S E R G I O C . F I G U E I R E D O

PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN FOR A PRINT/DIGITAL HYBRID FYC COURSE

Asst. Prof.Digital Media

−−−−−Department

of English−−−−−

KennesawState

University

A T H E O R E T I C A L G R O U N D I N G F O R F YC D I G I TA L R E S E A RC H

COURSE DESCRIPTION

RHETORICAL TROPES (STARTING PLACES):

a figure (of speech) consisting of the use of an image, word, or phrase in a sense other than it was intended

(etymonline.com | cf. K. Burke, “Four Master Tropes”)

THEORETICAL GROUNDING:“a way of seeing is also a way of not seeing―a focus upon object A involves a neglect of object B”

(K. Burke, Permanence and Change 49)

MEME (MEMORY/REPRESENTATION): “an entity that is capable of being transmitted from one brain to another” by a common means

“some people believe component A but not component B, while others believe B but not A, then A and B should be regarded as separate memes”

(R. Dawkins, “Memes: The New Replicators” 196)

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COURSE DESIGN & THEME

EXAMPLE:Duck/Rabbit Gestalt

I N Q U I RY I : H I S T O R I O G RA P H Y E S S AY ( 1 5 % )

ASSIGNMENT I

I N Q U I RY 2 . I : E X P LO RAT O RY R E S E A RC H E S S AY ( 2 0 % )

ASSIGNMENT II (2-PART)

<thewikigame.com>

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INFORMAL RESEARCH

Based on “Six Degrees of Separation” Meme

Players/Researchers move from one pre-selected Wikipedia article to another with the fewest clicked links

Begins process of connecting/linking multiple research sources

<knowyourmeme.com>

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EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

Begins without a clearly defined research problem

Students explore a topic with the purpose of identifying its scope and significance

Assignment ‘should not present a formal argument’

Exploratory research emphasizes rhetorical invention with the aim offer producing an intervention

by Bruce Ballenger

I N Q U I RY 2 . 2 : R E S E A RC H P R O P O S A L ( 2 5 % )

ASSIGNMENT II (2-PART)

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

This proposal picks up where the Exploratory Research essay leaves off.

Proposal identifies how student-research projects will contribute to a public understanding of a given topic—to a general, non-expert audience.

Multimedia project aims at contributing an alternative perspective to a contemporary debate.

This assignment extends the course focus on rhetorical invention and deliberative rhetoric (rather than forensic or epideictic rhetoric)._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_

PROPOSAL INCLUDES: (1) Tentative Project Title; (2) Overview of Project; (3) Brief Description of

Problem/Opportunity; (4) Objectives/Criteria; (5) Resources Required; (6) Works Reference/Bibliography; and (7) Timeline for Completion

I N Q U I RY 3 : C R E AT I V E P R O J E C T ( 3 0 % )

ASSIGNMENT III

CREATIVE PROJECTw/ descriptive reflection essay on process

In building toward the final project, students examine writing practices common to digital environments:

Authorship/Authority (K. Fitzpatrick)

Remix | Read-Write Cultures (L. Lessig)

Ethics & Media Production (H. Jenkins)

These projects challenge student to produce a creative and entertaining multimodal project informed by their semester-long research.

STUDENT-GENERATED MEMES

Collaborative Writing Public Research Projects

CopyrightCreative Commons

Digital Writing (Rhetoric)Media FormsSoftware Options

EXAMPLE PROJECTTER

RY

FIN

SO

N: 2

01

2

EN

D O

F TH

E W

OR

LD

ME

ME

I N Q U I RY 4 : F I N A L R E F L E C T I O N ( 1 0 % )

ASSIGNMENT IV & RATIONALE

REFLECTIVE SELF-ASSESSMENTINQUIRY 4: FINAL REFLECTION | 10%

GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES

1) Critical Thinking;

2) U.S. Perspectives & Global Perspectives;

3) Written & Visual Communication;

4) Interpretation & Representation;

5) Social Sciences

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Proficiency in communication  

• Demonstrate scholarly and creative application of inquiry and critical thinking across the general education disciplines

• An understanding of ethics, multiple audiences, and a global perspective.

COURSE RATIONALE

Derived from Aristotle’s ‘Knowing, Doing, Making’ triad:

1. CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING (ETHOS) [Assignment 1]

2. PROFESSIONAL/ACADEMIC RESEARCH (LOGOS) [Assignments 2]

3. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT (PATHOS) [Assignment 3]