I like the idea of thinking about what I want students to do by the end of the term and organizing the class around this. In a way, this seems to me a question of objectives. But, I think that I need to spend more time thinking about what I want students to be able to do. There is a temptation to ask what you want students to read or to write. These are easier, in some ways, to pin down. But to ask what you want students to do is a bigger question. And in some ways, you can't decide what they should read or write until you have nailed down what you want them to do.
To be able to identify arguments as well as the premises and ideologies behind arguments.
To be able to construct arguments.
IDEA: Reading groups. Have students read a political manifesto type book (of their own political orientation or the other?) in book groups and talk about it and/or write a book review? Possibly over thanksgiving?
