Abstract
This activity seeks to explain to undergraduate students how to craft a proper attack and defense in argumentation and debate, persuasion, or political communication courses. The activity teaches students 1) the parts of a basic argument structure and 2) how to construct a rebuttal using a basic argument structure. Students will argue against their true political typology by selecting an opposing typology from the Pew Research Typology Quiz. Broadly, this exercise is designed to encourage students to engage in dialogues with people who disagree with their political positionality. Specifically, the activity accomplishes this by teaching students the value of basic argument structure in political discussions and is an extension of Zarefsky’s work on teaching the practice of argumentation. Additionally, it incorporates recent scholarship on how post-pandemic online learning has impacted higher education and political polarization. As such, this activity can be used for in-person or online asynchronous modalities.
Recommended Citation
Oliver, Rebecca
(2023)
"Argumentation for Critical Heterogenous Political Discussions: Constructing a Rebuttal,"
Discourse: The Journal of the SCASD: Vol. 8, Article 6.
Available at:
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/discoursejournal/vol8/iss1/6
Included in
Broadcast and Video Studies Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Graphic Communications Commons, Health Communication Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Other Communication Commons, Rhetoric Commons, Social Influence and Political Communication Commons, Social Media Commons, Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons