Confronting Toxic Rhetoric

Confronting Toxic Rhetoric contributes to the extant scholarship on toxic rhetoric,the negative and extreme political discourse surrounding the Trump years of campaigning, rallying, Tweeting, holding office, and ongoing culture war in the US (Duffy, 2020). Toxic rhetoric challenged foundational purposes of teaching writing and rhetoric, such as ethical argumentation and critical thinking. Teachers narratives, case studies, and reflections bring to light the ruptures, resistance, and resilience of teaching amid extreme polarization of partisan politics, distrust of science, and increased hate speech, among other ills of toxic rhetoric. Readers will learn from teachers who were challenged to cope with toxic rhetoric, using both rhetorical and extra-disciplinary lenses. Their experiences present a vulnerable yet resolved expression of coping, activism, and belief in the future of rhetoric and democracy.