Speaking, Arguing and Writing

Instructors Course Description Grading Syllabus Links Speaking, Arguing and Writing Memos

In this course, we focus on speaking, arguing, and writing as the main learning strategy. My primary objective is that, by the end of this semester, each student will be able to take a reasoned position in the controversy about the link between globalization and economic development. More specifically, that means that a student should be able to: * understand the complexity of the arguments on the different sides, * evaluate different claims in light of the evidence presented, * articulate an analytical framework, and * defend policy recommendations. In order to achieve these goals, a student has to be able to: * know how to listen *identify the key arguments in an article/presentation and evaluate the soundness of the evidence *synthesize large amounts of information * construct a persuasive argument Students will focus on the process and the effectiveness of arguing in speaking and writing through a variety of ways: discussions in the weekly seminars, formal presentations and negotiations through role playing and simulations, written assignments. This course has a speaking, arguing, and writing (SAW) mentor, a fellow student who is well versed in the techniques and strategies of arguing in speaking and writing. Students will work with the SAW mentor and the instructor throughout the semester to improve their ability to argue cogently and persuasively. Discussion: In this seminar, discussion is the main mode of interaction. A set of questions (provided by the instructor) will serve as a guide to the readings each week. Before each class on Monday, each student is required to post a reading response on Ella (by Sunday evening, no later than 10 pm) laying out her/his answer to one of the designated questions. The same questions will provide the framework for the discussions in class. Discussions are a cooperative activity that requires listening, speaking, and arguing skills. We will pay explicit attention to all of them (read memo on discussions).  Everybody has the right and the obligation to participate in the discussion. Conferences: In the last part of the semester, we will run a number of conferences. The first set of conferences will be organized like academic conferences with a specific theme for each panel. Each student has to present her research findings on one panel and discuss another student's paper on another panel. Students' research papers will be grouped by similarity of issue, and the instructor will put the panels together and assign the discussants. During the last class of the semester, we will stage a conference on changes in global rules which will increase the benefits of globalization for developing countries. The conference will start with a brief presentation by each student, based on a 2-3 page paper she wrote (read memo on assignments). Research paper: Each student has to write a research paper on the impact of a particular aspect of globalization (generally, FDI or trade) on the development prospects of a specific country. The paper has to have a theoretical and empirical part structured so as to answer the specific question which the student has identified as her focus (read memo on assignments).