Embracing Civility, Community, and Citizenship: A Qualitative Study of Multimodal College Composition Classrooms

Abstract

<p>This thesis will examine ways of teaching college composition through a lens where civility, citizenship, and community are the focus of the composition classroom. By drawing from critical composition pedagogy scholars and rich examples of civil/civic dialogue from the media, I will construct a series of actionable strategies to foster civil dialogue in the multimodal college composition classroom. Using scholarship in the field of rhetoric and composition, this classroom-based research project will seek to answer questions such as: "How can a first-year college composition class teach civil dialogue and promote understanding in a society where the loudest, shrillest voices win?" and "How can a university implement and assess civility awareness?" This study adds to the conversation regarding the need to work toward a more civil society and explores ways to work toward this by way of the first-year college composition classroom.</p>