ERIC Number: EJ1307793
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 16
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1534-9322
EISSN: N/A
Constellating Community Engagement in a Cultural Rhetorics Seminar
Novotny, Maria; Edwards, Claire; Frandsen, Gitte; Koepke, Danielle; Marcum, Joni; Smith, Chloe; Sommers, Angelyn; Williams, Madison
Composition Studies, v49 n1 p103-118 2021
ENG 712: Theories in Public Rhetoric & Community Engagement is a required course for MA and PhD students concentrating in Rhetoric, Writing, and Community Engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). The topic for this course rotates depending upon the teaching faculty member's area of expertise. In the 2020 rotation, Maria opted to theme the course around cultural rhetorics (CR), as an introduction to the theories and methodologies useful to practicing CR. To familiarize students with these practices, two goals structured the course. The first goal was for students to identify the practices and theories defining the field of CR. The second goal was for students to build a CR methodology in relation to their individual scholarly areas of study. As such, this course asked students to move beyond an orientation centered on 'what is cultural rhetorics?' to a more methodological orientation that invited them to consider 'how does one practice cultural rhetorics?' Embracing the CR pillar of constellation, this course design offers a constellated, multi-vocal approach by several students (Claire, Gitte, Danielle, Chloe, Madison, Joni, and Angelyn) and the instructor (Maria). In this article, Maria explains the institutional context and theoretical framing of the course. The students reflect on their experiences in the course, which prompts a dialogue on a surprising outcome: how the course prepared students to engage in a range of community projects. The authors believe that others may read and build upon this course design to consider how they may embrace CR theories and practices to guide community-engaged work.
Descriptors: Community Involvement, Rhetoric, Graduate Students, Doctoral Students, Course Descriptions, Cultural Influences, Critical Theory, Writing (Composition), Student Attitudes
Composition Studies. Available from: UMass Boston. 100 William T. Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125; e-mail: compstudiesjournal@gmail.com; Web site: https://compstudiesjournal.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A