AP/MODR1770 6.0 T: Techniques of Persuasion
Offered by: MODR
Session
Winter 2025
Term
W
Format
ONLN (Fully Online)
Calendar Description / Prerequisite / Co-Requisite
This is a skills-based course focusing on critical thinking, persuasive writing, and strategic argumentation. Examples are drawn from various forms of persuasion including advertising, propaganda and political argument. Course credit exclusions: AP/MODR 1730 6.00, AP/MODR 1760 6.00. Note: This is an approved LA&PS General Education course: Humanities OR Social Science.
Course Start Up
Course Websites hosted on York's "eClass" are accessible to students during the first week of the term. It takes two business days from the time of your enrolment to access your course website. Course materials begin to be released on the course website during the first week. To log in to your eClass course visit the York U eClass Portal and login with your Student Passport York Account. If you are creating and participating in Zoom meetings you may also go directly to the York U Zoom Portal.
For further course Start Up details, review the Getting Started webpage.
For IT support, students may contact University Information Technology Client Services via askit@yorku.ca or (416) 736-5800. Please also visit UIT Student Services or the Getting Help - UIT webpages.
Dr. Shyam Ranganathan
shyamr@yorku.ca
“ Techniques of Persuasion is the version of Modes of Reasoning that touches upon work in the social sciences (at least two), and including humanities outside of philosophy. It touches on advertising, propaganda and political discourse. This is a skills-based course focusing on critical thinking, persuasive writing, and strategic argumentation. A topic that will unite our exploration of these themes are philosophies of meditation from Asia.”
Patañjali. Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra. Penguin 2008. (Available on Kindle)
Online Readings, linked via Moodle
Participation: 40 %
Annotated Bibliography: 15 %
Essay: 15 %
(Two) Final Exam(s): 15 %
Learn basic reasoning skills---informal and formal logic.
Understand the difference between reason and belief, between argument and pursuasion.
Discerning the difference between propoganda and research based information
- Academic Honesty
- Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Religious Observance
- Grading Scheme and Feedback
- 20% Rule
No examinations or tests collectively worth more than 20% of the final grade in a course will be given during the final 14 calendar days of classes in a term. The exceptions to the rule are classes which regularly meet Friday evenings or on Saturday and/or Sunday at any time, and courses offered in the compressed summer terms. - Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
