By David Landes, American University in Dubai

I taught an argument class where before each class session, students read one chapter and completed an assignment, applying what they read to real-world situations. We spent class time sharing and critiquing the students' work. The social pressures of speaking in public have a funny way of making people push themselves; I felt free to help, rather than push, my students.

This is the "flipped classroom," in which the text does the teaching, classwork happens at home, and homework happens in the classroom. When Jay Heinrichs teaches the students, you're free to focus on helping each student personalize the material and apply it toward your course ends.

Consult the Argument Lab at the end of the book to get assignment ideas and inspire your own. Jay and I would love to hear what activities, exercises, and assignments you come up with. Tell us what you come up with!

What is the flipped classroom? Click here.

David B. Landes is assistant professor of oral rhetoric at the American University in Dubai. He helped make the Argument Lab while teaching applied humanities at MIT and Stanford. His extensive background as a jazz drummer and project consultant give his engaging style a multi-flavored freshness. His Ph.D. dissertation, written at the University of Pittsburgh, is A Theory Of Attention for Communication. Details at http://www.pitt.edu/~dbl3/ including David's CV, resume, music experience, and more.