SPCH 103: Argumentation and Debate

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Strongly Recommended: ENGL C1000.
District General Education: A2. Oral Communication and Critical Thinking
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course provides students with the foundational knowledge of argumentation and debate concepts and theories to successfully dissect and deliver arguments in distinct contexts and public speaking settings and to critically evaluate the arguments of others. The course emphasizes Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos, audience analysis, ethics, critical listening, and effective verbal and nonverbal practices for effective argumentation. Last, the course includes analysis of strong evidence and the process of reasoning needed for effective arguing and presentation of arguments to live audiences. Central to this course is the learning of the foundational knowledge and practice of public speaking in a democratic society to communicate ideas through speaking in debate contexts such as to audience’s expected to refute or question the speaker’s central thesis and/or arguments. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Identify foundational concepts in oral communication and argumentation, including Aristotle's concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos\\n
  • Examine complex and diverse audiences to refine their sensitivity to demographic differences, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessiblity\\n
  • Demonstrate skills of reasoning, critical analysis, and using evidence/supporting materials from primary and secondary sources for crediblity, accuracy, and relevance in their arguments and the arguments of others\\n
  • Demonstrate ethical communication practices, including truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and effective reasoning\\n
  • Demonstrate effective delivery techniques through a variety of well-prepared faculty-supervised and faculty-evaluated speeches delivered to an audience.
  • Employ effective verbal and nonverbal practices while delivering a speech and managing communication apprehension\\n
  • Apply rhetorical principles in argumentation to analyze historical and contemporary public discourse and to provide constructive crticism to peers and others. \\n
  • Conceptualizing and effectively communicating compelling arguments in support of a guiding thesis and organizational pattern appropriate for the audience, occasion, and across a variety of argumentation and debate contexts
  • Listening critically to speeches to provide constructive criticism to peers
  • Create an argumentative speech that demonstrates an understanding of and application of sound reasoning while avoiding fallacious reasoning
  • Create an orally communicated response to a public speech that demonstrates effective refutation\\n

Major Course Content

  1. Definitions of communication, informative speaking, persuasive speaking, and arguments
  2. Audience analysis, including demographic differences, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility
  3. Fields of argument, such as public, interpersonal, legal, business, political
  4. Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
  5. Phrasing and analyzing propositions, such as factual, value, and policy propositions
  6. Research (primary and secondary) and credible evidence
  7. Phrasing, identifying, and analyzing arguments, such as the Toulmin Model and stock issue analysis
  8. Identification and avoidance of fallacies
    1. Presentation and debating skills, including verbal and nonverbal delivery, constructive arguments, refutation and cross-examination
  9. Well-prepared faculty-supervised and faculty-evaluated speeches to a live audience
  10. Review and provide constructive criticism for peer and other presentations
  11. Adhering to ethical communication practices when speaking and listening
  12. Canons of rhetoric (invention, arrangement, style, memory, delivery)
  13. Managing communication apprehension 

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Numerous newspapers, online news sources, library database source research.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

1. Written analysis requiring logic and evidence to support specific position(s)
2.Case Study (individual) - Analyze a written argument using the Toulmin Model, focusing on identifying the author’s claims, reasons, and evidence. Discuss what types of arguments are used and whether they are logical or fallacious. Test the sources and evidence for strengths and weaknesses. 3. Term Paper - Write a research paper examining solid arguments for and against a political current event of domestic and/or international importance, utilizing credible sources
A typical paper may be 4 to 8 pages plus bibliography.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Each student is required to research, write and present argumentative briefs on specific topics.
Observe and analyze a pre-recorded or live debate.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 1: English Communication

1C. Oral Communication