Term
Summer 2025
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Karen L. Moroz
Content Expert
Jonathan L. Loging
Abstract
Efforts to strengthen civics education in support of democracy have expanded in recent years. Schools increasingly offer project-based learning, authentic assessments, and rigorous course options. Yet while standards emphasize argument formation, little attention is given to the practical skills required for political discussion. Research shows that public schools, with their diversity of perspectives, are well suited to foster dialogical approaches to civic discourse. Despite this potential, classroom discussions often lack depth, and educators frequently lack the resources and training to engage students in high-quality political dialogue. This literature review identifies the importance of political discourse education, interdisciplinary practices to improve classroom discussion, and the benefits of varied instructional approaches. The project also includes materials for presenting actionable highlights at a social studies conference. Its goal is to raise awareness of the need for more effective student discourse, provide simple steps for teachers to reflect on their pedagogical practices, and encourage the field to prioritize political dialogue in civic education.
Project Type
Poster Presentation
Keywords
Interdisciplinary Teaching, Teachers/ Teaching, Discourse
Recommended Citation
Merchant, Brian, "Form a More Perfect Union: Educational Direction for Teaching Effective Political Discourse" (2025). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1125.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1125
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects