This document outlines the requirements for a public life journal assignment. Students are asked to document current events, media, or pop culture each week by (1) describing the context, (2) connecting it to a class concept, and (3) citing a reference. They are also asked to respond to at least two peers' journal entries each week to continue the discussion. The goal is to make connections between course concepts and real-world examples.

1. DOCUMENTING | 10 Points
Throughout the quarter you will be tasked with exploring current events, media, social media,
and other forms of pop culture to analyze and document in your pop culture journal (you will be
posting your journal entry to your peer discussion group on Canvas each week it is due, but it
may be helpful to keep this is a running document in your own files to add to each week, then
copy and paste from your journal onto Canvas). This will give you an opportunity to make
connections between what we are learning about in class related to rhetorical/critical frameworks
of inquiry and what you are seeing in the world around you, as well as empowering you to
explore topics that particularly interest you. Each week that you are assigned a public life journal
entry (see course schedule), you should:
(1)
describe the context of your example (important parts like what this means relative to the
historical context and social world, who, what, when, where, why, how etc.)-you may post a
picture or a link if that would be helpful
(2)
clearly connect it to a particular concept, idea, term, theory, method, etc. we are learning about
that week (your book can be a helpful guide here)-be sure to label the concept clearly, describe
it, and apply it to your chosen example and
(3)
include and cite
at least one
reference for your example below your post/entry.
DISCUSSING | 10 Points
You should respond to at least
two of your peers' posts
. Think of your responses here as what you would comment on in a face-to-face discussion-i.e.,
parts you found interesting, additional insights or connections you may make, questions that
come up, and always lead with a respectful tone.