Whether a cause or a symptom of democratic decline, America's extreme polarization should be a major concern for anyone invested in effective governance. This course, structured as a seminar and writing workshop, intensively develops students' ability to read critically and write persuasively across ideological differences. This requires an ability to puncture algorithmic information bubbles, reexamine complacent assumptions, and take opposing arguments seriously. Through abundant practice and feedback, we will build skills at every stage of the writing process, from brainstorming and research through drafting and revision. Students will have opportunities to customize both the form and content of assignments based on their policy interests and intended audiences -- focusing primarily on internal documents for decision-makers (memos, policy briefs) or public-facing writing for a general readership (op-eds, long-form political essays). Our aim will be to transcend partisan groupthink and confirmation bias, wielding all the tools at a writer's disposal to shift perspectives -- including our own.
