The frequency of a lesson known since the beginning of time is slowly but surely beginning to fade away. This lesson is in civility and civil discourse. Many individuals in today’s society do not focus on how they treat each other, but on social status and appearance. To some social status and appearance may be important, while to others it is not. For instance, a man named Michael Bond understood the importance of being kind to others. He even saw the lack of manners and civility in his generation. He was living in a time of war and destruction (Smith 35). At this time, it was paramount to teach citizens these simple manners. The positivity was needed to help others feel motivation to be able to get through the war. He decided to publish …show more content…
Author Andrea Leakes explains what the true meaning of civil discourse is: “For the purposes of this article, discourse that is civil means that those involved • undertake a serious exchange of views; • focus on the issues rather than on the individual(s) espousing them; • defend their interpretations using verified information; • thoughtfully listen to what others say; • seek the sources of disagreements and points of common purpose; • embody open-mindedness and a willingness change their minds; • assume they will need to compromise and are willing to do so; • treat the ideas of others with respect; • avoid violence” (Leskes 47). Civil discourse is being thoughtful, wanting the best for the community, being respectful, and understanding compromise. This is not a hard trait to collect. Although, in this time of technology and social media, the struggle is ever present. Reynol Junco, the author of "Civil Discourse in the Age of Social Media”, explains: “For centuries, issues of civil discourse only arose concerning written and oral communication. But now, new technologies for communication and social interaction, particularly social media, have dramatically expanded the potential for human interaction. They generate significant challenges for institutional policies and practices to encourage and sustain civil discourse for the critical social and personal issues …show more content…
Many professionals in the field agree. One has said that “civil discourse needs to be addressed in general education for all students and embraced by the various majors, across the curriculum” (Leskes 48). Civil discourse is so important that many important scholars want civil discourse to be a part of students curriculums. Not only are civil discourse and civility important from the social aspect, but also the political and professional aspects. At one college, the administration focuses on which of the students represent themselves in a way that they engage in civil discourse: “The need for a recommitment on the part of campus leaders to “sustain informed political, religious, and civil discourse,” during a time in our nation’s history when “the tone of academic debate has become increasingly polarized, and, in some cases, we see attempts to silence individuals, faculty, and students who have controversial views” (Junco 16). In an article talking about the importance of civil discourse and civility today, it is talked about how colleges only select leaders who are informed on topics such as civil discourse. It is important that civil discourse is taught at a young age as Michael Bond’s series taught so children will completely comprehend and understand the message as they enter adulthood and college. Civil discourse and civility, like other lessons in
Charles R. Lawrence intended audience in his article “On Racist Speech” is college students and universities. His sense of tone is forthcoming. Lawerence word choice sets the tone by using the words conspicuous,dissenter, and bigot. The article gives examples of how universities do not protect minority college students. Lawrence states that universities should protect their students He also gives an example of how universities have tried to have rules to ban racist speech yet they have proven ineffective in stopping racial slurs. The regulations have not stopped the verbal brutality yet it has stopped the occurrences of physical fights. He mentions how students do not have any need to be hurt verbally.
After reading the article, “Just Be Nice,” by Stephen L. Carter, and then considering responses to the questions posed for this assignment I was left somewhat stunted. Exactly what audience did the author intend to reach? What was his purpose? However, the next question stands out as being the main culprit in this writer’s dilemma, because it appears to lead the student down a road that, at the least, assumes that Carter had effectively made his point and that the article works. So then, the response to the later must be formed in a question as well, “Effective as what, and works for whom?” Finally, the assignment requires examples to be cited that indicate how and why the article works. I would think especially after conducting a broad internet search and finding a dearth of responses to this specific article, and that it perhaps wasn’t quite as effective as the assignment would have students assume or expand upon.
Although some like Conor Friedersdorf, of the Atlantic, categorized students as “intolerant bullies, (34)” meaning that the reasons for protests were not really reasons at all. Chang argues that the issues students are expressing need to be improved upon as if not, we will continue to go round and round in this vicious cycle. The addition of the apartheid in South Africa backs up Chang’s argument as there is a consensus of it being a serious issue. This explains why he included this piece of history and how it relates to college campuses. Encouraging critics to listen to students, just as Meyer did to those of color, is the only way to prevent today's youth from bring up the same issues in future years. Just as Chang predicted, the next school year brought protesters to hundreds of colleges and universities. What happened at Mizzou was just the beginning of a country wide movement for racial justice on campuses that hasn’t stopped
In 1994, renowned college professor Nikki Giovanni published an awe-inspiring article. It contains guidance to black college students on how to academically apply themselves in college, and she teaches them how to deal with the ignorance of white people, from sharp tongued comebacks to gaining a professor’s respect. Along the way, the article “Campus Racism 101” states Giovanni has acquired a tenure, she has a teaching position for life, at the predominately white student body Virginia Tech (Giovanni 11). Nikki Giovanni’s “Campus Racism 101” uses logic when giving advice to black students on how to succeed in college, appeals to Giovanni’s credibility, and appeals to the emotions of racism all in order to educate how black college students need to deal with ignorance on a college campus.
The nature of a person’s behavior is determined by their values and their actions are guided by those beliefs. In “The Taste of Civilization: Food, Politics, and Civil Society,” Janet A. Flammang, writes about the importance of personal civility and its ability to shape a civil society. She argues that the civil manners are practiced around the table and do not lead to the dismissal of necessary conflict. Flammang discusses that not only is civility necessary, but conflict is the reason civility exists. Personal civility is the belief in how one should act, talk, or express their feelings.
Discourse communities are groups of people with a unique point of view. There are many discourse communities around your everyday life. These communities are part of the entire human environment. Many discourse communities are distinctly large due to all the societies wanting the same things. My discourse communities are mostly Facebook.
In recent news, Milo Yiannopolous had planned a visit to the UC Berkeley campus at the request of the student Republican body. Many minority students who were familiar with the content of Yiannopolous' visit planned to protest what they viewed as hate speech. Berkeley has now become the site of violent protests between groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter against conservative groups in support of Yiannopolous and President Trump where both groups fight in order to obtain the moral high ground without actually communicating and collaborating with each other with ways to stop the fighting and violence. This leads us to a case where we have two groups shouting at each other without actually listening to what the opposing side has to say. This division is not just specific to the campuses of elite universities now but to everyday society as well. With the recent presidential election in the U.S. as well has the primary and caucus elections politics came to extremes in the nation. Reports of hate groups attacking minorities at Trump rallies and terroristic threats of death against white people by leftist organizations have become daily occurrences. This conflict between ideals has thus led to negative consequences on everyone involved being felt through educational institutions, places of employment, and in many communities
A discourse community is a group of people with relatively the same goals and interest to achieve a specific goal. Discourse communities gain there members by qualification, shared objectives, training, or persuading others to join their discourse community. In order for a group to be a discourse community, they must have their own languages, text, rules, and ethics that will make the discourse community run more efficiently. They will also have a form of intercommunication among the group to keep everyone involved or informed with upcoming events or just important news. Discourse communities will have a type of mechanism to provide feedback to help improve the group. The participatory mechanisms provide feedback from inside and outside of
Conflict is inevitable in any personal relationship or among members of any group. While we encounter many types of conflict in our lifetime, we often look for ways to avoid conflict. So, why do we run away from dealing with our conflict? It is often because many of us fear the conflict will escalate into a situation we will not be able to sustain. “As conflicts escalate, they go through certain incremental transformations. Although these transformations occur separately on each side, they affect the conflict as a whole because they are usually mirrored by the other side. As a result of these transformations, the conflict is intensified in ways that are sometimes exceedingly difficult to undo” (Pruitt, and Kim 89). We see many of these intense moments of escalating conflict throughout the story of The Great Debaters. The Great Debaters is based on a true story of three African-American students faced with the escalating conflict of racism in the 1930’s, with their English College Professor, Melvin B. Tolson bringing them together to create the first African-American debate team.
... and that everyone matters. Our children's future and success will be enhanced by the use of appropriate behavior. Let us create an environment in our homes, schools, and churches where manners are taught and valued so that every child feels safe and becomes all they were created to be. A quote by William Arthur Ward makes people wonder whether they have been polite and good-mannered during the day: "God gave you a gift of 86, 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?"
A discourse community is a group of individuals all with relatively the same ending goal or original interest that all have their own way of participation and have different motives, it is easier to feel more included in a discourse community once literacy achieved. Discourse communities can be found in many different places; it is just a matter of what is being looked for. These communities can come from the entire population, all of the people who speak the English language, any place of education, restaurants, any home, or even at the gym/ recreation center. In order to become literate in the fitness discourse community the differences in basic motives, the values that are important, and the places available to work out at must be understood.
Race relations are always a scary or uncomfortable topic for people to discuss amongst groups of different ethnicities and racial identities. It is a long standing tradition in the United States to walk a fine line and use politically correct terms in the above mentioned setting but to feel perfectly comfortable to speak freely when in a setting surrounded by likeminded people who share similar political affiliations and race. This is the main reason discussions surrounding the idea of race are too often avoided in today’s school systems and in society in general. If we are to encourage our students and children to be free thinking future citizens of our global society, we must first become one ourselves. The only way to accomplish this
They suggested that teachers needed to go beyond practicing multiculturalism in the classroom, they need to embrace it as a modicum of everyday life and find ways to get involved in organizations and events that encourage social justice. The techniques suggested by the authors were realistic and easy to implement in the classroom. The authors acknowledge that though white educators will experience some difficulties in teaching cross-cultural courses, these difficulties should not discourage them from teaching multicultural content. This article should be a required reading for all multicultural courses because it can provide a sense of enlightenment for all students, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. It exposed some of the trials and tribulations that white professors’ experience, and even acknowledges some of the thoughts that I would have as a black student being taught by a white professor. I think having this article as a required reading will impact white students by making them consciously aware of their white privilege and will influence them to explore it and their racial identity. For students of other ethnic backgrounds, it will help us to better understand the perspective of white people, and teach us how to better communicate with them so that they too may understand our
Power use is around us whether noticed or not. Power in Discourse Analysis is a medium to achieve an end. The end is for stronger of the two sides of the discourse. Power in discourse analysis is the use of language in a discourse allowing the person who acquires knowledge and high status in the discourse takes control of the discourse thus having the higher power. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss nature of power argued in Discourse Analysis, attempts made to define ‘power’ in social research and discuss the different types of power.
Social media can impact a life of an individual at many levels. On social media, each individual has the power to be influential and important. There is a freedom of expression on soci...