Argumentation and Debate
Argumentation and debate helps JDAHP students develop clear, logical and ethical arguments using critical-thinking strategies in argumentation speeches as well as Lincoln-Douglas, cross-examination, parliamentary, and Oxford debates. The course is offered as a separate course(Spch 279) or as an honors option in a regular course.
JDAHP students improve their critical thinking, reasoned decision-making, research strategies, advocacy skills, presentation of constructive arguments, and refutation of their opponents' argument.
Since debate requires experienced instruction, Dr. Jack David Armold shares his knowledge and experience with them as a former high school and college debater as well as a debate coach at Southern Nazarene University, University of Houston, University of Illinois at Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, and Jackson State University.
To be successful in this course, the JDAHP student should be highly motivated to analyze and explore issues through research, be able to clearly state arguments with supporting evidence and to structure persuasive reasoning. Students learn to avoid fallacies, work with colleagues in building affirmative and negative cases, refute arguments, and deliver effective constructive and refutation speeches. Although the student is not required to have taken a fundamentals of public speaking course elsewhere, he or she would greatly benefit from having taken one. Previous public speaking experience is also an asset.
Debate encourages student scholarship since organizing, presenting, and defending a debate case are directly transferable to many other academic pursuits and students' chosen careers. Training and experience in argumentation, debate, and critical thinking are important assets in many other areas of graduate study and in business and professional endeavors.
Goals for the debate course include:
- Improved critical thinking, reasoned decision-making, and advocacy skills
- Preparation for effective participation in a democracy
- Leadership skills development
- Social issues investigation by analyzing them through stock issues: need, plan, and advantages
- Integrated knowledge through interdisciplinary studies
- Ability to make prompt, analytical responses
- Ability to listen to their opponents with focused attention
- Reflective thinking for significant problems considered from many points of view
- Courage in taking a stance by formulating a case and defending it against strong opposition
- Effective interaction with colleagues, opponents, and judges
- Increased proficiencies in writing, thinking, reading, speaking, and listening