Students’ ability to design and understand their arguments can improve by teaching the relatively simple skills of argument mapping. While dozens of software programs such as Rationale and Augumentative make applying this skill relatively easy, teachers and students can apply simple rules with blank pieces of paper and colored pencils to practice the process of mapping and improve the skills of critical reflection while constructing one’s own or analyzing another’s argument. This workshop will give a brief overview of the history and key ideas behind argument mapping, and will be practically oriented to equip teachers with a useful tool for helping their high school—aged students develop critical thinking and argumentation skills. Students working on their senior theses, debate team participants, mock trial participants, and students just trying to write a well-crafted essay will all benefit from practicing with argument maps.
Bryce Carlisle
Bryce Carlisle holds a bachelor of arts in Spanish from the University of Kansas and a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Bryce taught Spanish and Humanities at Trinity Academy of Raleigh, NC, from 2004–2006 and worked at Pulte Homes Inc. prior to coming to Regents School of Austin in 2009. Bryce teaches sophomore and senior Rhetoric, serves as Director of the Senior Thesis program, and is the Dean of the senior class. Bryce and his wife, Lorie, have four lively boys and one more on the way. Former hobbies include playing guitar, home brewing, painting, and traveling.