Assignments

Standards for Evaluating Essays
Standards for Evaluating Talks and Speeches

Blogging Instructions – RCL II (Passion, Civic Issues, Papers + Presentations)
Unit Five: This I Believe
Unit Six: Deliberation Unit – Three Assignments
Unit Seven: Persuasive Essay
Unit Seven: Advocacy Project
Unit Eight: E-Portfolio

 

Last Semester’s Assignments

Weekly Writing Instructions (Passion Blog, RCL Blog, Papers + Presentations)
Civic Life Talk Assignment
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Paradigm Shift Essay
TED Talk Assignment
Public Controversy Video

P+P Prompt #1: Select a specific topic/subject for the upcoming Civic Life Talk. In a post of at least 200 words, reflect on either 1. several possible interview questions, and how they might elicit the kind of information you’re seeking, or 2. several aspects of your artifact that strike you as particularly rhetorical.

P+P Prompt #2: (Note: If you have not spoken yet, you can wait to post this until Tuesday evening.)  Reflect on your talk in at least 200 words, focusing especially on your clarity and insight into the artifact/interview.  Feel free to respond to anything, but you might consider focusing on one or more of these questions: What was effective?  What wasn’t?  What would you do differently in terms of focus, message construction, or rehearsal?  How did the delivery of you talk help or hinder your message?  How did the structure of your talk help or hinder your message?

P+P Prompt #3: Identify what specific artifact (essay, speech, etc.) you have chosen as the subject of analysis for your Rhetorical Analysis essay.  In at least 200 words, reflect on why you were particularly drawn to this artifact, and why you believe it to be particularly appropriate for in-depth rhetorical analysis.

P+P Prompt #4: Select a potential topic for the Paradigm Shift Essay.  Briefly describe any initial causes or consequences of your subject you find interesting.  Then, develop several research questions to guide your research, using a mix of the six question types (CDA, p 106).  You might have quite a few briefer questions (like on p 107 of CDA), or you might have slightly fewer focused questions (like the three bullets on p 110 of CDA).

If you can’t decide between two topics, consider developing separate research questions for each one.  Your initial research might then help you decide which cultural phenomenon is more interesting.

P+P Prompt #5: Identify the specific topic and thesis of your TED Talk.  Then, discuss the specific rhetorical choices you’re making.  This might involve ways in which you’re adapting to the audience, or how you plan to develop your ethos, or the logos and pathos elements you’re including, or anything else you want to accomplish through the design of your message.

P+P Prompt #6: (Notes: Complete this any time after your TED talk, but before Thanksgiving Break.  Also, note that this probably will be one of your longest P+P posts of the semester.)

Part 1: Reflect on your preparation process for the TED talk.  What principles from the ARCS and (especially) CDA texts did you attempt to incorporate?  How effective was your execution of the various aspects of preparation?  Looking back, what could you do to strengthen your preparation for future talks?

Part 2: Watch the footage of your talk.  Reflect on what elements of the explanation and delivery worked best.  Then, consider what specific components of the presentation you would most like to improve.  When considering your performance during this process, do your best to balance a commitment to excellence with a spirit of generosity.  (In other words: develop some carefully considered constructive criticism, but at the same time don’t be too hard on yourself.)  Be specific!

P+P Prompt #7: Respond to either of the two options below, but not to both:

Option 1: Reflect on the rhetorical implications of two or three topics addressed in the assigned reading/viewing for today.

Option 2: Discuss or critique some of your group’s visual or audio design choices in your video in light of the assigned reading/viewing for today.

P+P Prompt #8: Select your four best blog posts.  Read these directions carefully.

Evaluation of blogs for the semester is two-part: 75% of the grade is completing them fully (length) and on time and also commenting sufficiently on others’ posts, while 25% is based on the quality of your best RCL and Passion blog posts (plus all of your P+P reflections).  You are free to edit the RCL and Passion posts you select.

Based on the blogging assignment directions, here’s how I will assess the quality of the posts: For both the RCL and Passion blogs, entries should demonstrate an awareness of the blogging medium (visuals, links, titles, paragraphs, invitational tone, etc), and although they needn’t be formal, they should be coherent and demonstrate an awareness of Standard American English (so be attentive to grammar and spelling). For the Passion blog, posts should be engaging, tailored for a specific audience, and fresh, and they should accomplish the specific purpose of your blog.  For the RCL blog, posts should demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of rhetorical concepts explored in the course, and should highlight the insight you gained from considering the rhetorical artifact or civic engagement opportunity.

Submit by creating a post in your P+P site and linking directly to four specific entries from your Passion and RCL blogs.  You must select at least one from each, but the specific ratio is up to you, so long as the total is four. Be sure the entries appear as text (usually the title) rather than a URL.

Correct: Screen Conventions

Incorrect: https://sites.psu.edu/rcl1213/2012/11/30/screen-conventions/

Especially Incorrect: https://sites.psu.edu/rcl1213/2012/11/30/screen-conventions/

Links that follow incorrect blogging practice, and especially those that are not clickable, will not receive full credit.