Arguments are an unavoidable part of life. Why not learn how to do them well? Arguments do NOT have to be a painful, uncomfortable, or negative experience in our lives. They are often the source of some of the most important and meaningful learning! In this class, we will look at ways to argue, disagree, discuss AND find common ground with others so that disagreeing becomes a productive part of our lives. We will look at both the WHY and the HOW of arguments: WHY people argue will be a recurring theme in our discussions, and HOW people argue will shape the activities we engage in together. We will explore active listening, debate, Socratic seminar, formal discourse, and other ways to better understand our own opinions and those of others with whom we think we do not agree. While this course identifies three key LightHouse competencies (Empathy, Advanced Communication, and Problem Solving) students in the class will have the opportunity to identify other competencies they want to develop.