INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE
DEBATE REVIEW AND DISCUSSIONS
Introduction
The course “Logic and Critical Thinking” has built into the curriculum 20% of the work to be done online. The three Debate Reviews and Discussions fulfill this course requirement. Each of the three debate reviews and discussions is anticipated to take approximately four hours to complete the online portion (watching the media and small group discussion). The writing of the four page minimum paper is not captured by the five hour online aspect of the online portion. Each debate review and discussion is broken down into four phases: watching/reading the media, small group discussion, large group discussion board and your individual work through the four page paper.
The Focus for the business-related debate
The focus for the second debate assignment is to continue to pay attention to any definite arguments – the V and T argument structures (identify at least two), but this time pay more attention to the conditional types of arguments that may arise within the documentary. These are statements are include things like, “If this, then this.” Or “Either this or this” – or any of the valid forms we looked at in class. Once you have identified at least 4 throughout the movie, diagram them either through a sentential structure or a symbolic one and briefly describe how they are used in the documentary. For a bonus, see if you can find an invalid argument – one that either denies the antecedent or affirms the consequent.
Please be sure to also spend some time in the online small group discussion board set up for you to talk through the various arguments you have identified within the documentary.
Finally, give comment to your views on a comparison between the more definite argument structures and the conditional argument structures as you have found them in the documentary. As part of this discussion, indicate what it is have you learned by watching this video that you will need to be mindful of when engaging in your own debate later on in the course.
Watching/Reading the Media
Each debate review and discussion will have some aspect of media attached, i.e., documentary, movie and/or textual material, etc. This portion will take about 2-3 hours. Each debate review and discussion will have a focus for you to use when reviewing the media. For example, the Historical Debate review targets the use of language and the picking out of key arguments (premises and conclusions used). As you review the media, keep the particular focus of the debate in mind, jotting down notes as you need for the latter portions of this process.

Small Group Discussion
This portion should last between 30 and 60 minutes of each person’s time. Once each of you has had a chance to review the media and jot preliminary notes, work in the groups that you’ve picked. These groups are online and will be observed by the professor, with potential comments coming from the professor periodically. In your small group discussions, engage in a dialogue about the focus for that debate review and discussion being made. Listen to the points of your group members and have a general discussion about the topics being focused in a particular debate review and discussion. Each of you may have a shift in your perception or your perception may be confirmed.
Minimum Four-Page, Individual Paper that flows from the online portion
This final aspect of the Debate Review and Discussion should be easily done over a weekend. This is a four-page, individual paper (double spaced, 12 pt. Times Roman font and no extra line spaces between paragraphs) that captures your shifting understanding of the focus for each particular debate review and discussion. Go through any notes you have jotted down, read your small group discussion posts and the discussion board to prepare your paper. Explore the focus through the debate and your understanding of what any new insights are. You can also review the rubrics that are included as part of the general assignment write up on Blackboard.