Welcome Rhetoric II!

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.

http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/history/study/leaddiscussion/

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.