
PROOF AND PERSUASION:
The Rhetoric of Scientific Integrity
FALL 2023
© 2023 by Cynthia Shearer
CYNTHIA SHEARER
419-H REED HALL
BOX 297700
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
PHONE EXT: 817.257.6593
ENGLISH 20803 - WRITING AS ARGUMENT
Section 63:MWF @ 2 p.m. in Reed 221
Cynthia Shearer, Instructor
OFFICE HOURS: 1 - 2 p.m. MW in Reed 419_H
DIGITAL SYLLABUS
Unit 1: Evidence
M Aug 21: Course intro
W Aug 23: Dissoi Logoi, Epoche, Exigence, Kairos
F Aug 25: Cognitive Biases Reflection Assignment
M Aug 28: Logical Fallacies (YouTube tours)
W Aug. 30: Cargo Cult Science & Scientific Integrity
F Sept 1: Evidence & Appeals
M Sept 4: Class does not meet/Labor Day holiday
W Sept 6 : Research Terminology and Mapping
F Sept 8: Evidence Test (take home)
M Sept 11: The Scientific Evidence Cycle/ Topic Discussion Day
W Sept 13 :Types of Sources: Peer-Reviewed, Think Tanks,
Meta-analyses
F: Sept 15: Types of Sources: Propaganda, PseudoScience, Fake News, Perception Management; Evidence Test due in D2L
M Sept 18: Kuhn Cycle Quiz / Assign Annotated Bibliographies
W Sept 20: Open Sourcing Workshop: Google Research Shortcuts
F Sept. 22: APA BASICS
M Sept 25: Setting up Twitter research feeds in class; bring laptops.
W Sept 27: Research Roundtable
F Sept 29: Open workshop (optional attendance) for bibliographies
M Oct 2:
Rhetorical Analysis: UN Charter on Human Rights
Unit 2: Classical Argument
M Oct 2: UN Declaration of Human Rights rhetorical analysis.
W Oct 4: Conferences
F Oct 6: Fall Break (turn in bibliography here)
M Oct 9: Cutoff date for Annotated Bibliographies
Discussion of MLK's Birmingham jail letter
Intro to Classical Argument
W Oct 11: Writing Intros & Background
F Oct 13: TCU 150th/class did not meet
M Oct 16: Intros & Call to Action
W Oct 18: Writing Background/Narratio
F Oct 20: Writing Rebuttals
M Oct 23: Writing Rebuttals; Writing Calls to Action
W Oct 25: APA workshop
F Oct 27: Norming Session


Public Advocacy Website
M. Oct.30: Peer-Review Rough Drafts
W. Nov. 1: Research Roundtable
F. Nov 3: Class does not meet. CUTOFF DATE FOR CLASSICAL ARGUMENT
M.Nov.6: FAQ Assignment
W.Nov.8: FAQ workshop/ FAQ due
F.Nov.10: Conflict Resolution & Framing
M.Nov.13: “About Me” assignment
W.Nov.16: Introduction to Wix templates
F.Nov.17: Toolbars and Tabs/ Editing Text in Wix
M.Nov.20: Thanksgiving break
W.Nov.22: Thanksgiving break
M.Nov. 27: Intro to Wix and web advocacy
W. Nov. 29: Wix workshop in class
F. Dec. 1: Wix workshop in class
M.Dec.4: Web advocacy works in progress in class
W.Dec.6: Web advocacy works in progress in class
F.Dec.8: Study Day
: Final Exam Time: 2:00 - 4:30 pm on Dec. 15
Open workshop / help session
Website must be transferred on Wix by 5 pm.


