Fall 2025

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion

In this one-cycle Journey, mentees will develop essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through engaging activities and interactive discussions, participants will learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present their ideas with confidence. They will explore techniques for effective communication, refine their ability to think critically under pressure, and practice responding to diverse perspectives in a structured setting.

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

This Journey is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Spring 2027 Journey Now!

Pre-Enroll Now

Learning Objectives

Express Yourself Authentically

Develop confidence in public speaking by using your voice unapologetically to share your ideas, experiences, and perspectives.

Think Critically and Improvisationally

Develop strong argumentation techniques by constructing well-reasoned arguments using logic, evidence, and rhetorical strategies.

Strengthen Persuasive Communication

Develop clarity and organization in your ideas, effectively critique arguments, and support your points with well-researched evidence. Enhance your fluency in rhetorical language.

Foster Gender-Inclusive Empowerment

Build awareness of global events and develop the skills to engage in civil discourse thoughtfully and respectfully, even in challenging situations.

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors in this Journey are required to attend the monthly 2-hour Journey meetings and one Journey Showcase listed below.

Live Virtual Meeting Dates:

Saturday, November 15, 2025, 1 pm ET
Saturday, December 13, 2025, 1 pm ET
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 1 pm ET

Journey Showcase:

Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1 pm ET

If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—strongly recommended options include Leadership Community Studios, Community Conversations, and Career Chats.

Apply to Journeys Explore Community Experiences

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion Courses

The Art of Civil Discourse
This self-paced course complements our interactive workshops by providing additional exercises, resources, and feedback opportunities to refine your public speaking skills. Through guided vocal delivery exercises, structured speech-writing templates, and recorded performance submissions, you’ll gain confidence in crafting and delivering compelling speeches. Whether you’re preparing a persuasive argument, a spoken-word piece, or a presentation, this course will help you develop clarity, authenticity, and a strong stage presence.

Apply to Journeys Explore Courses

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in this Journey will be matched for one Cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. This Journey is open to both mentor/mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.

Apply to Journeys Explore Mentorship Opportunities

Journey Teaching Artists

Rosie Bultman

(she/her)

Rosie Bultman is a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and former debater. She currently works to bring stories about global human rights and social justice to KCSB FM in Santa Barbara, KCBX in San Luis Obispo, and other radio stations around the country. Before her journalism career, Rosie was an avid debater, winning the NPDL Tournament of Champions in 2022. Rosie believes that her curiosity around global events and skills as a journalist were sparked during her debate days in high school.

Visit Profile

Maddy Norton

(She/Her) Alum, Mentee

Maddy is a Bay Area high school student with a deep love of creative writing and literature, particularly in the context of historical and political situations. She spends most of her time debating and teaching people about debate and public speaking, advocating and volunteering for the environment, and learning about different cultures and languages.

Visit Profile

Journeys within this Adventure emphasize leadership, aiming to help mentees and mentors develop their leadership skills and work together to create a better future. Explore the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below to learn more.

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion is a Journey in the Lead 360 Adventure.

See All Adventures

Explore All Journeys

Area of Focus

Cycle

Duration

Time per Month

Explore All Journeys

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

College & MFA Preparation (Summer 2025)

Preparing an application for college or graduate school can be a daunting experience. Join us for a Journey that unpacks everything you need to know about finding college and graduate school programs, applying to school, preparing personal essays, and getting the most out of your college or graduate school experience.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Teleplays: Writing for TV (Summer 2025)

The Teleplays: Writing for TV Journey is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s TV industry. This Journey provides insight into the work of a scriptwriter – a deep understanding of TV storytelling and professional scripts, drama vs comedy scripts, professional working practices, and employment strategies. Specific topics range from story structure and formatting scripts to actually seeing a script to fruition.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Teach GWN (Summer 2025)

In this journey, members of the GWN community will develop curriculum and facilitate a community studio for one or more cycles within GWN’s Collaboratory structure. Each cycle involves facilitating three community studios, one per month. Participants will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentees and mentors can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

On-Demand Mentoring Sessions

On-Demand Mentoring sessions are available for young writers who would like support or advice on a specific topic. These sessions are offered for Career Development, College Preparation, Creative Writing, or Wellness.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Independent Study (Summer 2025)

Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Community Togetherness (Summer 2025)

Come together in this wellness-focused Journey based in collaborative writing prompts and support for one another.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Explore Tour (Summer 2025)

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Summer 2025)

Our words can change minds and the world. Discover what you can do with yours… Mentees will learn how to persuade audiences on issues that matter to them. By the end of the journey, they will not only gain confidence in self-expression and analytical thinking but also develop and deliver a final speech that showcases their growth in civil discourse and persuasive communication.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Aloud: Songwriting & Spoken Word (Summer 2025)

Mic check! Enhance the power of your words by speaking or singing them aloud. In this journey, we’ll examine a variety of ways to share creative work using our voices and audio techniques with open mic events, podcasts, and songwriting.

Girls Write Now . 2 years ago

Multimedia Tour (Summer 2025)

Explore all of the topics that Girls Write Now has to offer with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with courses and experiences that touch on a range of topics from horror writing to journalism to publishing and much more! Ideal for mentees who enjoy working across multiple genres or are focused on specific projects, this journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your individual needs. With a focus on adaptability, this program allows you to balance exploration with dedicated time for your independent projects, providing a comprehensive yet customizable Journey. Great for mentees who are not committed to one medium or who enjoy working in multiple mediums at once.

1 … 5 6 7 8 9