In an era increasingly marked by polarized and unproductive political debates, this volume makes the case for a renewed emphasis on teaching speech and debate, both in and outside of the classroom.

Speech and debate education leads students to better understand their First Amendment rights and the power of speaking. It teaches them to work together collaboratively to solve problems, and it encourages critical thinking, reasoned and fact-based argumentation, and respect for differing viewpoints in our increasingly diverse and global society. Highlighting the need for more emphasis on the ethics and skills of democratic deliberation, the contributors to this volume-leading scholars, teachers, and coaches in speech and debate programs around the country-offer new ideas for reinvigorating curricular and co-curricular speech and debate by recovering and reinventing their historical mission as civic education.

Combining historical case studies, theoretical reflections, and reports on programs that utilize rhetorical pedagogies to educate for citizenship, Speech and Debate as Civic Education is a first-of-its-kind collection of the best ideas for reinventing and revitalizing the civic mission of speech and debate for a new generation of students.

In addition to the editors, the contributors to this volume include Jenn Anderson, Michael D. Bartanen, Ann Crigler, Sara A. Mehltretter Drury, David A. Frank, G. Thomas Goodnight, Ronald Walter Greene, Taylor W. Hahn, Darrin Hicks, Edward A. Hinck, Jin Huang, Una Kimokeo-Goes, Rebecca A. Kuehl, Lorand Laskai, Tim Lewis, Robert S. Littlefield, Allan D. Louden, Paul E. Mabrey III, Jamie McKown, Gordon R. Mitchell, Catherine H. Palczewski, Angela G. Ray, Robert C. Rowland, Minhee Son, Sarah Stone Watt, Melissa Maxcy Wade, David Weeks, Carly S. Woods, and David Zarefsky.

About the Author

J. Michael Hogan is the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor Emeritus of Rhetoric at Penn State University and Visiting Professor and Chair of Communication Studies at Davidson College. His most recent book is Public Speaking and Civic Engagement.

Jessica A. Kurr is a Ph.D. candidate in Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State University.

Michael J. Bergmaier is a Ph.D. candidate in Communication Arts and Sciences with a Minor in Social Thought at Penn State University.

Jeremy D. Johnson is a Ph.D. candidate in Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State University.

Reviews

"An outstanding volume. Both wide-ranging and deep, Speech and Debate as Civic Education enlarges our understanding of intercollegiate debate by framing it in a historical context as well as by exploring its philosophical, ethical, and political possibilities. The essays consistently thematize gender, race, and culture, and together they paint a persuasive picture of why debate matters to education, and therefore to democracy. Anyone who cares about the role of rhetoric and argument in a deliberative democracy should own this book."

-William Keith, author of Democracy as Discussion: Civic Education and the American Forum Movement

"Presenting an unvarnished assessment of a compelling, proven avenue for enhancing civic involvement and responsibility, Speech and Debate as Civic Education traces the ubiquitous and long-standing value of speech and debate training for local and global audiences, for middle school to college students, for majority and minority participants, and for students educated in religious and secular environments. In short, this is an invaluable resource for educators and institutions alike seeking to find needed responses to our increasingly polarized world."

-Carol Kay Winkler, Georgia State University

Book Information
ISBN 9780271079066
Author J. Michael Hogan
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Pennsylvania State University Press
Publisher Pennsylvania State University Press
Weight(grams) 499g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 26mm