Spring ’24 Schedule

Note: the schedule flows chronologically down the page. For instance, the homework listed below Tuesday, January 9 is due for the next class.

Tuesday, January 9 Welcome to the course. Overview of course themes and assignments. Introduction to “This I Believe” assignment. Memory diving exercise. Reconfiguring of blogs.

Homework for next class:

  • Read prompt for RCL II Blogging and Unit Four, “This I Believe,” under Assignments Tab. Read the Keywords for Identity and Narrative and take Canvas quizzes before class on Thursday.
  • Listen to a selection of “This I Believe” broadcasts at thisibelieve.org.
  • Review Civic Issues blog topics.
  • Write an RCL (1) category entry that includes at least two ideas for your “This I Believe” podcast, some possible topics for your Personal is Political (PP) blog, and two ideas for your Civic Issues (CI) blog. If you are new to my class or you would like to create a new blog, send your blog URL to me by Wednesday at 5 PM–jessicaohara@psu.edu)

Thursday, January 11  Discussion of readings and more brainstorming. Review and comment on class members’ posts on RCL Blog (1). Further discuss Personal is Political and Civic Issue Blog topics and logistics.

Homework for next class:

  • Read “On the Necessity of Turning Oneself into a Character” (Canvas File)
  • Read Keyword entries Choosing a Belief and Arranging a Belief and take Canvas quizzes before Tuesday’s class.
  • Review feedback on your RCL blog entry. Decide on “This I Believe,” Personal is Political, and Civic Issues Blog topics.

Tuesday, January 16: Discuss readings and concepts of style, narrative persona as they relate to the “This I Believe” audio essay. Listen to and discuss “This I Believe” examples from Penn State RCL. Review successful arrangement and style strategies for aural composition

Homework for next class:

  • Complete full draft of “This I Believe” script and post under RCL (2) category. In another RCL blog entry (3), announce your topics/ideas for the The Personal is Political  (PP) and Civic Issues (CI) Blogs.
  • Schedule a time on signupgenius.com for optional conferences this week. Link will be emailed to you.

Thursday, January 18  Draft workshop of “This I Believe” scripts on RCL Blog (2). Practice voice modulation and oral delivery strategies. Civic Issue Blog and deliberation teams formed. Brief introduction to deliberation unit.

Homework for next class:

  • Polish “This I Believe” scripts for recording on Voice Thread in Canvas.
  • Read Unit 5: Deliberating in our Communities under Assignments tab
  • Read Keywords Judgment and Deliberation and take Canvas quizzes by Tuesday’s class.
  • Finish commenting on assigned RCL blogs

Tuesday, January 23  Review how to submit “This I Believe” audio essay on Voice Thread. Discuss readings and more discussion of Unit 5 Assignments. Discussion of “problem types” for deliberation.

Homework for next class: 

  • Write and post Personal is Political and Civic Issues Blog entries. Brainstorm deliberation topics.

Thursday, January 25 Blogging, Week 1, Personal is Political (1) and Civic Issues Blog (1). Discussion of “Core American Values” and “Traits of Successful Framing.” Teams discuss deliberation topics.

Homework for next class: 

  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs.
  • Groups decide for before Tuesday on deliberation topic.
  • “This I Believe” audio essay due in the Voice Thread on Tuesday, January 30 by 11:59 PM. 

Tuesday, January 30  Discussion of introductory videos and menu slides. Groups coordinate work.

Homework for next class: 

  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog.

Thursday, February 1 In-class blog reflection and commenting on “This I Believe” audio essays. Blogging, Week 2, Personal is Political Blog (2).  Continued work on researching and framing deliberation topics.

Homework for next class:

  • Continue to gather research and refine framing with other group members.
  • Finish commenting on group members’ Personal is Political blog and “This I Believe” pieces.

Tuesday, February 6 Review past deliberations.

Homework for next class: 

  • Write and post Personal is Political and Civic Issues Blog entries. Approach teams develop slides for Team Overview.
  •  Read “Facilitating Deliberations” under Resources Tab.

Thursday, February 8  Blogging, Week 3, Personal is Political Blog (3) and Civic Issues Blog (2). Begin practice with facilitation.

Homework for next class: 

  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs

Tuesday, February 13 Facilitating practice. Discussion of post-deliberation surveys and note-taking. Discussion of post-deliberation reports.

          Homework for next class:

  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog entry. Teams revise and practice presentations.

Thursday, February 15  Blogging, Week 4, Personal is Political Blog (4). More facilitation practice.

Homework for next class: 

  • Teams continue to work on their presentations for next week’s events.
  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs

Tuesday, February 20 Deliberation, Group 1. Deliberation Group Evaluation and Outreach Email Evidence for this group due by 11:59 PM in Assignments under “Deliberation Unit: Moderating and Presenting”

Thursday, February 22  Deliberation, Group 2. 
 Deliberation Group Evaluation and Outreach Email Evidence for this group due by 11:59 PM in Assignments under “Deliberation Unit: Moderating and Presenting”

Tuesday, February 27: Deliberation, Group 3. Deliberation Group Evaluation and Outreach Email Evidence for this group due by 11:59 PM in Assignments under “Deliberation Unit: Moderating and Presenting”

Homework for next class: 

  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog and Civic Issue Blog entries.

Thursday, February 29: Delivered Asynchronously. Blogging, Week 5, Personal is Political Blog (5) and Civic Issues Blog (3). Discussion of deliberation events. Review or post-deliberation reports.

Homework for next class: 

SPRING BREAK!

Tuesday, March 12 Start Unit 6, Persuading and Advocating

Homework for next class: 

  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog. Brainstorm topics for Issue Brief.
  • Read Public Policy, Causes, and Making Policy Keywords and take Canvas quiz by Thursday’s class.

Thursday, March 14 Blogging, Week 6, Personal is Political Blog (6). Brainstorm session for scope and focus of Issue Brief.

Homework for next class:

  • Post-deliberation Reports Due: Tuesday, March 19 by end of day on Canvas and as an email to a stakeholder (with instructor CC’d or BCC’d).
  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs

Tuesday, March 19 Formatting issue briefs, persuading with infographics. Post-deliberation Reports Due by end of day on Canvas and as an email to a stakeholder (with instructor CC’d or BCC’d).

Homework for next class:

  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog and Civic Issues Blog entries.

Thursday, March 21 Blogging, Week 7, Personal is Political Blog (7) and Civic Issue Blog (4). Introduction to Chicago Style Citation. Check Easy Writer, pages 288-313.

Homework for next class:

  • Prepare introductory draft for Tuesday’s class and post on RCL Blog (4).
  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs

Tuesday, March 26 Review of introductions. Draft workshop of Issue Brief Introductions on RCL Blog (4). Introduction to the Advocacy Project and ethical advocacy.

Homework for next class:

  • Review feedback from and revise introduction draft workshop.
  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog entry
  • Write and post new introduction and full outline of Issue Brief on RCL blog (5)

Thursday, March 28 Blogging, Week 8, Personal is Politics Blog and draft workshop of Issue Brief outlines on RCL blog (5)

Homework for next class:

  • Read Keyword entries Motivation, Needs, and Ethics and take the Canvas quizzes by Tuesday at the time of class.
  • Review draft workshop comments
  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs.

Tuesday, April 2 No formal class. Optional issue brief conferences on Zoom.

Homework for next class:

  • Read Keyword entries Audience Analysis and Choosing Actions and take Canvas quizzes by Thursday’s class
  • Consider which “action” to choose for your advocacy project and how it matches your audience
  • Write and post Personal is Political and Civic Issues Blog entries.

Thursday, April 4 Blogging, Week 9, Personal is Political (9) and Civic Issue Blog (5). Discuss readings. Review notable examples of advocacy.

Homework for next class:

  • Issue Briefs Due on Tuesday, April 9 by end of day on Canvas.
  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs

Tuesday, April 9 Discuss project implementation. Students given in-class time for projects. Issue Briefs Due by end of day on Canvas (11:59 PM).

Homework for next class:

  • Write and post Personal is Political Blog entry.

Thursday, April 11  Blogging, Week 10, Personal is Political Blog (10).

Homework for next class: 

  • Advocacy Projects due on Tuesday, April 16 by end of day.
  • Finish commenting on group members’ blogs

Tuesday, April 16 Introduction to E-portfolios. Selecting platforms and artifacts, plus arranging information. Advocacy Projects Due by 11:59 PM.

Thursday, April 18 Blurb writing and taking command of your content.

Tuesday, April 23 Election Day Asynchronous Instruction! Vote if you are able, and watch course video (forthcoming).

Thursday, April 25 In-class workshop of e-portfolios.

E-portfolios due: Monday, April 29 by 2 PM in the E-portfolio Canvas dropbox 

Extra credit due: Monday, April 29 by 2 PM in the Extra Credit Canvas dropbox