Schedule (Spring 2013)

UNIT I: YOU, THE CONSUMER

Week 1 (Jan 7-11)
Jan 7: 1st day of class
Jan 11: last day to add/drop)

Mon
Introduction and Syllabus

Wed
CLASS: Ze Frank; Chillout; Dreams Proje­­­ct, A Show: Make Believe

Fri
Watch: Ze Frank’s Web Playroom (2010)
Watch: Ze Frank’s Nerdcore Comedy (2004)

Week 2 (Jan 14-18)

Mon
Watch: Matt Ridley, “When Ideas Have Sex.” TEDGlobal (July 2010)
Bring a commodity that you enjoy
In class: Invention Mobs and Activities

Wed MEET IN AVERY 105 (Computer Lab on First Floor of Avery)

DUE: WordPress Blog URL [Tutorial] [Submit URL here]
BLOG: Define communication in the 21st century. What does it mean to “learn how to write”? #reflection [NOTE: “#reflection” indicates that you should TAG your blog post with the word “reflection.”]

[Unless otherwise indicated, all blog posts are due before class meets, and all posts must be at least 250 words in length.]

Fri
Watch: Daniel Pink, “On the Science of Motivation” (2009)
Watch: Simon Sinek, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action
” (2010)
BLOG: How do you identify yourself as a consumer? How might you need to change your consumer behavior, and why? #consumer

Week 3 (Jan 21-25)
Jan 21: MLK Jr Day

Mon
No Class

Wed
Watch: Derek Sivers, “How to Start a Movement” (2010)
Class: Cool Advertisements and Visual Rhetoric

Fri
Watch: Cameron Herold, “Let’s Raise Kids to Be Entrepreneurs”
BLOG: Perform a rhetorical analysis of an advertisement for a commodity you currently own. #consumer
CLASS: Guide to Rhetorical Analysis

Week 4 (Jan 28-Feb 1)

Mon
Watch: Rachel Botsman. “Collaborative Consumption.” TEDxSydney (31 May 2010).

Read: Rachel Botsman, “The Stranger Exchange,” Shareable.com (29 Nov. 2009)

BLOG: Design a new ad—with images, slogans, and text—based on your own experience of the commodity you chose for your rhetorical analysis (above). #consumer

Wed
Read: Lars Eighner, “Dumpster Diving”
Read: Rosenbloom, Stephanie. “But Will It Make You Happy?” New York Times (7 Aug. 2010)

Fri
BLOG: Look through your belongings. What are some items you could or couldn’t live without? Take photographs and tell your story. #consumer
DUE: Blog Progress Report #1 Due

Week 5 (Feb 4-8)

Mon
BLOG: Synthesize all of your #consumer blog posts. Make a statement about consumer culture today, based on your experiences, class discussions, and class materials. Compile a rough draft of 1000 words. For more details, view the assignment sheet.

Wed [No F2F]
In lieu of class, sign up for instructor-facilitated peer reviews. Sign-up sheet will be available in class.

Fri
BLOG: What did you learn during peer review? Make a specific list of goals to undertake in your revision of this draft based on peer review. #consumer


UNIT II: A BETTER TED TALK

Week 6 (Feb 11-15)

Mon
CLASS: TED Talk Brainstorming

Wed
Watch: Jane McGonigal, “Gaming Can Make a Better World” (2010)

Fri
Read: Bryce Henderson, “The Looks on Their Faces” with “Story Building: Lego Invention Mob”

Week 7 (Feb 18-22)
Feb 18: President’s Day, No class

Mon
No Class

Wed
BLOG: Complete TED Talk research preparation document: TED Talks (Blank).
See my example: TED Talks (Art & Business)

Fri [HYBRID]
BLOG: Browse and read this web resource from Purdue’s OWL on Conducting Research. Focus on the sections under Primary Research. Write a blog post that describes the kind of primary research that you would like to undertake for your TED Talk / Research Essay. #ted

Week 8 (Feb 25-Mar 1)

Feb 27: Mid-Term Grades due

Mon
BLOG: Draft a transcript for your oral presentation. Goal is 500 words (3 spoken minutes) #ted
CLASS: How to deliver an oral presentation.

Wed
Browse and read this web resource from Purdue’s OWL on Establishing Arguments.

Fri
BLOG: Visual Essay. Produce 3 original slides. Use photography, charts and diagrams, or a mixture of both to create a photo essay. #ted #visual
CLASS: Research tips

Week 9 (Mar 4-8)

Mon
Library Session: Meet in Terrell Library, Lower Online Classroom, Room #20E
Watch: Libraries’ Online Tour

Wed [HYBRID]
No face-to-face class meeting.
Compile 3-5 articles on your topic. Print out your articles, highlight key points, and write questions in the margins. If you missed the library session on Monday, meet with a librarian at the reference desk in Terrell Library.

Fri [HYBRID]
No face-to-face class meeting.
DUE:
Produce an annotated bibliography of at least 3-5 sources on your topic. See assignment details here. Submit as a blog post. Due by 5pm. #ted

SPRING BREAK (Mar 11-17)

 

UNIT III: INVENTION MOBS, PORTFOLIO

Week 10 (Mar 18-22)

Mon
Form groups for Invention Mobs. Pro tip: select group members based on availability, in addition to shared interests. Brainstorm ideas.

Wed
DUE: Blog Progress Report #2 Due

Fri
DUE: Synthesize your research materials into an essay. Length: 2000 words. Post on your blog.
CLASS: Informal presentations on your invention mob

Week 11 (Mar 25-29)

Mon
DUE: At least 5 samples of contributions to your mob (these can be made by group members / friends).
PRESENT: A web presentation that identifies your mob’s purpose, mode of persuasion, and 5 samples of contributions. (Pro tip: create a new WordPress website for your group’s invention mob.)

Wed [HYBRID]
Use class period to produce invention mobs materials.

Fri
DUE (for a grade): At least 10 more samples of contributions to your mob (made by acquaintances, campus strangers).
PRESENT: A web presentation of any revisions made to your mob’s purpose, mode of persuasion, and 10 additional contributions. Draft a narrative of your mob’s process (success, failure, social interaction, mode of collection).

Week 12 (Apr 1-5)

Mon
DUE: At least 5 more samples of contributions to your mob (made by campus strangers).
PRESENT: A web presentation of any revisions made to your mob’s purpose, mode of persuasion, a total of at least 20 contributions, and process narrative. Draft the final creative artifact of your mob (a synthesis of all of the contributions.

Wed [HYBRID]
Use class period to complete production process.

Fri
DUE: Invention Mob “Creative Artifact” and “Narrative of the Process.”
PRESENT: A web presentation that tells the story of your artifact and shares the compiled creative artifact.

Week 13 (Apr 8-12)

Mon [HYBRID]
BLOG DUE: “Individual Rhetorical Analysis (SOGC)” (1500 words, submit as a new blog post)

Wed [HYBRID]
BLOG: Draft the cover letter to your portfolio (1000 words).

Cover Letter Prompt:

  1. Revisit the first blog post you wrote on your definition of communication in the 21st century. How has your understanding of communication changed over the course of the semester?
  2. Re-read your favorite blog posts / pages. Why are they your favorite? What makes them different from your least favorite posts?
  3. Define yourself as a writer, thinker, inventor. Who have you become this semester, and how did you get there?

Fri
Bring printouts of all 3 essays (Consumer Essay, Research Essay, and Invention Essay).
CLASS: Guide to Global Revisions

Week 14 (Apr 15-19)

Mon [HYBRID]
BLOG: Create an outline for your revision of the Research Essay or Invention Essay.

Wed MEET IN 105 AVERY COMPUTER LAB
CLASS: Set up portfolio on the blog.

Fri [HYBRID]
Attend your scheduled Peer Review session.

Week 15 (Apr 22-26)
Apr 26: Last day of class

MWF: Portfolio Revisions, Peer Review

FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE: APRIL 26