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This special seminar for advanced level Korean ESL students will introduce the basic ideas of rhetoric with a goal of teaching participants how to craft an effective claim, develop logical and defensible supporting arguments, anticipate and prepare for counter-arguments, and skilfully attack opposing positions. We will begin by studying basic rhetorical methods and them hone our skills using current controversies as topics for debate practice. At the end of the course the students should have the ability to create and defend a logical position in a debate.
Introduction: Rhetoric and The Art of WarOne way to look at rhetoric is to see it as a war against an opposing position. And one of the first thing every general must do when preparing for battle is to take inventory of the weapons at his disposal. In rhetorical terms, the weapons of battle are divided into three categories: logos, ethos, and pathos. During this class we will look at the three types of argument and how they can be deployed against specific types of defenses.
In the first place God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards. Debate TopicsNow that we have introduced the idea of rhetoric and can understand some to the principles of argument we can begin to apply these ideas to some "real-world" problems. Below are the topic outlines for our in-class debates on current issues and cultural controversies. Enjoy.
Topic One
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| gay_rights_and_the_gay_marriage_debate.docx |
Topic Two
"Euthanasia and the Right to Die"
As medicine becomes more and more advanced, families are being faced with the difficult situation of deciding when it is in the best interest of a dying loved one to withdraw artificial life-support systems or even to administer an overdose of drugs to end the life of a terminally ill patient. Euthanasia, which comes from the Greek words for "a good death," is a highly controversial subject and one which ties into religion, medicine, ethics, and technology.
| euthanasia.docx |