical skills in the basic argumentation and debate course. Describes the model and course highlights. (PD)

Argues the global challenges of an ever-shrinking world are the result of the complicated intertwined practices of both corporations and nation-states. Suggests advanced undergraduate seminars in argumentation use case studies to explore the intersections among legal, business and other social forums. (NH)

Parliamentary procedure might best be taught in a context specific format; it would be better understood by students if not taught as a "stand alone" subject. Since the basic concepts of argumentation theory--propositions, stasis, and presumption and burden of proof--are reinforced by the rules of parliamentary procedure, instructors can…

The two articles in this publication focus on ways of teaching argumentation and debate in the college setting. The first article examines the place of the argumentation and debate course in the speech communication curriculum and suggests cognitive and behavioral objectives and assignments for use in such a course. The second article discusses…

This study examined the problem of a suspected decline in the number of schools offering courses in the coaching of high school and college forensics. A list of 127 schools offering graduate programs in the areas of rhetorical and communication theory, public address, and speech communication education was generated from the 1986-87…

The place of argumentation within the speech communication curriculum is the focus of this article. The article provides a rationale for an upper-level college course in the deliberation and decision making process currently taught at the University of North Carolina, and relates that rationale to broader concerns of argumentation theory. Various…

Of interest to curriculum developers, the materials in this paper pertain to the communication component of the prelaw curriculum initiated in the 1979-80 school year at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The materials include (1) a brief decription of the prelaw program; (2) information sheets for students considering the program;…

Examines a teaching strategy called "constructive controversy" where students are required to argue both the pro and con positions concerning a controversial current topic. Describes students' response to a class using this method to examine the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Student response was generally favorable. (MJP)