Monday, January 13: Welcome (back) to the course! Overview of course themes and assignments. Deliberation exercise to name the “sequel” of RCL.
- For next class: Read prompt for Unit #5, the “This I Believe” assignment. Listen to a selection (at least three) of “This I Believe” broadcasts at thisibelieve.org. Review Civic Issues (CI) blog topics.
Wednesday, January 15: Discussion of “stance.” Listen to and discuss “This I Believe” examples.
- For next class: Under your RCL blog category, write an entry that includes at least two ideas for your “This I Believe” podcast, two ideas for your passion blog topic (different from last semester’s!), and two ideas for your Civic Issues blog.
Friday, January 17: Review and comment on class members’ RCL entries.
- For next class: Review feedback on your RCL blog post. Decide on “This I Believe” topic and start drafting script. Make decisions about your passion and Civic Issues blog topics.
Monday, January 20: NO CLASS – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 22: Listen to example RCL “This I Believe” essays in class from This is RCL. Generate list of successful arrangement and ornament strategies for aural composition.
- For next class: Complete full draft of “This I Believe” script and post under RCL category. In another RCL post, announce your topics for the Passion and Civic Issues Blogs. Schedule a time for Monday’s conferences.
Friday, January 24: Draft workshop of “This I Believe” scripts.
- For next class: Review peer feedback and polish “This I Believe” scripts for conference with instructor.
Monday, January 27: No official class. In lieu of class, students meet with instructor to discuss blog topics and “This I Believe” scripts.
- For next class: Revise “This I Believe” scripts for recording.
Wednesday, January 29: Practice voice modulation and oral delivery strategies.
- For next class: Write passion blog post #1. Blog groups 1-3: write Civic Issue post #1.
Friday, January 31: Introduction to Unit #6, deliberation. Blogging, Week 1.
- For next class: Read chapter 6 of Rhetoric and Civic Life, “Conversation and Discussion” (pp. 85-109). Record “This I Believe” podcast, due on Wednesday, February 5 at 11:59pm in ANGEL dropbox.
Monday, February 3: Discuss chapter 6. Class discussion about deliberation, debate, civic discourse.
- For next class: “This I Believe” podcasts due on Wednesday at 11:59pm in ANGEL dropbox.
Wednesday, February 5: Deliberation groups and moderator schedule announced. Moderator training and explanation of National Issues Forum deliberation event format.
- For next class: Write passion post #2. Blog groups 4-6: write Civic Issue post #1.
Friday, February 7: Blogging, Week 2.
- For next class: Carefully read the National Issues Forum Issue Guide, “Shaping our Future: How Should Higher Education Help Us Create the Society We Want?” Prepare to moderate your assigned option. Find three related articles or pieces of research that could potentially help advance the deliberation and bring them to class next week.
Monday, February 10: Begin class issues forum: framing video, personal stake, ground rules.
Wednesday, February 12: Deliberate option 1.
Friday, February 14: Deliberate option 2. (Please note that blogging is on hiatus for this week.)
Monday, February 17: Deliberate option 3.
Wednesday, February 19: Concluding reflections. Whole-class discussion.
- For next class: Prepare passion post #3. Blog groups 1-3: write Civic Issue post #2.
Friday, February 21: Blogging, Week 3. Review and discuss parts 1 and 2 of deliberation assignment.
- For next class: Read chapter 7 of RCL, “The ‘Nasty Effect’: Online Incivility and Risk Perceptions of Emerging Technologies” (pp. 110-127).
Monday, February 24: Discuss chapter 7.
- For next class: View RCL Course Cast on Penn State General Education Reform.
Wednesday, February 26: Discuss course cast. Based on the NIF deliberative framework, establish three approaches to implement for online deliberation exercise.
- For next class: Write passion post #4. Blog groups 4-6: write Civic Issue post #2. Participate in online deliberation by Sunday, March 9 at 11:59pm.
Friday, February 28: Blogging, Week 4.
- For next class: Review Unit #7 assignments on course website. Start working on Unit #6 deliberation packet, due March 19 at 11:59pm.
Monday, March 3: Introduction to Unit #7. Discuss differences among deliberation, persuasion, and advocacy. Look at examples of effective persuasion and advocacy campaigns.
Wednesday, March 5: More discussion of persuasion and advocacy with regard to civic life. Consider genres and modes of advocacy.
- For next class: Write passion post #5. Blog groups 1-3: write Civic Issue post #3.
Friday, March 7: Blogging, Week 5.
- For next class: Keep working on your deliberation packet, due on Wednesday, March 19. Don’t forget to participate in online deliberation about PSU’s General Education by Sunday, March 9 at 11:59pm.
March 10-14: * * * SPRING BREAK * * *
Monday, March 17: Discuss persuasion and form/style/tone via persuasive essay examples.
- For next class: Finish deliberation packet, submit via ANGEL dropbox by 11:59pm on Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 19: Review advocacy organizations’ missions, web presences, messaging strategies.
- For next class: Write passion post #6. Blog groups 4-6: write Civic Issue post #3.
Friday, March 21: Advocacy and ethical considerations. Blogging, Week 6.
Monday, March 24: Discuss entry points for advocacy project ideas; brainstorm ideas with small groups.
Wednesday, March 26: Advocacy and kairos; refine advocacy ideas with small groups.
- For next class: Write passion post #7. Blog groups 1-3: write Civic Issue post #4. Schedule a conference time for next week.
Friday, March 28: Choose advocacy projects/groups. Blogging, Week 7.
- For conferences: Bring in outline or first page of persuasive essay and be ready to discuss advocacy project ideas.
Monday, March 31: No formal class. Conferences for persuasive essay and advocacy project.
Wednesday, April 2:No formal class. Conferences for persuasive essay and advocacy project.
- For next class: Write passion post #8. Blog groups 4-6: write Civic Issue post #4.
Friday, April 4: Blogging, Week 8.
Monday, April 7: Discussion of modal choices and audience for individual advocacy projects. Discuss more sample advocacy pieces.
Wednesday, April 9: No formal class. Conferences with advocacy project groups.
- For next class: Write passion post #9. Blog groups 1-3: write final Civic Issue post. Continue working on persuasive essay.
Friday, April 11: Blogging, Week 9.
- For next class: Continue working on persuasive essay, due Wednesday, April 16th
Monday, April 14: Introduction to Unit #8.
- For next class: Finalize persuasive essay, due by 11:59pm, Wednesday, April 16th in ANGEL dropbox. (If your persuasive essay requires you to turn it in non-digitally, let me know.)
Wednesday, April 16: Review platforms available for e-portfolio creation. Brainstorm purpose(s) and audience(s) for e-portfolios.
- For next class: Write final passion post! Blog groups 4-6: write final Civic Issue post.
Friday, April 18: Blogging, Week 10.
- For next class: Continue working on advocacy projects. Gather materials for e-portfolio and start thinking about design/platform.
Monday, April 21: Review sample e-portfolios and discuss selection, presentation, and design choices.
Wednesday, April 23: No formal class. Continue working on advocacy projects, deliverables to be turned in on Monday, April 28th.
Friday, April 25: Additional tips, pointers, and possibilities for e-portfolio design. Work on e-portfolios in class.
Monday, April 28: Section-specific advocacy fair. Deliverables due in to me by 11:59pm.
Wednesday, April 30: Review projects. Work on e-portfolios.
Friday, May 2: The official grand finale; sentimental goodbyes; possible foodstuffs.
E-portfolios are due Friday, May 9 at noon.