Murray’s Part
of this Course
Team-teaching with Dr. Lu Wei
• Two separate streams of teaching, same theme: “Effective Communication”
• Alternating weeks:
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Aug 29: LW
Sept 5: Murray
Sept 12: LW
Sept 19: Murray
…
Possible adjustments based on holidays and travel
Quick Biography of Murray Sherk
• From Canada
• BSc in Computer Science 1982
• Partner in microcomputer start-up company 1982-84
• MSc in Computer Science 1985
• PhD in Computer Science (theoretical, ~mathematical analysis) 1989
• CS Professor at U. Waterloo 1989-91
• Taught at USTC 1991-93, 1995/96, 1997-2001, 2006-10, 2011-15, 2015bpresent.
• Also have 2 years studying in Changchun, and 3 years teaching in Lhasa
• At USTC, my teaching focuses on presentation skills
Overall Goal: Know how to make GOOD
arguments using English
• What is an “argument”?
• “argument” = “claim that something should be believed or done” +
“reasons for believing or doing it”
• Example 1:
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Claim: “Buy the car I’m selling”
Reasons: “It’s a BMW and will make you look important.”
• Example 2:
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Claim: “This contract is fair to us both.”
Reasons: “Neither of us got all that we wanted.”
Skills needed to make GOOD arguments
• Logic skills
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What convinces people?
What “sounds good” but is actually not a good reason to believe?
• Presentation skills
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PowerPoint and Prezi
Organization
Style and tone
“Good enough” pronunciation and vocabulary
• Culture skills
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How do Western ideas affect arguments in an international context?
Major Classroom Activities
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Study of arguments and logical fallacies
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Assignment #1: Logical fallacies
Argue a court case: Who will inherit the money?
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Assignment #2: Arguments in the court case / Analysis of arguments
Study of presentation skills including visual aids
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Assignment #3: Prezumé
Final Exam:
• Each student does a Business/Management Prezi presentation
• Judged by (1) Lu Wei, (2) Murray, and (3) Alison
for (1) Business skills, (2) Presentation skills, (3) Language skills
Other Activities
• English “Open House” free talk in my home (& 2 other homes of foreigners)
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East Campus, Building 26
Apartments 202 (Canada), 401 (India), 402 (USA).
Tuesday evenings, 7:00pm to 9:00pm starting next week (September 13)
• Dinner in my home: Once for each of you, in groups of 5
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To be scheduled this semester, probably starting in October
What evening would fit your schedules?