Item 6: Assignment 1: Deliberating Across Divides to Find Common Ground

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Abstract

Many students struggle to engage in conversations with people who hold different views. Fear of saying the wrong thing—or being “canceled”—can discourage open dialogue, yet democratic societies rely on the ability to deliberate across divides. This assignment gives students the opportunity to practice deliberation, a structured way of discussing complex, “wicked” issues while fostering mutual understanding, respect, and hopefully finding common ground to act together. Following the deliberation, students will write a reflection analyzing their experience, exploring what they learned from listening to diverse perspectives, and how civic leaders can use deliberation to foster productive dialogue in divided communities.

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