Debate/ argumentative class, both short assignments.

Debate/ argumentative class, both short assignments. The first is a real world fallacy and the second is a research test, choosing one of the two topics and stating your opinion about the pros and con’s, one assignment has a cite requirement, due thursday……….

2-Real World Fallacy

For this discussion you will find an example of a fallacy (or fallacies) occuring in “the wild.” I want you to find someone making the argument or claim that is fallacious (not an example you pull from a website just citing examples, but an actual current event argument).

• You will post the example either as a link or embedded file (if it’s a video)
• You will then summarize the argument (trying to avoid making a straw man); it is likely there are many fallacies present, but try to focus on fleshing out just one or two of the major ones.
• You will then indicate which fallacy it is (or fallacies if you think there is more than one)
• You will then tell us why the argument fails

Finally, be sure to offer a rebuttal, or if you think the conclusion is true but the reasoning is bad, offer better reasoning

3-Research Test

For this discussion, you are going to strengthen your “good research” muscles. You will begin researching the topics we will be debating for our Fact Debates (please don’t research different topics)

Topics:

Police departments are necessary

Access to the internet is a human right

Choose one of the above topics to research. Then you will find two (2) sources that help to support the proposition of fact, and two (2) sources that refute the proposition of fact. You will then “annotate” your sources, just as you would for an annotated bibliography.

For each source, you will cite in MLA, then under the citation, you will write two paragraphs, one summarizing the content, and one paragraph “assessing” the source using the SMELL test.

• Is the source credible: proximity to information, independence, expertise?
• What is the motivation of the source?
• What is some evidence that the source provides that supports/refutes the proposition?
• Are there any fallacies that you can find?
• What is left-out that you find relevant?