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Assignment Sequences with Lots of Readings
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Assignment |
Work |
Writing |
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Assignment 1) Educational Discourse |
informal survey of knowledge (working with numbers – surveys) |
present analysis of survey data |
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Assignment 2) Historical Discourse |
interview at least two people who lived through the same historical event (interviewing – oral history) |
present analysis of these accounts following Thelen’s lead to consider not just the event but the significance of how they are remembered |
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Assignment 3) Judicial and Literary
Discourse |
either analyze a contemporary theatrical performance or a Supreme Court opinion. (working with texts – rhetorical analysis) |
present analysis an example of public discourse, demonstrate rhetorical analysis to make an argument about significance |
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Assignment 4) Musical Discourse |
archival and historical research of vocal music (working with texts – music, plus archives) |
present history of the song as a way to consider how it educated those who heard and sang it |
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Assignment 5) Visual Discourse |
analysis of editorial cartoons (observing -- visual analysis) |
present analysis to make an argument about cartoons as vehicles that shape and reflect cultural beliefs and values |
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Assignment 6) Reflection |
synthesis |
draw on earlier work to make an argument about public discourse and cultural values |
Starting with the survey assignment signals to students right away that they are in a different kind of writing course. Don't let your students be intimidated by the long length of the Thelen article. Instead, consider assigning the different sections to different groups of students to present to the rest of the class. Chavez, Koza or Len-Ríos can substitute for White if you want students to work with popular media rather than more formal textual materials.
You will find a detailed schedule using a version of this sequence in the Pacing the Work section of this site.
Send mail to
mmarshall@miami.edu with
questions or comments about this web site.
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