CMN 540 (01) - Special Topics in Communication

Course Title & Description: Civil Discourse & Democracy - From our classrooms to our social media feeds, and our living rooms to our legislature, the vibrancy of our democracy hinges on how we talk about issues, problems, and decisions that impact our communities. And yet, these conversations are often difficult and make it tough to work well together.  We will contemplate the question: How do we talk about issues we are concerned about in ways that encourage more meaningful engagement? We will examine civil discourse in practice, including the role it plays in our U.S. civic structure, situations that call for civil disobedience (protest/movements/resistance), and the possibilities of dialogue and deliberation as part of a participatory democracy. Using case studies for critical reflection, we will consider the complex dynamics of our civic landscape, the challenges of civility (and incivility), and the possibilities for cultivating more productive civil discourse around contentious issues in diverse contexts.