Civil Discourse and Democracy

Course numbers: JAM390S; PUBPOL 290S
Curriculum codes: CZ, EI, W
Course Description: The American Experiment is just that—an experiment. Throughout its 247-year history as a nation, that experiment has seen stretches of stability as well as long seasons of profound discord (such as the Civil War). Our current era is clearly an example of the latter. The national government often appears to be in disarray. Religious institutions have ceded their moral authority. So has the news media, which is the focus of this course. The lack of trust in the news media has had a direct impact on how we talk about the issues that roil us most — healthcare, race, income inequality, international conflicts, and education, among many others. Those are among the issues we will examine in this course as we seek to answer questions such as: Should the news media drive our national conversations, or should it simply reflect them? Should journalists be advocates or simply truth-tellers? How has technology impacted how our news is delivered, and by extension, impacted civil discourse? And are there any solutions to be found?
Instructors: Buckley

Course numbers: JAM 390S; PUBPOL 290S
Curriculum codes: CZ, EI, R, W 
Course Description: Many college students, faculty, and staff have expressed their concern and actual outrage at the fact that their schools have invited/allowed controversial speakers to visit their campuses.  Needless to say, hearing offensive, rude and sometimes hateful speech can be challenging–especially for a college student, trying to focus on academic work and co-curricular activities.

Meanwhile, many colleges and universities have justified these visits, pointing to how these opportunities contribute to a landscape of a free exchange of ideas while preparing students for the “real world” to come after college.  Other schools have committed to creating safe spaces on their campuses where faculty, students, and staff can expect to be protected from microaggressions, receive trigger warnings, and not have to be subjected to “inflammatory” speakers.

In this course, students will review the history and philosophy of the free speech component of the 1st Amendment and examine the way in which the US Supreme Court has ruled over the years in free speech cases.  Students will then have the opportunity to fully consider the various approaches campuses have recently taken to dealing with free speech issues, including controversial speakers.  Finally, students will be asked to represent a particular side of a free speech case, writing and presenting an appellate argument to the “Court.”
Instructors: Wasiolek

Course numbers: JAM 390S; PUBPOL 290S
Curriculum codes: EI, R 
Course Description: This course will explore normative notions of the “public sphere” and how it should factor into the democratic process. In exploring both historical and contemporary versions of the public sphere, this course will also explore related concepts such as “public deliberation” and “public opinion,” how they have been conceptualized, defined, and measured over time; and how they affect — and are affected by — public policymaking. Finally, this course will spend a substantial amount of time exploring the dynamics of the contemporary digital public sphere, how it has evolved, how it is structured, and its implications for civil discourse and the democratic process.  
Instructors: Napoli

Course numbers: WRITING 384; PUBPOL 384
Curriculum codes: W
Course Description: This course explores the theoretical and practical elements of effective communication through civil discourse. We explore  successful speechmaking skills, positive interpersonal interactions, courteous intercultural communications, and memorable public presentations. Whether focused on political endeavors, global challenges, charitable initiatives, social activism, philanthropic visions, corporate presentations or unique occasions, presentation skills serve as a powerful tool by which to respectfully make your case. While the focus of our work is on efficient oral communication and effective skills of exposition (both in large public speaking environments, and equally importantly, in smaller interactive exchanges), you will also learn the intricacies of compelling arguments, courteous debate, powerful written exposés and influential speech writing. We will also focus on the human dimensions of the communication process: vocal intonation, body behavior, audience evaluation, focus, control, distraction, and self-awareness. Using in-person techniques as well as onscreen presentations and virtual interviewing skills, you will learn to engage a variety of audiences, and you will develop intercultural communication skills. Finally, we will analyze and present speeches that have had a political and social impact on societies in transition or crisis; dissect debating techniques; and explore the public fields in which speechmaking and communication are central to success.
Instructors: Byerly