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Objectives: After completing this class session, you will be able to:
Required Readings Levine, P. (2013) Overview: The public and our problems. Pp. 3-22 in We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For, Oxford University Press, on e-reserve This Ted Talk by David Dylan Thomas deals with how we can create a move "civil" civil discourse (5 minutes long). It focuses on the idea that discourse should produce agreement -- not disagreement. Leskes, A. (2013) A plea for civil discourse: Needed, the Academy's leadership. Liberal Education, 99(4). Available from Association of American Colleges and Universities. Class Preparation Examine at least two articles in the list of readings for this week -- Civil Society, Discourse and Participation in and with Communities. Please "stretch yourself" to consider articles or perspectives that do not feel natural to you or do not reflect how you understand and perceive of the topic of the article. This is a thinking exercise. It is also our first foray into theory. There are many diverse thoeretical perspectives reflected in these readings, and and you will likely be "comfortable" with some, but not with others. I want you to practice the skills of listening (through reading in this case) to viewpoints that you do not share, giving alternative ideas a fair assessment, and examining your own ideas in the process. Civil Society, Discourse and Participation in and with Communities Recommended This presentation, A National Conversation on Civility, was created by the American Psychological Association and the National Institute for Civil Discourse. It is long -- BUT you do not need to watch the entire video. Skip the last hour of interaction with the audience. I realize that one-hour videos are long, but this one is worth the work. |