Citizenship and Activism

Welcome to Citizenship and Activism!

You should reflect on the following questions based on your experience, your positions on the topic, and your understanding of your own region and nation. If you research the topics, use newspapers, local and national news coverage, and even interviews with your family, friends, teachers, local representatives and others. At our first class meeting you should be prepared to share one activist [text] that speaks to you and is somehow connected to citizenship. An activist text can be an image, a video, a speech, a piece of music etc.

• What are the primary focal points of activism in your region/nation/community?
• Are there tensions among activist groups in your area?
• How does that tension manifest itself?
• What is ONE example of activism that you like? Why do you like it?
• What is ONE example of activism that you do not like? Why don’t you like it?

You do not need to write or type your answers. Just think about them, familiarize yourself with the issues, and plan on sharing your activist text from your region and nation with the other Fellows in class.

Purpose of the Class

The purpose of this class is to investigate the intersections of citizenship and activism with and through rhetorical criticism. We will explore the narratives and arguments that activists groups use to frame their work. In this class, students will explore these questions through discussions, role-playing activities, and other forms of active learning.