This course asks a simple question: why do some arguments sound convincing even when the evidence underneath them is shaky? In this course, we'll look at arguments in the wild, from headlines and statistics to expert claims, source chains, straw men, and other fallacies, and conclusions that spread further on TikTok than the evidence can carry them. Rather than writing one giant research paper, you'll complete a series of short “case reports” that diagnose how arguments work and where they weaken. You'll also write two 5-page, magazine-style analytical pieces, including a substantial revision of the first. The goal is not to become a professional fact-checker or to assume that every flawed argument is dishonest, but to become a more careful reader and a stronger writer. By tracing claims back to their sources, examining how evidence is framed, and practicing more responsible ways to make and support claims, you'll learn how to write with greater precision and credibility. Think of the course as an argument lab with a bit of rhetorical detective work built in, plus some useful practice in how not to write your next research paper.