PBLC - Problem Detail: Examining and Practicing Genre and Rhetoric: Problem Two-National Citizens Forum

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Problem Detail

Title: Examining & Practicing Genre & Rhetoric: Problem Two--National Citizens Forum

Author: Dr. Rita Kumar
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45236
rita.kumar@uc.edu

Co-Authors: Brenda Refaei
Claudia Skutar

Discipline: Composition and Rhetoric

Target Audience: Intermediate, non-majors

Keywords: Composition, Genre, Rhetoric

Length of Time/Staging: Two weeks in a ten week quarter

Abstract: This is the second problem in a set of three that sets up simulations of real-world scenarios and then asks students to think and write about them. In a world of rapidly changing communication methods, college-level writers must not only understand the conventions of traditional academic writing, but must learn to think critically and to write about and in various genres. One way to help students learn to do this is via communication problems based on parallels to real-world events. The first problem by Claudia Skutar involves students in developing a founding document. This second problem requires students to defend an important right(s) that they have identified earlier in the founding document and argue for it using reliable sources. The second problem is connected to the first problem in content but expects students to develop their writing skills further. The problem encourages students to find sources, evaluate and analyze them as they construct their arguments in defense of a right. The problem design prompts students to explore different genres and voices to meet the rhetorical demands of the scenario presented by the problem. Students are pushed to work collaboratively and think critically as they need to produce both an individual and collective product. For example, students seek ways to incorporate information from their individual product to create a collective document that exemplifies a different genre and voice. The final problem by Brenda Refaei requires students to use their new found skills to address a social issue. Students adopt roles related to their majors to write about social issues as someone in their desired field would.

Date Submitted: 2/8/2011

Date Accepted: 4/21/2011

Date Published: 8/2/2011

Problem content: Problem Statement
Self and peer evaluations (doc, pdf)
Personal reflection log (doc, pdf)
Possible student roles (doc, pdf)
Contract sheet (doc, pdf)
Group ground rules (doc, pdf)

Supporting Materials: Format of Delivery
Student Learning Objectives
Student Resources
   Guidelines for Analyzing Genre (doc, pdf)
   Freedoms, Arguments, and Roles (doc, pdf)
Teaching Notes
   Self assessment (doc, pdf)
Assessment Strategies
Rubric for individual letter (doc, pdf)
Rubric for white paper (doc, pdf)
Solution Notes

© Rita Kumar, Brenda Refaei, and Claudia Skutar, Univ. of Cincinnati, 2011.
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Problem Detail
Title:	Examining & Practicing Genre & Rhetoric: Problem Two--National Citizens Forum
Author:	Dr. Rita Kumar University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH 45236 rita.kumar@uc.edu
Co-Authors:	Brenda Refaei Claudia Skutar
Discipline:	Composition and Rhetoric
Target Audience:	Intermediate, non-majors
Keywords:	Composition, Genre, Rhetoric
Length of Time/Staging:	Two weeks in a ten week quarter
Abstract:	This is the second problem in a set of three that sets up simulations of real-world scenarios and then asks students to think and write about them. In a world of rapidly changing communication methods, college-level writers must not only understand the conventions of traditional academic writing, but must learn to think critically and to write about and in various genres. One way to help students learn to do this is via communication problems based on parallels to real-world events. The first problem by Claudia Skutar involves students in developing a founding document. This second problem requires students to defend an important right(s) that they have identified earlier in the founding document and argue for it using reliable sources. The second problem is connected to the first problem in content but expects students to develop their writing skills further. The problem encourages students to find sources, evaluate and analyze them as they construct their arguments in defense of a right. The problem design prompts students to explore different genres and voices to meet the rhetorical demands of the scenario presented by the problem. Students are pushed to work collaboratively and think critically as they need to produce both an individual and collective product. For example, students seek ways to incorporate information from their individual product to create a collective document that exemplifies a different genre and voice. The final problem by Brenda Refaei requires students to use their new found skills to address a social issue. Students adopt roles related to their majors to write about social issues as someone in their desired field would.
Date Submitted:	2/8/2011
Date Accepted:	4/21/2011
Date Published:	8/2/2011
Problem content:	Problem Statement Self and peer evaluations (doc, pdf) Personal reflection log (doc, pdf) Possible student roles (doc, pdf) Contract sheet (doc, pdf) Group ground rules (doc, pdf)
Supporting Materials:	Format of Delivery Student Learning Objectives Student Resources Guidelines for Analyzing Genre (doc, pdf) Freedoms, Arguments, and Roles (doc, pdf) Teaching Notes Self assessment (doc, pdf) Assessment Strategies Rubric for individual letter (doc, pdf) Rubric for white paper (doc, pdf) Solution Notes
	© Rita Kumar, Brenda Refaei, and Claudia Skutar, Univ. of Cincinnati, 2011. PBL Clearinghouse