Discourse, Civil Discourse, and Pedagogical Models

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions and forms of discourse, categories of civil discourse, engaged pedagogy, and deliberative pedagogy.

Discourse

The action or process of communicating thought by means of the spoken or written word (OED).

Primarily Unidirectional Discourse

Discourse formats that transmit information primarily in one direction, such as speeches, lectures, and trainings.

Unidirectional and Multi-directional Discourse

Discourse formats that can function both unidirectionally and multi-directionally, such as forums, panels, and symposiums.

Civil Discourse

The open, respectful exchange of ideas that allows individuals to listen, challenge assumptions, and find common ground without resorting to hostility or coercion (Stand Together, 2026).

Conversation

An unstructured discourse involving an interchange of thoughts and information on one or more topics.

Discussion

A structured discourse oriented towards revealing and understanding underlying experiences, interests, assumptions, and values related to a particular topic.

Dialogue

A structured discourse oriented towards mapping different positions and ideas related to a particular topic.

Debate

A structured discourse oriented towards highlighting differences, exposing weaknesses, and identifying which position is the strongest and most-supported.

Deliberation

A structured discourse focused on building both shared and new understandings of a particular issue that transcend previously-held positions and enable collective decisions and actions.

Pedagogy

The method and practice of teaching an academic subject or theoretical concept.

Engaged Pedagogy

An educational approach focusing on a dialogic rather than banking model of education, viewing students as sources instead of receptables of knowledge, high-impact learning and discovery rather than instruction alone, constructing a participatory democratic society, and connecting to public communities and society at large (Longo et al. 2017).

Deliberative Pedagogy

A teaching philosophy focused on equipping students with the mind-sets and skill sets necessary for high-quality decision-making in the face of 'wicked' problems that have no technical solution but require ongoing communicative processes (Carcasson 2017).

'Wicked' Problems

Problems that have no technical solution but require ongoing communicative processes to address (Carcasson 2017).