Cultural studies approaches social interaction as a "text" to be analyzed, interpreted, and critiqued. Three assignments -- 6, 8 and 10 -- depend on observing a cultural group, (brother's Cub Scout pack, mom's finance group, friend's computer club: any group where there is significant social interaction). Students write an informal proposal of the observation -- a description of the group, how to arrange the logistics(parental okay, how often to meet, transportation to and from, etc.), and, most importantly, WHY the group will make an interesting observation. The instructor approves the group and the logistics. - Observations must have begun by the time students begin writing Assignment 6
- Observations must be completed by the time students begin writing Assignment 8
The capstone essay, Assignment 10, is a substantial revision of Assignment 8. This revision is intended to incorporate all the skills and rhetorical modes that students have worked on. Although the two formats cover the same concepts, they differ in approach. In the email format, students email finished essays to instructors and receive detailed critiques of those essays. Assignments in this format can be individualized to address a particular student's needs; thus, the assignments may vary by instructor and from student to student. The web-based format is an interactive, process-oriented course featuring frequent peer discussions of readings and writings in an online, asynchronous workshop. The majority of assignments apply the strategies of classical rhetoric (narration, definition, argument, persuasion, and so forth) to the interdisciplinary field of cultural studies, which is concerned with the production of meaning in society. Students read essays by authors including Susan Orlean, Joan Didion, and Anne Lamott as well as more traditional writings about argument by Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren. Integral to both formats is a substantial metacognitive dialogue with the instructor about writing. Assignment | Skills Taught | Persuasive Essay – Design your own educational experience | Intro to persuasion
Revision | Extended Definition – Part 1 Chunking assignment | Writing process
Pre-writing
Topic development
Thesis development | Topical Persuasive Essay | Taking a position
Thesis statements
Audience | Extended Definition – Part 2 | Thesis
Introductions
Body paragraphs
Organization
Conclusions | Analysis of Creative Nonfiction: The Orchid Thief excerpt | Writing about literature
Close reading
Quoting from the text
5 Components of creative non-fiction | Subculture Narrative—initial meeting | Narrative: setting, character, theme | Division and Classification Essay | (Revision of 4)
Organization
Revisits Thesis & Introductions | Subculture Analysis | Cultural analysis—
Writing the 5 components of creative nonfiction | Cause and Effect: "Deride and Conquer," Mark Crispin Miller | Literary analysis
Cause and effect | Revision of Essay 8—add research | Revision
Supporting assertions with research
Using quotations |
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