This course examines the role of persuasion in democratic politics as
a cultural, conflict-laden, and strategic practice.  We will explore
complex relationships between language, culture, conflict, and
democracy in pursuit of a more sophisticated approach to persuasion
in contemporary public life.  In addition to thinking deeply and
critically about persuasion in class discussions and written exams,
the course involves classroom deliberations over controversial issues
to both fuel our theoretical exploration and to put our theoretical
insights into practice.