Informed Civic Engagement Resource Guide: Civil Discourse

As politics - and matters of human rights - have become increasingly partisan over the last several years, it feels harder and harder to have conversations with those who hold opposing viewpoints. Below are a series of resources on holding and facilitating conversations between people with different political views, without condoning bigotry or hate speech.

Civil Discourse Resources

National Institute for Civil Discourse
A non-partisan organization based at the University of Arizona that promotes healthy and civil political debate.
A plea for Civil Discourse: by Andrea Leskes. Association of American Colleges & Universities
Article defines civil discourse and provides strategies for promoting civil discourse in undergraduate education.
Promoting Civil Discourse in Troubling Times: American University
Provides suggestions for bringing civil discourse to campus classrooms.
Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or Controversial Topics: University of Michigan
Guidelines to help instructors facilitate classroom discussion around controversial issues.
Multicultural Education Program: Classroom Tools UC Berkeley, Tools for instructors compiled by the Division of Equity & Inclusion
Difficult Conversations: Teaching Tolerance
A toolkit for facilitating difficult conversations.
Difficult Dialogues: Vanderbilt University
A guide for teachers in leading difficult dialogues.
Classroom Dynamics & Diversity: Harvard, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
Includes tips for managing challenging conversations.
Handbook for Facilitating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom: Queens College, Michael Harrington Center for Democratic Values and Social Change
The Lost Art of Democratic Debate: TED Talk by Michael Sandel, Professor of Political Philosophy, Harvard