Clarification on Attendance Policy

You can read about the complete Lower Division Studies Attendance Policy in your textbook, pages 14-15. The part that you should be especially mindful of is as follows:

“If you miss the equivalent of more than two weeks of the class sessions, you will be in danger of failing the course” (14).

That means if you miss more than 4 classes, you are in danger of failing, and you will receive deductions on your final grade in the course. Please let me know if you have questions or concerns about this policy.

Blog due 9/27: Local Publics & Considering Public Issues

Due: Before the start of class on Thurs., Sept. 27th

Length: At least 500 words

For homework, read Elenore Long’s chapter “The Link and Gate.” In your blog response do the following:

1) Explain / offer a definition of local publics, and

2) Consider potential local, public research topics for Project 2 by either writing on location or looking at local news sources for ideas (see explanations below).

Option 1: Write on Location

Choose a local, public place to visit, ideally one that’s different from what you selected for Project 1. Consider places that may be of particular interest to you, that you’re curious about, that may be new to you, etc. Sit (or walk around) and observe for about 15 minutes. For this blog entry option, you should “write on location” by either recording notes with pen/paper or bringing your laptop or other mobile device for composing a blog entry. Write what you see and what it makes you think about. Then, follow-up this entry by listing at least 5 topics of local interest you could pursue for research.

Option 2: Perusing the Pages of Public News Sources

Choose a local news publication (AJC, Creative Loafing, GSU’s The Signal, local news websites,etc.) or look at a series of publications. For your entry, write about local issues you see in these publications, and be sure to list at least 5 topics of local interest that you could pursue for research.

Blog due 9/11: Observation Notes

Create a detailed description of your selected space for Project 1. What do you see? How does the space make you feel? What catches your eye first? How do you see people using/interacting with the space?

Your post should be at least 350 words. Due before the start of class 9/11.

Blog due 9/4: Proposal of Place for Project 1 Analysis

Due before the start of class 9/4. Answer the following questions in regards to your public space choice for Project 1. Your response should be at least 350 words. Feel free to include an image, video, or link related to your selection, if you’d like. You may reply in paragraph form, making sure to address each of the questions, or you can respond to each question individually and separately.

• What local, public space are you planning to work with for Project 1?
• Why are you interested in working with this space?
• What are your plans for engaging in analysis of this space? In other words, tell me and your peers your logistical plans for observation. Some questions to consider: When will you visit this space? How will you get there? How long will you stay? Will you take notes in the space? Will you visit multiple times? Etc.
• What do you think will be interesting about working with this space?
• What do you think will be challenging about working with this space?
• Do you have any early hypotheses about what messages you might find in your analysis?

Summary / Analysis & Observations / Inferences: Class Activity 8/30

“Let Them Eat Crack,” by British street artist Banksy

Blog Post Due 8/30: Rootedness and Rootlessness: Exploring Places

Choose a key word from Eric Zencey’s “Rootless Professors” and select a place that communicates that concept in some way for you. Write a reflective/meditative response on what this place means to you. You may choose to include additional media, such as an image, a video, a link to a website, etc. However, if you are including a source that is not your own, be sure to give credit to the original source. Some ideas for keywords from Zencey’s piece are as follows, but you can select a different word if you’d like.

• rootlessness
• local
• native
• nature
• cosmopolitanism
• diversity
• democracy
• education
• nationalism

Take this in whatever direction you’d like. This is a chance for you to explore place and to write critically and reflectively about how places are personal, political, social, and so on. Your response should be at least 250 words.

Welcome

Take a few minutes to explore our course website. Welcome!