The Art of Civil Discourse
The ability to communicate effectively and with civility is a critical skill for students of any age. “The Art of Civil Discourse” is a 7.5-week summer class that helps students prepare and prepare and deliver a speech, sharpen their listening skills, and engage in considerate and productive conversation with others, especially on controversial topics. As textbooks, we will use Mortimer Adler’s How to Speak, How to Listen (Collier, 1985), and Steven Michael Selzer's Civility: George Washington's 110 Rules for Today (Andrew McMeel Publishing, 2019). (Note that some portions of the Adler text such as the chapters on the lecture and sales talk will be adapted to the needs of a younger audience).
Class meets once per week for 1.5 hours via Zoom and is suitable for mature students in grades 7-12. An adult section of the course is also available.
Assignments: In addition to completing the readings and taking part in class discussions, students will be asked to submit two major assignments: a recorded speech and a listening exercise, and to participate in an in-class debate on a controversial topic (to be determined in class: ideally this will be a topic on which around half the class agrees and around half the class disagrees).
Tentative schedule:
Week 1: Introduction: Speaking, Listening, Conversing
Week 2: Speaking
Week 3: Speaking
Week 4: Listening Submit recorded speech
Week 5: Listening
Week 6: Conversing Submit listening exercise
Week 7: Conversing
Week 7.5: In-class debate on a controversial topic
Contact: