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Theory and Practice of Argumentation

Code: 100294
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Catalan Philology: Literary Studies and Linguistics FB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Olga Fernandez Prat
Email :
olga.fernandez@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

This subject has no specific prerequisites.

Objectives

Theory and Practice of Argumentation is a subject of 6 ECTS considered basic and compulsory of the first-year degree of Philosophy, which will be carried out during the first semester of the course.

It is about forming the ability to recognize, analyze, and produce arguments.

This subject aims to introduce the students to the elementary rudiments of Critical Thinking. With a methodology based on group dynamics, oral presentations, and teamwork, we will go deep into the analysis of public language, its implicit reasoning, and its structure. Thus, the theoretical categories of the syllabus will be applied to philosophical texts, but also to some of the various forms of discourse that take place socially: press articles, advertising messages, political propaganda, or the twists and topics that abound in natural language

In short, the ultimate goal of the subject is to familiarize students with philosophical argumentation, rhetoric techniques, and persuasive communication.

Learning outcomes

  1. Analyse and re-write a non-normative text.
  2. Use the appropriate terminology when writing an academic text.
  3. Express ideas effectively in formal academic texts by adopting argumentative and textual procedures.
  4. Submit assignments in formats tailored to requirements and personal styles, whether carried out individually or in a small group.
  5. Establish relationships between science, philosophy, art, religion, politics, etc.
  6. Seek out, choose and manage information independently, both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, or specialist journals) and from internet searches.
  7. Argue a case regarding several philosophical topics and problems arising from different works and evaluate the results.
  8. Organise time and resources for carrying out an assignment: prioritising objectives, and setting calendars and plans for action.
  9. Summarise the central arguments of the philosophical texts studied.
  10. Recognise and put into practice the following teamwork skills: loyalty, willingness to collaborate, cooperation in problem solving.
  11. Clearly, correctly and precisely communicate the knowledge of philosophy acquired, orally and in writing.
  12. Respect the diversity of ideas, people and situations.
  13. Point out and summarise the philosophical content common to various manifestations of different cultural areas.
  14. Recognise and define the common thinking present in a multidisciplinary context.
  15. Adopt a personal stance on a problem or controversy of importance in philosophy, or within a research project on philosophy.
  16. Write a text that displays philosophical rigour and follows international quality standards.
  17. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.

Contents

TOPIC 1


1. Natural Language and Logic


2. Informative and Argumentative Texts


3. Definition and parts of an argument


4. Assertions, statements, and propositions


5. Validity and truth


6. Repairing arguments


7. Types of arguments: deductive and non-deductive


8. Non-deductive arguments


9. Valid deductive arguments: modus ponens, modus tollens, hypothetical syllogism, disjunctive syllogism, dilemma, reductio ad absurdum.


10. Invalid deductive arguments (formal fallacy): affirming the consequent, denying the antecedent, others.


 


TOPIC 2


1. Validity of an argument.


2. Argumentative fallacies.


3. Classification of fallacies: formal and informal


4. Types of formal fallacies


5. Types of informal fallacies


 


TOPIC 3


1. Oratory, eristics, dialectics, and rhetoric


2. Rhetoric in Plato


3. Rhetoric in Aristotle


4. Latin rhetoric


5. Argumentative expressions


6. The construction of discourse: writing workshop.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Review 12 0.48
Tutorial (oral presentations) 15 0.6
Group activities 50 2
Theory classes 26 1.04
Tutorial (writing activities) 30 1.2
Reading 12 0.48

1. Theoretical classes: these are master classes where the teacher will present the contents to be treated in each session.
2. Practical exercises and group dynamics: one part of each class will be devoted to the practice, exercises, and group dynamics of application of the theoretical contents.
3. Oral presentations: the student must be able to present a subject and apply the knowledge of rhetoric and argumentation.
4. Critical thematic debate: the justification for their arguments, as well as respect for the diversity of opinions, will be valued.
 
* All the details, materials, and dates of the various activities will be proposed in the Campus Virtual throughout the course.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Argumentative Text 15% 1 0.04 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Exam 40% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
Oral presentation 30% 1 0.04 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Oral Debate 15% 1.5 0.06 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15

Assessment activities will be as follows:

  • Theoretical exam on topics 1 and 2 (short-answer format) – 40%
  • Oral presentation on a topic chosen by the student and previously agreed upon with the lecturer. It may be done individually or in pairs – 30%
  • In-class oral debate (in groups) – 15%
  • Written text production (individual) – 15%

Revisions: Students have the right to request a review of all assessed activities.

Not Assessable: Students will receive a “Not Assessable” mark if they have submitted less than 30% of the assessed activities.

This course does not offer the Single Assessment option.


NOTES

  • Erasmus students who request to take an exam in advance must present a written document from their home university justifying the request.
  • If a student commits any irregularity that could significantly alter the grade of an assessment activity, that activity will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may follow. If multiple irregularities occur in different assessment activities for the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.
  • The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of this course. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in a grade of 0 for that activity with no possibility of resubmission, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

Bibliography

Aristòtil. Retòrica. Poètica. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 1985.

Ciceró. L'orador. Vols. 43, 54, y 65. Barcelona: Fundació Bernat Metge, 1929-1933.

Fosl, Peter S. The Critical Thinking Toolkit. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017.

Gorgias. “Encomio de Helena.” En Los sofistas: testimonios y fragmentos, traducido por José Solana Dueso, 192-199. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2013.

Kelley, David. The Art of Reasoning: An Introduction to Logic. Editado por Debby Hutchins. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2021.

Laborda, X. De retòrica: la comunicació persuasiva. Barcelona: Editorial UOC, 2012.

Lavin, Andrew. Thinking Well. A Logic and Critical Thinking Textbook. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, 2020.

Plató. Gòrgias. Traducido por Manuel Balasch. En Diàlegs, vol. VIII. Barcelona: Fundació Bernat Metge, 2000.

Rubio, Joana, y Francesc Puigpelat. Com parlar bé en públic. Barcelona: Editorial Mina, 2010.

Weston, Anthony. Las claves de la argumentación. 10ª ed. Barcelona: Editorial Ariel, 2011.

Software

No.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 11 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 12 Catalan first semester morning-mixed