Degree Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2011
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
English
First Advisor
Amy Slagell
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to identify actionable strategies from current civic engagement literature in the fields of institutional citizenship, service learning, and deliberative democracy as well as practices from the ancient rhetorical tradition that could be used to foster civic engagement in a public speaking classroom. The author has an interest in civic engagement and has been a public speaking instructor at Iowa State University. Research findings identified strategies from current literature to establish a classroom citizenship, connect coursework with the community, advance active participation, facilitate deliberation, and to use peer critiques and reflection tools to promote civic-minded thinking. Elements identified from the ancient rhetorical tradition include the concept of phronesis, practical wisdom, and structured workshops that build upon one another similar to the ways of the ancient pedagogy of the progymnasmata. A series of structured workshops designed to focus on social, civic, and ethical issues from a civic perspective is recommended for public speaking instructors who would like to foster civic engagement in their classrooms.
Copyright Owner
Julia Christine Wiegers
Copyright Date
2011
Language
en
Date Available
2012-04-06
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
98 pages
Recommended Citation
Wiegers, Julia Christine, "Civic engagement in the public speaking classroom" (2011). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 10243.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/10243
