Welcome Rhetoric II students! We will be using this blog as part of our class. It will serve several purposes. I will be using the class blog to post some of our reading assignments, as well as videos and other links. You should also begin using the blog to ask questions about assignments or resources. Additionally, each week you will be required to post a thought about the week’s readings. This could be anything from an argument you may have with something from a class reading to a potential virtue or vice demonstrated by one of the individuals we are learning about. You will also be required to post one response to another student’s post. The primary posts will always be due two days before our class meeting. Responses will be due by midnight prior to class.
Discussion Leader:
During this
term, each student will be required to lead discussion for at least one class
period. The discussion leader should prepare a short summary of something
interesting from the readings and at least three discussion-provoking questions. (Approximately 5 -10 minutes)
The discussion leader should:
1. Provide a short summary of the readings
2. Explain one detail which interested them
3. Ask, at least, three discussion-provoking questions.
4. Lead discussion
For a quick list of ideas for leading a discussion,
have a look at the following guidelines.
Coup D’état Presentations:
Each student
will give a presentation on one of the following coup d’états. This project is
intended as an opportunity to develop your research skills. Additionally, the
longer format presentation allows you the chance thoroughly discuss your
subject, while learning how to give a lecture. The presentation will be from
10-20 minutes and will begin by explaining the context of the coup. The presenter
will then provide a narrative of the events that led to the coup, a timeline of
the coup itself, and the events which followed shortly thereafter. The
presentation will then discuss links between the coup and other events
discussed in class. Finally, the student will assess the legacy of the coup, by
looking at more recent events in the country being discussed. As part of the
presentation, students are encouraged to include handouts, images, original documents,
sound recordings, video, power-point slides, etc.
Coup D’état Presentation Topics:
·
1949
Syrian coup
·
1953
Iranian coup*
·
1954
Guatemalan coup*
·
1960
Congo coup
·
1961
Cuban invasion
·
1961
Dominican Republic
·
1963
South Vietnamese coup
·
1964
Brazilian coup
·
1973
Chilean coup
·
1976
Argentine coup
·
1979
Afghanistan resistance*
·
1980
Turkey coup
·
1981
Nicaraguan 'contras'
·
2002
Venezuelan coup attempt
*By request
only.
Social History Presentations:
Each student
will give a short presentation on the social history of the era we are
discussing this term. Presentations should use note-cards and include multimedia
and/or examples of your topic (e.g. photos, food, music, item of clothing, etc.).
Presentations should be around 5-10 minutes.
Possible
topics include:
·
Style in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s,
or 1990s (Choose a decade)
·
Music in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s,
or 1990s (Choose a decade)
·
Food in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s,
or 1990s (Choose a decade)
·
Technology in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s,
or 1990s (Choose a decade)
·
Recreation in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s,
or 1990s (Choose a decade)
·
Family Life in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s,
or 1990s (Choose a decade)
The
following are more specific examples; additionally, students may request an alternative
topic.
·
The
Rise of the Supermarket
·
The
Rise of the Automobile Culture
·
The
Worldwide Rise of Fast Food
·
A
History of the Internet
·
Television’s
Impact on Modern Society
Discussion Leader, Coup D’état, and Social
History Sign-Up (Monday Only)
In the comment section below, please sign-up for a discussion leader slot and for both presentations. When signing up please include your name, class, and the dates you are selecting. Everyone needs to sign up for one of each. Time-slots will go to the first person to sign up. If you need to change times, this will have to be negotiated between students. If you have any concerns, please e-mail me.
