HON 140 Fall 2005

HON 140 Writing & Research I

Fall 2005

TR 1:00-2:30

The sifting of human creations! ---- Nothing less than this is what we ought to mean

by the humanities. William James, 1907

I don't just write to tell what I think. I write to find out what I think. George F. Will, 2003

Course Description & Goals

This course will examine the nature of truth, evidence, argumentation and persuasion in a wide context of subjects

including law and science. Activities have included formal debates and mock trials. Major course goal: to enable you

to become a more logical thinker, to analyze arguments, and to write clear, defensible, persuasive arguments.

Required Texts

	Professor Craine's Sections:
Westin	Anthony Weston, A Rulebook for Arguments, 3rd Edition

	Professor O'Connell's Sections:
Sax	Playing Darts with a Rembrandt : Public and Private Rights in Cultural Treasures

Grading

---	10%	Class Participation
Unit One	15%	On The Uses Of A Liberal Education
Unit Two	15%	Analyzing & Constructing Arguments
Unit Three	20%	Legal Arguments
Unit Four	20%	Argumentation in Debates
Unit Five	20%	Writing an Argumentative Essay

Evaluation

Written assignments will be evaluated on the following factors. Weighting will be determined by

assignment:

Accuracy

Clarity

Organization

Originality

Standards

Prior to course commencement, students will agree in writing to the following course standards:

1.	Class attendance is presumed.
	Students choosing to enroll in this class must clearly understand that complete attendance is expected & agree to honor this commitment.
	Three or more unexcused absences will result in loss of participation score.
	Cell phones must be turned off at all times while in class.

2.	All work must be submitted on due date.
	Unexcused late work will receive a full letter grade reduction if handed in up to one week after the deadline and a zero if submitted thereafter.
	Regardless of lateness, all assignments must be completed in order to receive a course grade.
	All assignments must be printed and stapled. No emails will be accepted. Make & retain backups.

3.	Students must regularly check the online course schedule (listed below) at this site.

4.	Students must attend course activities scheduled beyond class time.
	This includes group meetings and any extra research activities. Your additional course credit is
	based on the presumption that individual outside work and group meetings will be necessary.

Schedule

Subject to Change -- Check here often

Last Modified -- 10.18.05

Unit		On the Uses of a Liberal Education
I		Prof. O'Connell
8/30 - 9/13	assignment	CCSU Academic Integrity Policy Site Giamatti: The Earthly Use of a Liberal Education James: The Social Value of the College-Bred Bono: Commencement Speech Assignment: Due on 9/20
	references	tba

Unit		Analyzing & Constructing Arguments
II		Prof. Craine
9/15 - 10/6	assignment	You are responsible for reading Rulebook for Arguments. Specific sections of this text will be assigned during this unit. Assignment Due: Exercise Sets (to be assigned by and submitted to Prof. Craine—dates to be announced.)
	references	Westin, Rulebook for Arguments

Unit		Legal Arguments
III		Profs. Craine & O'Connell
10/11 - 10/20	assignment	Background on the United States Constitution and the Role of the Supreme Court will be presented. Possible field trip Assignment: Analysis of a selected Supreme Court Case. Due Date: 11/01 Brown v. Board of Education can be found HERE. Cases for analysis: Kelo V. New London McCreary County v. ACLU Lawrence v. Kansas Gratz v. Bollinger
	references	CSPAN Web Site

Section		Argumentation in Debates
IV		Prof. O'Connell
10/25 – 10/27 11/15 – 12/13	assignment	Assignment: Sax, On Playing darts with a Rembrandt Debates will take immediately following the Thanksgiving Break
	references	English Speaking Union: British Debate The Oxford Union

Section		Writing an Argumentative Essay
V		Prof. Craine
11/1 - 11/10	assignment	Topics appear in written syllabus Due date: TBA
	references	Westin, Rulebook for Arguments