Argumentatie: Analyseren en redeneren

To solve complex problems, argumentation skills are crucial for engineers. Not only during your studies, but also in your career, you will need to justify design choices, deliberate with (potential) clients or write project proposals and (grant) applications. You can only persuade a potential client of your brilliant design if you are able to articulate its strengths through convincing arguments

Critical thinking not only helps engineers identify and avoid pitfalls in their own work, but also enables them to recognise fallacies and weaknesses in the work of others. Therefore, in the course "Argumentation: Analysis and Reasoning", you will learn to unravel others' arguments as well as construct strong and persuasive arguments of your own.

As this course involves both analysing and producing argumentation, there are two assessments: (1) an analysis assignment and (2) an argumentative essay. Both assignments will be graded (1-10) and contribute equally to the final grade. A minimum grade of 6.0 is required for both assessments. Since skills are best acquired through practice, your attendance is expected. Attendance is therefore mandatory to pass the course.

The course will be taught in English and therefore both assessments will be in English. However, students who are enrolled in a Dutch BSc program are allowed to write their analysis assignment and essay in Dutch.