this class is for CAS 100 which is Communication arts and science. Public Deliberation Homework 20 Points Submit online to the Canvas dropbox as a .doc, .docx, .odt, .rtf, or .pdf file. (Please submit as an attachment.) Submitting in another file format (such as .wpf, .wps, or .pages) will result in a zero. Please use paragraphs to organize your ideas. Submissions of a single long paragraph will only receive half credit. Length: Address both parts of the prompt below for a combined total of 400 to around 600 words. Complete this assignment after reading the assigned articles for today on the nature of deliberation. Read: London, “Thinking Together” — read the first nine paragraphs closely, and skim the rest (by “skim” I mean: at least read first sentences of paragraphs, as well as any paragraphs that strike you as interesting) Read: Kettering Foundation, Working Through Difficult Decisions Background The basic concept of deliberation is simply careful or methodical consideration of a decision, and it shares close linguistic ties with the more general idea of being deliberate–proceeding with intention. This is something that can be done individually (I deliberated over which courses to take next semester), or collectively through conversation. However, the articles you read are exploring public deliberation, a specific set of practices for communities to discuss issues of mutual concern. (Synonyms would include deliberative dialogue, collective decision making, participatory decision making, and the like.) When addressing the prompts below, be sure you address this more specialized form of deliberation. The Prompt Part 1 Consider both articles, as well as what you know of how people traditionally discuss problems. In your own words, explain and reflect upon how deliberative dialogue methods might differ from everyday methods for discussing issues of mutual concern. You might do this by explaining distinctive features, benefits, and challenges of deliberative practices. While you should certainly engage with the explanations from the articles, be sure to explain things from your perspective. I strongly recommend incorporating examples–real or hypothetical–when developing your explanations. Part 2 Identify an issue of concern on campus or around town. It might be something that affects all Penn Staters, or it might only affect a smaller group (your organization/team/club, or international students, or students living off campus, etc.)Be specific about what would need to be involved, and how you anticipate it unfolding. Expected Outcome As a result of completing the reading and writing assignment above, you should have a better understanding of how groups can use deliberative practices to work through the problems they face, as well as the benefits and challenges of a more deliberative approach to problems.
