Speech and Debate as Civic Education

Speech and Debate as Civic Education, Volume 1, examines the critical role of rhetorical pedagogy in fostering democratic citizenship. This education text argues that teaching speech and debate helps students understand First Amendment rights and the power of public speaking. By focusing on communication studies and political science, the book demonstrates how reasoned, fact-based argumentation and critical thinking allow students to navigate a polarized political climate and respect diverse viewpoints.

This collection of rhetoric and civics and citizenship studies features contributions from leading scholars and coaches. Through historical case studies and theoretical reflections, Speech and Debate as Civic Education, Volume 1, provides strategies for revitalizing speech and pronunciation programs. It integrates language arts and disciplines with civil rights history to reinvent the civic mission of public speaking and speech writing for a new generation of students.