Organizing and Presenting an Extended Argument

Here's a link to the handout on organizing and presenting an extended argument.

Presentations handout

This is a link to the evaluation form I'll be using for your project; you might use it to help you organize your project and make sure you're confidant that you're doing a great job in every category:

Evaluation Form - Group Project

Be sure that you're all in contact with one another regularly outside of class. You can use your Yahoo groups and your group thread on the course blog to exchange ideas as you work on your project, and you can reserve study rooms in the Library to get together.

You'll need at least one extended group meeting outside of class to run through the actual presentation and make sure that it fits into your time limit (22 minutes per group) and to give feedback to one another about presentation style (are you mumbling, speaking too quickly, talking to your notes). If you can enlist a friend or the members of another group to give you feedback about the clarity of the argument, that's extra helpful.

Image (c) Siamackz under Creative Commons attribution/share alike license

Term Paper Part 3: Final Essay

Here's a link to the assignment for Part 3 of your term paper - the final draft of the essay.

Term Paper Part 3

Part 3 is due on Tuesday, May 17. Late papers will not be accepted unless you contact me before the due date to arrange for an extension.

Get in touch with me if you need help! The argument map should be a very big help in terms of organizing your thoughts, but if you're unclear about something or need help working through a problem or sorting through your ideas, send me an email or drop by my office hours.

Good luck; have fun!

Photo (c) Tulane University Public Relations under Creative Commons generic attribution license

Preparing Your Group Presentation

Here's a link to the general outline on preparing your presentation.

Preparing Your Presentation

You'll need more time that what we have available in class, so be sure to make good use of the blog threads and your Yahoo groups. You can also reserve study rooms in the Library - they go fast at the end of the semester, so start your planning now.

Let me know if you have any questions while you're working on it. Good luck, have fun!

Argument Maps Part 1

We'll be using Cartargrapher, a web-based argument mapping program, to do part 2 of our term papers. You'll need a google account to sign in; if you don't have a google account, scroll down for a video about how to get one.

Here's a link to the mapping program.

Watch the videos below for a short introduction about how to use the program. It's quite easy and straightforward. Let me know if you have questions as you're working on your maps.

Argument Maps Part 2

Argument Maps Part 3

How to Get a Google Account

Your argument map, Cartargrapher, uses a Google sign-in to safely store your argument maps; that way you can access and work on your map from any computer with an internet connection. You can begin a map in the library at school, then go home and continue to work on the map.

If you already have a Google account, great - you can get started right away and skip this video. If you don't, watch the video below to learn how to get a free Google account. It's very easy, and has some other features that are helpful.

Progress Report - Course Grade Updates

Here's a link to your current course grades.

Your grades are in sets of 3 sheets.

The first set is your overall grade so far in the course. The second column from the right is the total number of points you have so far in the course. 450 is the highest total number. The column furthest to the right shows your current percentage grade as a decimal point. Anything from .895 and up is an A; .795 and up is a B; etc. This is your current grade – it will change as we complete more assignments. If I asked you to resubmit Term Paper Part 1, then you have a "placeholder" grade currently recorded for Part 1. When you give me your new version, your grade will change.

The next set is your term paper grade. You’ve completed one term paper so far, so only the first column has a grade in it.

The next set is your homework grade.

Each set is labeled with the category.

Look for your grade with your student ID number. This was a ton of data entry, and I’m not good at data entry – double check your grades carefully to be sure I haven’t made a typo or missed entering a grade. It’s very easy to fix now, so just send me an email if you see a mistake.

Homework for Thursday 3/31

Here are links to the reading and homework assignments for this Thursday.

Reading: Case 6

Homework assignment

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Here's the thread for your group's use. Click on the little pencil below to get started!

(Photo: released to the public domain 2009 by ekem for the Wikimedia Project)

Anti-Androgen Drugs for Crime Prevention?

Here's the thread for your group discussion. Click on the little pencil below to get started.

(Photo: (c) Biggishben 2006 under GNU Free Documentation)

Pay for Play?

Here's your group thread for discussion. Click on the little pencil below to get started!

(Photo: Massimo Finizio (c) 2005 under Creative Commons attribution/share alike)

Foreign Policy

Here's your group's thread for discussion. Click on the little pencil below to start posting!

Photo: 080924-N-3595W-158 GONAIVES, Haiti (Sept. 23, 2008) Haitians help Sailors from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2 offload disaster relief supplies from a landing craft, utility. Service members from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard embarked aboard Kearsarge, along with medical personnel from the USPHS, Canadian Army and Air Force, Brazil, Project Hope and International Aid are working together to conduct hurricane relief operations in Haiti. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina Wollman/Released)

Legalize Marijuana?

Here's your group thread; click on the little pencil below to start your discussion!

Term Paper Part 1: Research

Here's a link to your first term paper assignment: Term Paper Part 1

Contact me right away with any questions, and don't forget to spend at least one hour researching outside of class for every hour we work on the project in class (that means you'll spend at least 4.5 hours of homework time on initial research).

Ask the librarians for help! They can suggest databases or other sources where you're likely to find helpful information; alternative key words to try in your searches; specialized encyclopedias that will give you a beginning and introduce concepts to follow up with; or books that will give you a good foundation (the bibliography in a good book on your subject is a great way to find further sources).

If you're having trouble finding helpful information, don't give up! Get in touch with me for help right away.

PDF copies of the overheads from class

Empirical Claims

Normative Claims

Interpretive Claims

Example of a Normative Argument

Homework: Case 4

Assignment #1: Your sub-topic

Join the Yahoo group on your group topic. Discuss your sub-questions over the next few days, so that everyone is clear about what all the sub-topics are, and who will take which sub-topic for his/her term paper assignment.

Type up a short paragraph answering the following 3 questions:

1. What is your sub-topic?
2. What is the group topic?
3. How will your sub-topic help the group to answer it’s main question (topic)?

Assignment #2: Case 4

Read Case 4, linked below.

Case 4: BOZ Will be BOZ

Type your answers:

1. Identify all the major claims made in the case. Don’t confuse claims with sentences – just capture the major claims made about the argument that’s taking place.
2. For each claim, identify which kind of claim it is.

First Homework Assignment

Here's a link to the reading for your first homework, due Thursday January 27.

Case 2 Reading

Here's the new homework question for Case 2:

Read Case 2. Then,

Make a list of reasons why a rational person would think that the flag is NOT offensive; then

make a list of reasons why a rational person would think that the flag IS offensive.

The young women in the story give their own reasons - list those, and then add your own. Spend at least 20 minutes actively brainstorming reasons.

Let me know if you have any questions!

(c) Raul654 under Gnu Free Documentation License

Welcome!

Welcome to Philosophy 130: Intro to Critical Thinking. I hope it'll be a great semester.

Here are links to your syllabus and schedule for the course.

The school is trying to go paperless, so if you'd like a hard copy of the syllabus and schedule, please print them out from the PDF at the link. I'll have a limited number available on the first day for anyone without a printer or an internet connection.

The course readings will be posted to the blog. I'll provide some copies for those who don't have access to a printer or the internet.

I'm looking forward to meeting you next week!