WRITING 3000
Argumentation
This upper-level writing course considers the strategies of argumentation emphasizing audience awareness, reflective thinking and strategic presentation. We will explore elements of argument such as enthymeme, the three appeals, claim types, and fallacies. Students will learn to evaluate a wide range of arguments (including their own), considering the rhetorical strategies that make for effective argumentative performance in a given situation. The course will involve regular practice in both written and oral argument.
Instructors
Beth Windle, Elisabeth Windle, Erin Finneran, Ian Clark, Michael O'Bryan, O'Bryan, Thomas, Victoria Thomas
Reviews
The course was relaxed and reasonable. There were no surprises with grading or in-class activities. The assigned readings were enjoyable and thoughtful, and the assignments pushed students to become better writers.
4/23/2026
She grades very harshly and is so against grade inflation that she seems to have made it her personal mission to not let anyone get an A in class. On individual assignment, the highest grade she gives is a 95 (and that is a rare occurrence), even if you did everything perfectly. I would NOT recommend anyone taking her class if they don't have to
12/10/2025
Protect this man at all costs. He is such a wonderful professor and person. If you need to take Argumentation, make sure it is with him. The class is a very low commitment, just a few workshops and essays during the semester, which he grades generously as long as you put effort into it.
12/4/2025
Beth is what professors should strive to be like. She cares about her students in a way that is so genuine. She is both kind and honest, and she manages to facilitate a classroom of laughter and good vibes despite the wide range of students you get in a gen ed course (WI). You will look forward to going to class each day. Also attendance is strict.
4/29/2025
Extremely passive aggressive, different races and religions were not treated kindly. The class would have been great if she wasn't such a bully. Seemed really nice at first, turned out to be a awful. I withdrew from her course and retook it with another professor and it's been phenomenal.
3/26/2025
Beth is truly a great professor. I took her Argumentation class having zero experience in similar courses, but her incredible teaching skills and attention to students quickly made the class one of my favorites. Aside from being a great human being, Beth is probably the best lecturer on this campus. She is witty, engaging, and very well spoken.
10/1/2024
Faux humility and humble bragging; not recommended overall
1/2/2024
chill guy & easy class; can be argumentative. i agree w/ a lot of his views and was still nervous in class discussions. also, note that on the syllabus he reserves the right to mark a grade up or down when the grade does not match his assessment. i didn't attend office hours, so probably do that to avoid being marked down. improved my writing tho
12/23/2023
I loved my time with professor O'Bryan; he was a great teacher and cared about his students. His lectures were always interesting and I absolutely loved attending class. He was extremely easy to talk to, and was extremely knowledgeable about writing. In taking this class, I know my writing got better - STRONG RECOMMEND
5/10/2023
I started the class liking O'Bryan because he is funny, but throughout the semester things changed. He lost his patience and had a really short fuse during discussions. My class was small and cooperative, so there was no reason to get angry with us. He was also overly assertive with his political views. Not helpful for my Legal Studies minor.
12/25/2022
I loved Erin Finneran. She was so helpful and intelligent, yet humble. She was relatable yet respected and super intelligent. She read our essays with genuine interest and care, and she took her students' lives very seriously. I felt safe and supported, yet pushed and challenged at the same time. I really feel grateful for having had her.
12/21/2022
Did not even grade our essays in time for the final or other essays, so feedback was useless. He was also overly critical without real reference to the rubric, which always included way more difficult content than what he would actually describe in class. One of the most difficult and time consuming classes I've taken at WashU
12/15/2022
This woman is a saint. Take her class; you won't regret it. But learn how to use a semi-colon first. Prof. Thomas cares so much about her students and wants everyone to succeed. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the topics we discussed. Lots of writing (fulfills the writing-intensive requirement) but I honestly thought the class would be harder.
5/16/2022
Pretty funny and easy to talk to. But a few things he did ticked me off: He often talked way too much, to the point where he was just dominating the conversation rather than letting us speak. He was also very disorganized. He also made a lot of assumptions about students, so I didn't often feel comfortable sharing my true views in the classroom.
5/9/2022
She is one of the most well-spoken, intelligent, logical and understanding professors I know. Listening to her lectures is a real treat. She gives great insights on argumentation and really inspires students to grow intellectually and develop critical thinking. She is not biased and accepts all opinions. Great professor if you are pre-law too.
1/12/2020
"A real gem" is a spot-on description of Professor Windle. Not only is she fun and hilarious, she cares about each student individually. I suffered some health issues during the semester, and Professor Windle was incredibly accommodating while making sure that I never lapsed in my learning. Beyond being a great person, she always made class fun.
12/30/2019
Professor Windle did a fantastic job of respecting every student and making all students feel welcome and comfortable in class. She exposed us to a wide variety of topics that expended our knowledge and led to intriguing discussions. I was so pleased with my experience that I am taking another class and with her next semester. Highly recommend
12/28/2019