Instructors
Course
Description
Grading
Syllabus
Resources
Speaking,
Arguing and Writing
Memos
|
A
good discussion takes work and awareness of some basic rules. 1) Engaging in academic controversy
is about finding the best explanation by subjecting all claims to
rigorous critical analysis. It means coming to an understanding
of the reasons for difference as well as finding shared assumptions.
It also means finding the weak points in arguments. That is critical
for advancing our understanding of the issues. If you disagree with
a statement, you have an obligation to state your disagreement.
Remember, you always critique arguments, you never critique the
person presenting the argument.
Criticism has to be constructive, not destructive. You want
to further our understanding of the issue, you don’t want to score
points. 2) You cannot participate in a discussion effectively
unless you develop the habit of listening carefully. Your fellow
students have insightful things to say, and your arguments should
be responsive to theirs. Although we aspire to speak concisely,
we often don’t. If you are not sure what somebody else meant, ask
for clarification. 3) While we want to construct our arguments carefully,
we have normally only a rough idea of the argument in mind and then
develop it as we speak. Do not wait until you have figured out the
perfect argument in your mind! If you have an idea, articulate it
and develop the argument as you go. That doesn’t legitimate any
BS (which is normally recognized rather easily), but it does legitimate
a process of learning to articulate an argument as you go. Again,
practice will improve your performance. By the end of the semester
you’ll be much better than at the beginning. 4) Along similar lines, do not be afraid to speak up in the group. We all have different degrees of anxiety about speaking up in a group. There is no better way of speaking in a group than doing it. The more you do it, the lower your anxiety level. Don’t be intimidated, and by the same token, don’t intimidate. |