HDO 386: Persuasion and Argumentation

Clay Spinuzzi, clay.spinuzzi@utexas.edu

Office hours: Mondays at noon on Zoom and by appointment

Course Description

Persuasion is a critical function within any organization. From minor decisions to major strategy shifts, persuasion happens at multiple levels, for multiple reasons, and in various forms. And like anything else, it can be done effectively or ineffectively, ethically or unethically.

But what makes an argument persuasive, and to whom? In this course, students will review theories of persuasive argumentation, learn methodologies for developing complex persuasive arguments, then apply these theories and methodologies to case studies. Drawing from multidisciplinary perspectives, students will learn how to examine and evaluate persuasion as well as how to persuade others in a variety of forms. This course aims to prepare students to make effective arguments for organizational changes broadly and within their capstone project in particular.

Learning outcomes

• Develop a theoretical understanding of persuasion and argumentation.
• Identify and analyze audiences, especially stakeholders.
• Analyze, critique, and produce common persuasive genres.

To reach these learning outcomes, we will draw from fields such as rhetoric, linguistics, philosophy, government, English, psychology, sociology,  anthropology, and management.

Linkages to other HDO courses: As you complete the projects in this course, you’ll be making connections to your other courses.

• HDO 382: How do leaders make decisions, and what information do they need?
• HDO 380: How does an organization’s culture impact how it perceives a problem? What warrants (underlying expectations) affect how decision-makers understand and address problems?
• HDO 383: How do diverse backgrounds affect the dynamics of a decision-making group? What presentational techniques can be leveraged to address them?
• HDO 287: How does an organization’s structure influence how decisions are made and limit what is possible?
• HDO 381, 384: How do individual perspectives differ from cultural ones? How do individuals guard their own territory? How do they make decisions at variance with others? How do we support decision-making and judgment through communication?
• HDO 285: What ethical decisions must you make as you craft your argument? How must you address others’ ethics?
• HDO 390, 391: How does one assess whether a methodology rigorously addresses the questions and yields a reasonable solution? How do we make reasonable inferences from data, and how do we use them to support decisions?
• HDO 288: How are reports on organizations written?

Readings: We'll use the book below, plus readings linked to each class day.

• Williams and Bizup. Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace (5ed)

Attendance: Attendance at all class meetings and intensive weeks is expected and required. If you must miss a meeting, contact me before any absence to arrange ways to make up any work missed. 

Policies

Email Notification Policy

All students should become familiar with the University's official e-mail student notification policy. It is the student's responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his or her e-mail address. Students are expected to check e-mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay current with University-related communications, recognizing that certain communications may be time-critical. It is recommended that e-mail be checked daily, but at a minimum, twice per week. The complete text of this policy and instructions for updating your e-mail address are available at http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html.

Special Needs
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone), or visit http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.

Preferred names and pronouns

Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.

Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements. Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the professor and TAs for this course are required to report for further investigation any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or against a UT student or employee. Federal law and university policy also requires reporting incidents of sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct (collectively known as Title IX incidents). This means we cannot keep confidential information about any such incidents that you share with us. If you need to talk with someone who can maintain confidentiality, please contact University Health Services (512-471-4955 or 512-475-6877) or the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center (512-471-3515 or 512-471-2255). We strongly urge you make use of these services for any needed support and that you report any Title IX incidents to the Title IX Office.