ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Playground Clean-up

My advocacy event is Saturday April 25, 2009 from 9-Noon at Lacey Spring Elementary school located on Rt. 11 (going north). We will be working with parents and local school children to fix up the playground for the kids. People can come for all or part of the time. If anyone needs directions they can email me (wilsonem17@gmail.com).

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - recycling

Want to learn more about recycling? Stop by the commons on Friday, April 24th from 1pm-4pm to hear about ways you can make a difference. You'll find out what you can and can't recycle in Harrisonburg, learn where your recyclables go, how to get a hold of a recycling bin and much more! Let's continue to make JMU an environmentally friendly campus. It's going to be a beautiful day so please come check it out!

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Terry Mcauliffe

A representative from the Terry Mcauliffe campaign will be speaking at our house this Saturday from 4-6. The house party is at 459 N. Liberty St. There will be light snacks and drinks. Plus you get to see where I live.

No Readings This Week

We will talk about conspiracy theories all week so no readings.

Mike

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY - Healthy Eating

Do you ever wonder what the healthy food options on and off campus are?  Do you want to join us in debunking the
common misconceptions regarding this topic?

Then come to the Healthy Lifestyle Panel Discussion on April 23rd in Harrison room 1241 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.! There will be representatives from UREC, Dining Services,
and Dietetics engaging in discussion and answering panel questions.  Free healthy snacks will be provided!  See you Thursday!

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Holocaust Rememberance Week

> Holocaust Remembrance Week
>
>
> April 20th-24th
>
>
> Sponsored by JMU Hillel and UPB
>
>
>
>
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> Remember and learn from the atrocities that took place in concentration camps throughout World War II with a week of activities about the Holocaust and other genocides taking place in the world today.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
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> Monday April 20
>
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> 7 pm
>
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> Taylor 404
>
>
> Lane Montgomery: photographer and a humanitarian who has dedicated her
>
>
> life to raising awareness of genocide. She is the author of *NEVER AGAIN,AGAIN, AGAIN
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> Tuesday April 21
>
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> 5:30 pm
>
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> Taylor 404
>
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> Viewing of Paperclips (Documentary: As a part of their study of the Holocaust, the children of the Whitwell, TN Middle School try to collect 6 million paper clips representing the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazi's) and discussion
>
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>
>
>
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> Thursday April 23
>
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> 7 pm
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> Festival Ballroom
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> Holocaust survivor: Jay Ipson

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Festival Fest

Festival Fest 2009

An all day, free music festival featuring local and national bands playing on JMU's Festival Lawn.

Saturday 4/18 - 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Free day long music festival.
Games, Crafts, Vendors and Music from local and national acts!
Featuring The Hackensaw Boys
Dubconscious
Murphy's Kids
and many, many, more

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - SPCA

As part of SCOM 350, we are planning a Community Service Learning Event for the Rockingham/Harrisonburg SPCA, Tour for Life! This is a pet adoption event that will take place on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 from 3pm-7pm. Cats and dogs will come from various SPCAs in search of a new, loving family! The event will also consist of food, Smoothie King, performances by JMU A capella groups at 3:30 & 6:00pm, kids activities and much more! We would love for you to come out and support us in our project! If you have time to spread the word to your classes, friends and families we would greatly appreciate it!

Who: RH-SPCA, SCOM 350 Students and North Shore Animal League
What: Tour for Life Pet Adoption Event
When: Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 (3-7pm)
Where: East Market Square Shopping Center - PetSmart Parking Lot!
Why: Adopt a pet, support SCOM students & have a great time!

If you have any questions feel free to contact us at brown4jl@jmu.edu or visit the website Tour for Life Website!

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Multiple Events

--- Wednesday, April 15th ---
>
>
> - "Gay? Fine by Me" T-SHIRT HANDOUT: 10 - 2 pm on the Commons
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> - Carnival on the Commons!!!!!: 10 - 2 pm
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>
>
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> --- Thursday, April 16th ---
>
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> - GAY-FINE-BY-ME DAY - Wear your t-shirt. All day.
>
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> - Dr. Mary Frances Arnold Workshops in Taylor 405
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> - Friends, Foes or Advocates: Allies in the Making - 10 am
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> - Leadership: The Ultimate Road-Trip - 2 pm
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> - Breaking Barriers: Setting Yourself Up to Succeed - 4pm
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> --- Friday, April 17th ---
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> - National Day of Silence: All day
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> - Dr. Mary Frances Arnold: "Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore"
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> 7 pm in Transitions
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> --- Saturday, April 18th ---
>
>
> - RELAY FOR LIFE!!

Readings for Tuesday

Legalization of Prostitution

Pro

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samara-oshea/is-it-time-to-legalize-pr_b_90986.html

http://www.liberator.net/articles/prostitution.html

http://www.progressiveu.org/231243-legalizing-prostitution

Con

http://www.zenit.org/article-20747?l=english

http://sisyphe.org/article.php3?id_article=691

http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/mhvlegal.htm

Some FYIs

http://www.prostitutionprocon.org/

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY - Karly Moletteri Advocacy Event

Tuesday, April 21st at 6:00pm in Memorial Hall room 3235. It will be a Student Voices panel with the Diversity Council and the IDLS Department that will allow open discussion on multiculturalism in the classroom and how to bring non-Eurocentric perspectives/books into the classroom.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - 31st Annual Communication Studies Conference

You may attend the keynote as an event and then any panel as another event.

Dr. Steven Schwarze, awarding winning scholar of environmental communication, will present the keynote address at the upcoming 31st Annual Communication Studies Conference "Constructing Healthy Communication Environments."

Monday, April 13, 2009 at 7:00 pm

“Unhealthy Communication, Unhealthy Environments: Diagnosing the Asbestos Crisis”

Dr. Steven Schwarze

Associate Professor of Communication Studies University of Montana Festival Conference and Student Center, Ballroom A

During that address, Dr. Schwarze will discuss his research on how rhetorical discourses, such as those surrounding the asbestos crisis in Libby, Montana, shape public perceptions of such environmental problems. Dr. Schwarze will also participate as a faculty discussant at the panels of undergraduate communication scholarship presented throughout the conference.

On Tuesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 15 poster and panel sessions will be held throughout the day in Warren Hall, Transitions highlighting original undergraduate scholarship, exceptional service learning projects, and outreach by students in the School of Communication Studies. As part of this conference, a special performance by nationally ranked members of the JMU Individual Events Team will be included on a panel discussing performance studies as scholarship on Tuesday, April 14 from 3:30 - 4:30 pm.

The complete conference program can be found online at: http://sites.google.com/site/jmuscomconference/

These events are sponsored by The College of Arts & Letters and the School of Communication Studies and are part of a month long “Communication Exhibition” hosted by the Schools of Communication, Information, and Media in the College of Arts & Letters.

All events are free and open to the public.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Interfaith Passover Seder

COME JOIN CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY

AND JMU HILLEL FOR...

INTERFAITH PASSOVER SEDAR!

WHERE?! CCM (Catholic Campus Ministry) 1052 South Main Street (right near the FedEx and Mike's Mart)

WHEN?! April 8th @ 5:30 pm (service begins at 6 pm sharp)

$5 at the door for non-Jews attending

WHAT?! Interfaith Passover Seder. A Jewish festival (traditionally 8 days) celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt

Dress: dressy casual, no jeans

Contact Hillel Religious Chair, Kat Sinclair at sinclakm@jmu.edu, or check out www.jmuhillel.org for more info!

Readings for Thursday

Some readings about gun control:

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/23/Worldandnation/Having_guns_on_campus.shtml

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/17833874.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304806,00.html

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070813/METRO/108130057/1001

http://www.freecolorado.com/2003/02/cuccw.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/14/guns.on.campus/index.html

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Madison Debate Society Public Debate

Wednesday, April 8th, 5pm, Taylor 402

This open forum debate will be focused on the question "What should JMU students do to make the Harrisonburg community safer?". This is in reaction to the recent break-ins, stabbings, and shootings that have occured in areas, highly populated with JMU students. Lou Nagy, an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney downtown will be speaking at the beginning of the meeting on the Harrisonburg communities response as a whole, such as what police, prosecutors, and community members see as the root issue, how they're reacting, and what they think will make the overall harrisonburg community safer.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - SURVIVOR PANEL

Thursday 4/9: SURVIVOR PANEL at 6pm in HHS 1301. Come and hear cancer survivors share their stories, and even share your own experience with cancer.

Paper Guidelines

Argumentation and Advocacy Paper Guidelines

Paper Topics

1. Choose any issue related to your public controversy. This controversy should be one with a significant discussion either in the media, academic press or on the internet.

2. Choose a particular argument or set of arguments within that controversy. Outline the arguments for a particular proposition. Some of these arguments will require a explanation of the opposing point of view.

3. Use one of the theories from the first half of the course (argument structures, public sphere, debate, argumentative fallacies, etc.) to critique the argument you have outlined. You should make sure you answer the following during this critique:

a. Is the argument a good one?

b. Why or why not?

Paper Guidelines

1. The paper should by 5-10 pages long.
2. Use a normal font with 12 point font. People love to use weird fonts. I don’t love it when you do.
3. Don’t mess with the margins. I will not be impressed by a ten page paper with 3 inch margins.
4. I don’t care what type of citations you use. Just make sure it is a recognized method and that you use the same method throughout the paper.
5. Please use page numbers
6. You do not have to include a title page. You may if you prefer, but you do not have to.
7. Papers are due May 2^nd by 2:00pm. Papers turned in after that time are considered late.

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Conflict Transformation Conference

Conflict Transformation Conference
The First Annual International Undergraduate
Conflict Transformation Conference

April 15 and 16, 2009
Taylor Hall
April 15 at 12.00 pm: Please pre-register for Keynote lunch

Keynote Lunch followed by
Keynote Address:
1.00 – 2.15pm Wednesday April 15
World Expert in Mediation and Dispute Resolution
Professor Joseph P. Folger, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
The Disciplinary Roots of Conflict Intervention: How Should Theory Shape Our Practice?

Please join us as we bring together students, professors and mentors from around the world, who are interested in examining and advancing the concept of conflict transformation, to engage in dialogue about the concept and to present their work.

Please pre-register for Keynote buffet lunch on Wednesday at Noon
Conference Webpage:www.jmu.edu/commstudies/conflictanalysis/Conference.shtml

Sponsored by James Madison University College of Arts & Letters, School of Communication Studies, Office of International Programs, Institute for Conflict Analysis & Intervention and The Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation at Hofstra University School.

Control Room Articles

Readings for Tuesday:

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/wire/2004/06/07/al_jazeera/index.html

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/6/7/141220.shtml

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0402-10.htm

http://www.americanthinker.com/2006/06/is_aljazeera_less_biased_than.html

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040611/REVIEWS/406110303/1023

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/3926071.stm

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_17_121/ai_n8702403

http://www.trentarthur.info/archives/000031.html

http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2004/06/04/control_room/

http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2006/11/education_of_lt_rushing.html

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Madison Cup

If you went to the Madison Cup here is your place to post.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Spotlight on Scholarship

Spotlight on Scholarship

Spotlight on Scholarship event is presented by the JMU’s Faculty Women’s Caucus. The Spotlight on Scholarship is an event is designed to recognize exceptional scholarly work by women and stimulate cross disciplinary research in the JMU community. Oral presentations will take place at the beginning of the event and will last 15 minutes each including time for questions and answers. Poster presentations will be displayed around the room and will be presented during the reception following the oral presentations.

Date: April 2, 2009

Time: 4:00PM-6:00 PM

Location: Festival Highlands Room

Speakers: Mieka Polanaco, Beth Chandler, Olga Pierrakos, Debra Warner Poster Displays: Lou Ann Lovin, Vicki Curry, Maria Papadakis, Amanda Biesecker, Amy Goodall, Jessica Irons

Readings for Tuesday

Please read the following for Tuesday:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18/new-york-post-chimp-carto_n_167841.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29263781/
http://www.uwire.com/Article.aspx?id=3772022
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/nypost-obama-ca.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/07/obama-muslim.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/13/2008-07-13_new_yorker_mags_satire_cover_draws_team_.html
http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2008/07/obama-new-yorker-cover.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,383261,00.html

Argument Fallacies

The Fallacies of Composition and Division

The Revelation Argument

The Straw Thing of Fallacy Theory

Falaciousness Without Invalidity?

In Defense of the Fallacy

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY EVENT - SRI

Superbugs vs. Scientists
The battle of Antibiotic Resistance

Lecture by Dr. Amit Galande
Associate Director, Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry
SRI International, Center for Advanced Drug Research

March 04, 2009
5:00-6:00 pm
ISAT/CS 159, JMU

Dr. Galande will speak about antibiotic resistance; what is it? and why is it considered a global health crisis? This lecture is sponsored by SRI International and the JMU Honors Program.

ARGUMENTATION AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Clothesline Project

March 25-26: Clothesline Project, noon-6 p.m., Transitions, Warren Hall: The project is a visual display that bears witness to violence against men and women, composed of T-shirts decorated to represent various individuals' experiences with domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual victimization; for information, contact Alyssa Garnich at 568-4713 or garnicam@jmu.edu.

Readings for this week

We will watch some argument artifacts on Tuesday.

Readings for Thursday (if you are off campus you may have to use the VPN):

Thirteen Argument Fallacies

The Fallaciousness of Threats: Character and Ad Baculum

Evaluating the Meta-Slope: Is there a Slippery Slope Argument against Slippery Slope Arguments?

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Let's Talk About It

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Doors open at 7:00pm, event begins at 7:30pm

Location: Transitions

"Let's Talk about IT"

Two inspirational women will guide an open dialogue with our campus about sexual assault, awareness, and prevention. Here is what they say about their program:

On a late night road trip to our spiritual home of New Orleans, Louisiana we uncovered our life's mission. Together, a survivor and her best friend would work to end sexual violence. From that moment forward we seized the opportunity to share our story and to empower students to revolutionize their campus climate and culture. Not men against women but together, men and women as a community. We believed that if we simply explained what sexual assault is and how we can prevent it, change would occur. So as we drove across the Louisiana state line in the darkness of I-10 west the Let's Talk About "IT" program was born and this incredible journey began.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Dr. Kevin Wright

Dr. Kevin Wright -
7:00-8:15 "Computer-mediated social support inquiry: Promises and pitfalls across Cancer, Alzheimer's and Alcoholism Terrains" in CS/ISAT 159

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Gun Awareness Week

Invite you to Join us February 12, 13 at James Madison University - Memorial Hall - 7pm to 9 pm-Doors open 6:30pm

395 South High Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801-1956

For A Discussion of the Right to Carry Concealed Weapons and Broader Second Amendment Issues

Featuring Speakers:

February 12-Philip Van Cleave, President of Virginia Citizens Defense League-Location Changed TBA

Come to Memorial Hall to be redirected to new location if necessary-staff will be there.

February 13-Richard E. Gardiner, Former General Counsel to The National Rifle Association

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Eating Disorders Month

Feb. 18: Eating Disorders Awareness Month Speakout, 7:30-9 p.m., Room 1101, Miller Hall: Ron George and Kathleen MacDonald speak on their personal experiences with anorexia and disordered eating; George is the father of Leslie George, a former JMU student who passed away in 2000 from complications with eating disorders; MacDonald struggled with anorexia and disordered eating for nearly 20 years and has since developed a healthy spiritual, emotional and physical recovery process; for more information, contact Ann Simmons at simmonae@jmu.edu.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Eagle Project Work

ATTENTION: THIS EVENT COUNTS AS TWO EVENTS:

Please join us or help spread the word regarding SVBF's Star Fort remaining Eagle Project work day plans as follows:

Saturday February 14^th : Tree/Shrub Removal Day 10-4pm

Other duties of the day: herbicide applications(SVBF staff), timber stand improvement project(tentative, w/ Forester Gerald Crowell)

Saturday February 21st : Chipping/Trail Development Day

Other duties of the day: herbicide applications(SVBF staff), timber stand improvement project(tentative, w/Forester Gerald Crowell)

SVBF Needs: Volunteers, who could also provide their own tools including weedeater w/brushsaw, handsaws, chainsaws, loppers, shovels, eye protection, gloves, helmets, wheel barrows, heavy duty trash bags, and volunteers who might be able to pick up an ATV w/trailer and a 4-6" chipper to be brought on site with a for February 14^th and 21^st .

Also, if you know anyone who also may be interested, and who may have access to a pickup truck bed and an ATV to haul wood off site, by all means let me know! We've got years of free firewood we need cut, both of standing and down wood, so please pass on the word, if you know anyone who wants or needs access to a wealth of firewood in the Frederick County Area.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Kilowatt Ours

February 8th - 7:30 at Clementine - Free Popcorn

Presented by The Climate Action Alliance of the Valley, Kilowatt Ours is a documentary by Jeff Barrie that has become a national movement to promote energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy. Kilowatt Ours is also a non profit organization advocating for conservation power plants in every community in America. Discussion to follow with local-environmentalist Tom Benevento! Find out real steps you can take at home, at school, at work, at church and in your greater community to conserve!

Readings for 2/12

http://davismk13.googlepages.com/ZonDefinition.pdf

http://davismk13.googlepages.com/ehninger.pdf

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Take Back the Night

Take Back the Night (March 24, 2009) is night dedicated to raising awareness about sexual assault, stopping violence against women, while creating a supportive and empowering environment. This Spring we are bringing Angela Shelton to speak at this years Take Back the Night, more information can be found at http://www.angelashelton.com/.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - Three Events

1.

Want to make a difference?

Come check out the Service Fair being hosted by the JMU Community Service Learning Office. This is a great chance to meet representatives from many organizations and learn about diverse service opportunities. A few of the many organizations that will be present include the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and Habitat for Humanity. This is a great way to speak with local, national, and international agencies that are all about making a difference. Come check it out Tuesday February 5^th, 2009 in Transitions.

For more information, visit CS-L in Wilson 204 or call us at 540-568-6366 or see our website: www.jmu.edu/csl.

2.

Feb. 20: Shenandoah Valley Regional Studies Seminar, 3:35 p.m., Room 107, Jackson Hall: Dale Harter of Bridgewater College presents “‘Hell No, We Won’t Go’…Back: The Rockingham Rebellion, Spring 1862”; sponsored by the JMU Department of History and Lord Fairfax Community College; free.

3.

March 16-May 1: “Marching Through History with Cesar Chavez and the Farm Workers” Exhibition, during normal Festival Conference and Student Center hours, PRISM Gallery: In this photo-documentary by Cathy Murphy that shows the most famous moments of the labor movement to some of the most private, Chávez is seen as a family man, dancing with his daughter at her wedding and practicing yoga. At the same time, he is also seen as stressed by the ordeal, worried. Other photos show the inspiration that was required of him before workers and before the press. Murphy documents the plight of workers in the field, the fight to resist child workers and the 1975 march through the state of California known as the 1,000 Mile March. In this historic 58-day march from San Ysidro to Keene, Calif., Chávez educated farm workers about a new law, the Agricultural Labor Relations Act; free.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - JMU Visiting Scholar

JMU Visiting Scholars Program
Proudly Presents
Nkiru Nzegwu
Chair, Africana Studies Department and
Director, Africa Resource Center
Binghamton University

Thursday, February 5, 4:00 p.m.
Taylor 405

Gender & African Art:
A Curious Intersectionality

Nkiru Nzegwu is Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at Binghamton University. She is the author or editor of nine critical volumes and exhibition catalogues, including The New African Diaspora; Family Matters: Feminist Concepts in African Philosophy of Culture; Debating Motherhood: African and Nordic Perspectives; Uncommon Beauty in Common Objects: The Legacy of African American Craft; and Olokoto: Songs of Chima. She is the author of over 100 chapters in books, journal articles, translations, entries in encyclopedias, articles in catalogues and on-line publications. She is the co-author of JENdA: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies and West African Review. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Ijele: Art eJournal of the African World. She has won two awards for excellence in electronic publishing for her work with JENdA. She has also won a Senior Humanities Fellowship from UCLA; a Society for the Humanities Fellowship from Cornell; and a Smithsonian Institution Postdoctoral Fellowship.

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - JMU Women's Student Caucus

Breaking the Myth of the “JMU Girl”

Join the JMU Women's Student Caucus for an evening of pizza and discussion
January 29th
7 PM
Taylor 400

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENTS - College of Visual and Performing Arts

Feb 1 – 27, “Prop Art: African Art in the 1960’s and ‘70s Cuban Graphics,” The Gallery at Festival

Feb 1 – March 3, “China Now,” PRISM Gallery

Feb 4-8, Contemporary Music Festival, Wilson Aud., 8 pm, $6/$3

Feb 10 – April 14, “Picturing War: A Century of Graphic Representations” IVS Gallery, opening reception 2/10, Roop 208, 11 am-1pm

Readings for this week

No reading for Tomorrow

Reading for 1/29

http://davismk13.googlepages.com/zarefsky.pdf

No readings this week

We will watch a video in class on Tuesday so no readings this week.

Enjoy!!

Toulmin Model

We will be discussing the Toulmin Model on 1/15 and I have posted the following as a study guide

Source: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~digger/305/toulmin_model.htm

Broken Link

The second link for tomorrow's readings is broken. I was unable to find the article elsewhere so don't worry about reading it.

Mike

Readings for 1/15

Where is argument? - http://students.uta.edu/gx/gxc5027/Brockriede.doc

Finding Arguments - http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~dalec/finding.html

ARGUMENT AND ADVOCACY EVENT - MLK Day Events

MLK Events

You may attend any two of these events for practicum credit. Post your responses as a comment to this blog post.

Syllabus

SCOM 342 – Argumentation and Advocacy

Contact Information:

Name- Dr. Michael K. Davis

Office – Harrison 2268

Office Hours – Tues-Thurs 3:30-5:00, Wed 3:00-5:00

E-mail: Davismk@jmu.edu (I am also available via IM through either gmail or aol at davismk13)

Course Structure: This course attempts to engage the study of argumentation on two levels. First, the course examines theories of argumentation and the historical nature of advocacy studies. Because these theories are less useful without concrete application, the second goal of the course is to demonstrate the ways that argumentation theories can be applied to case studies through the use of historical and modern day examples.

Assignments:

Blog 250

Advocacy Project 200

Paper 250

Participation 150

Practicum 150

Grade Scale:

A 940-1000

A- 900-939

B+ 870-899

B 840-869

B- 800-839

C+ 770-799

C 740-769

C- 700-739

D 600-699

F 599 or below

Course Readings:

Blog: Every textbook I looked at for this course was overpriced and incomplete. Thus, readings will be posted on the course blog at http://scom342.blogspot.com. Readings (except for the first two weeks) will be placed on the blog two weeks before they are expected to be read.

No Class: There is no class on the following dates; February 10^th, March 19^th, March 24^th, March 26^th and March 31^st. On days when class is cancelled I still expect you to check the blog for readings and course updates.

Assignment Description:

Paper: Each student will construct a 5 page paper that applies argumentation theory to a case study of the student’s choosing. These are research papers and will require significant use of outside sources. More specific details about the paper will be distributed before the midpoint in the semester.

Participation: I prefer not to lecture all day every day. Thus, I expect significant class participation. Showing up and meaningfully participating daily will earn you 100 points. Failure to show up will earn you zero points. Most people will fall somewhere in between. You can also help your participation grade by posting to the blog. However, participation on the blog will not make up for a lack of participation in the classroom.

Practicum: Former New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra once said “You can observe a lot by watching.” I believe the same is true of our study of argumentation and advocacy. You will be required to attend five approved events during the course of the semester and post your reactions to these events on the blog. I will post events periodically that I believe illustrate the power of argumentation and advocacy in every day life. There will be events throughout the semester, but you should not wait until the end of the semester to complete them. Some events may be required for all class participants.

Extra Credit: I simply cannot survey all of the events on campus to find those that illuminate the nature of argumentation. You may earn extra credit by sending me a write up on an argumentation event which would be appropriate for the practicum listed above. If I approve the event you will receive five bonus points. You may receive credit for up to four events during the course of the semester.

Blog Assignment: Each student will be responsible for creating a blog on blogspot.com. Students are expected to choose a single topic that is important to them and post weekly. This is both a space for you to express your opinions and a place for you to demonstrate the ways that the course readings apply to public controversies in the world around us. Blogs will be graded on their reflection of student’s understanding of course material, inclusion of new or unique views and demonstration of a familiarity of historical and contemporary social movements.

Advocacy Project: In addition to creating a blog related to your issue you will be expected to complete an advocacy project concerning that issue. Your project is a way to use the argumentation and advocacy techniques from class to spread the word about an issue you feel passionate about. Your project should be substantial and be open to a broad audience. More specific guidelines will be handed out during the first two weeks of class.
Other Class Policies:

Attendance: Participation and other missed assignments cannot be made up. Missing a significant number of classes will significantly reduce your final grade.

Special Concerns: If you have any special concerns please let me know as early as possible. This includes students who need assistance through student services and those who will be missing class for university sanctioned events.

Academic Honesty: I will follow JMU’s policy on academic honesty:

“Making references to the work of others strengthens your own work by granting you greater authority and by showing that you are part of a discussion located within an intellectual community. When you make references to the ideas of others, it is essential to provide proper attribution and citation. Failing to do so is considered academically dishonest, as is copying or paraphrasing someone else’s work. The consequences of such behavior will lead to consequences ranging from failure on an assignment to failure in the course to dismissal from the university. Because the disciplines of the Humanities value collaborative work, you will be encouraged to share ideas and to include the ideas of others in your papers. Please ask if you are in doubt about the use of a citation. Honest mistakes can always be corrected or prevented.”

Inclement Weather Policy:

Decisions to close university operations will be made by the President or a designee. If the decision to close is made, announcements will be made on JMU radio station 1610AM, on the JMU Home Page on the World Wide Web and on area radio and television stations.

When it is necessary to cancel classes due to weather or other emergency, we will hold class electronically, using. Blackboard. Please check Blackboard if class is cancelled for assignments.

Additionally, the university may be forced to cancel or reschedule final examinations. Decisions to close university operations will be made by the President, or a designee. If the decision to close the university and reschedule final examinations is made, announcements will be made as noted above.

When the university closes due to weather or other type of emergency, faculty will administer regularly scheduled examinations at a time designated by the university. The official make up time will be designated as part of the closing announcement. Unless otherwise notified, examination locations will be the same as the location for the regularly scheduled exam.

If it is determined that exams cannot be given because of inclement weather or other emergency, faculty will assign final grades to students based on the exams, tests and projects completed prior to the regularly scheduled exam date.