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WRITING/ CULTURAL THEORY “Sharon Crowley is at the top of her game. With Toward aCivil Discourse, she reconnects rhetorical invention with civic deliberation and demonstrates, on page after page, why rhetoric remains the key to authentic political engagement. Only rhetoric opens up the possibility of exchange by intervening in the beliefs and practices of the community it serves.”—Cheryl Glenn, The Pennsylvania State University “A smart, witty, and incisive examination of the intersection of belief and ideology, Toward a Civil Discourse is a tour de force—rhetorical scholarship at its very best. Crowley has written what is certain to become one of the germinal scholarly books of its generation.” —Gary A. Olson, Illinois State University “Crowley creatively rethinks the tools of ancient rhetorical invention in light of postmodern academic theory. This timely, original contribution to rhetorical studies and contemporary political debate offers a major new statement by one of the most important rhetoricians writing today.”—Steven Mailloux, University of California, Irvine Toward a Civil Discourse examines how, in the current political climate, Americans find it difficult to discuss civic issues frankly and openly with one another. Because America is dominated by two powerful discourses—liberalism and Christian fundamentalism, each of which paints a very different picture of America and its citizens’ responsibilities—there is little common ground. The result is that civic discourse is frustrated by incivility and impasse, as Americans avoid disagreement for fear of giving offense. Sharon Crowley investigates the cultural factors that lead to the formation of beliefs, and how beliefs can develop into densely articulated systems and political activism. She asserts that rhetorical invention (which includes appeals to values and the passions) is superior in some cases to liberal argument (which often limits its appeals to empirical fact and reasoning) in mediating disagreements where participants are primarily motivated by a moral or passionate commitment to beliefs. Toward a Civil Discourse examines the consequences to society when, more often than not, argumentative exchange does not occur. Crowley underscores the urgency of developing a civil discourse, and through a review of historic rhetoric and its modern application, provides a foundation for such a discourse—whose ultimate goal, in the tradition of the ancients, is democratic discussion of civic issues. Sharon Crowley is professor of English at Arizona State University. She is the author of Composition in the University, The Methodical Memory, and the textbook Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. PITTSBURGH SERIES IN COMPOSITION, LITERACY, AND CULTURE University of Pittsburgh Press www.upress.pitt.edu Cover design: Ann Walston 9 7 8 0 8 2 2 9 5 9 2 3 6 ISBN 13: 978-0-8229-5923-6 ISBN 10: 0-8229-5923-2 ...