Course information

Title	The art of being right. How to win arguments (gain agreement and acceptance)
Number	920.057
Type	Lecture/Practical
Semester hours	2
Offered in	Summer semester 2025
Lecturer (Assistant)	Berger, Norbert
Organisation	Centre for Social Competence (Contact information)
Curriculum / ECTS Credits	Degree type/curriculum SPO-V Allocation to module Part of the Curriculum Type Rec. sem. ECTS credits Equ. Prerequ.   No entries.
Course description
Content	How successful are you in debates, arguments, discussions in private, academic and professional situations? Based on Schopenhauer’s 38 tricks to always be right, we analyse and practice methods of successful speakers. We learn to identify them, apply them and deal with others using them against us. We also discuss ethical decisions we face in such communications.
Previous Knowledge Expected	English level C1 or B2
Objective (Expected Results of Study and Acquired Competences)	• Ability to understand different perceptions and expectations of private, professional and academic thought and communications; • Ability to gain agreement and acceptance; • Ability to identify and interpret hidden intentions in argument and debate; • Identify and evaluate claims and evidence as well as flawed argument; • Improved awareness, knowledge and skills; • Training done in English
Languages of Instruction	English
Teaching and Learning Method (Transfer of Skills) Workload for Students	[English] interactive & New Media (conveying knowledge also in a computer based way) Self-assessment quizzes, analyses of training sample texts, written and spoken, preparations of readings and assignments, class performances, peer and tutor feedback, learning blogs with goal-setting, reports, reflection of performances in several learning cycles
Course management assisted by Moodle	No
Scheduled Dates	920.057 The art of being right. How to win arguments (gain agreement and acceptance) (2SH VU, SS 2025) Group Day Date from to Place Type of Class Date Type Comment   Standardgruppe Tue 11.3.2025 09:00 13:15 online regular class confirmed Tue 25.3.2025 09:00 13:15 online regular class confirmed Tue 8.4.2025 09:00 13:15 online regular class confirmed Tue 29.4.2025 09:00 13:15 online regular class confirmed Tue 13.5.2025 09:00 13:15 online regular class confirmed Tue 27.5.2025 09:00 13:15 online regular class confirmed
Course Criteria & Registration	Details
Exam Information
Prerequisites according to curriculum	See position in the curriculum
Assessment (Exam Method and Evaluation)	Classroom participation and contributions; Portfolio assessment: completing set assignments including preparations, performances, peer feedback and reflection of task performances in blogs on course Website Continuous assessment, 100% attendance required
Exam Dates & Registration	Details
Number of Exam Dates per Semester	continuous assessment
Statistical evaluation of exam results	Details
Further information
Recommended Reading	Ribeiro, Henrique Jales, (ed.) Rhetoric and Argumentation at the Beginning of the 21st Century Schopenhauer, The Art of Always Being Right Tannen, Deborrah, The Argument Culture. Stopping America's War of Words Stella Cottrell, Critical Analytical Thinking Readings will be available online; quizzes, assignments and learning blogs to be processed on moodle.ngberger.com
Online Information	Online information e-learning course
Note	Bring your Wifi enabled laptop or tablet!