Everyday we are subjected to 'arguments' in the media, from
politicians, theologians, and professors, often attempting to
convince us to believe what they want us to believe.  How can you
tell the difference between a good and a bad argument?  Is it the
style of the argument; the mere rhetorical flourishes; or is there
something deeper?  How can you develop a critical eye, and even
improve your own attempts at rational persuasion?  This course is
designed to help the student become a more critical thinker, and
(hopefully) become immune to common fallacies and other deceptions.
We will examine arguments from philosophy, theology and public life,
and isolate some of the features that promote rational persuasion.
Topics include: identifying, analyzing and evaluating arguments;
using informal logic as a tool in critical reasoning; identifying
fallacies; and other ways of solving problems.