this page offers an overview of the possible units within each category. remember 3330 usually consists of five units.
pick 2
The course should start with two foundational units. One that offers an overview of the course and contexts on social movements (definitions, histories, etc.), and another that offers a focus on the methodological approach undergirding the rest of the semester. The latter unit, in theory, should reflect the instructor's area of expertise (rhetoric and culture, organizational comm, community and social interaction) to set the stage for the fourth unit that can reflect the instructor's interests. Should an instructor want to take a generalist approach, that is also welcome.
To succeed in the class, students need to finish the first two units with the tools to (1) roughly define and identify a social movement, (2) define models of social justice, (3) offer broad explanations of social movements' communicative practices [this third one will be nuanced to the emphasis the instructor has chosen for unit 2].
Units within this sandbox:
pick 1
Unit 3 should begin to narrow the concepts being covered within the course. This unit takes the broad understanding built in the foundations units and begins narrowing the scope of analysis. This unit, in contrast to application and praxis, is still more concerned with theory and definitions than nuancing specific case studies in-depth. As such, the concepts covered should work toward the content covered in the fourth (application) unit. Much of this unit will likely survey discrete bodies of social movements scholarship. For those interested in a generalist approach, the Theories of Social Movements unit option is the most general, followed by Identity and Social Movements.
Students should exit this unit with a firm grasp on a segment of social movement literature. Students, upon completing the unit, will be equipped to (1) compare and contrast areas of social movement literature [e.g. social movements 1.0 vs 2.0], (2) identify the area of literature best suited to contemporary social movements, (3) analyze social movement communication with an incisive focus (e.g. digital organizing), and (4) hone their focus more deeply for the next unit.
Units within this sandbox:
pick 1
This is the fourth unit of the course and where the instructor has the most leeway to shape the course to their own interests. Again, Application is where the course begins to forefront the analysis and discussion of specific movements over theories of social movements. For example, a course offering interested in Digital Social Movements (from above), would then narrow to hashtag-based movements and assign readings devoted to Black Lives Matter, Say Her Name, and Trump 2020. As a note, this unit should also represent a range of viewpoints (e.g. both progressive and conservative movements, resistance and hegemonic response, etc.) as to not alienate students.
Students will have the tools, by the end of the unit, to (1) deeply discuss the communicative techniques of specific social movements, (2) define and identify multiple facets of social movements--specific to those selected in the unit--and (3) outline the ways the chosen unit emphasis (e.g. hashtag-based movements) differ from traditional social movemvents.
Units within this sandbox:
pick 1
This unit is largely meant to offer students ample time and resources for their final projects. Readings can be geared toward accomplishing the selected final project for the course, but should also offer some "real world" takeaways from the high theory and academic concepts covered throughout the semester.
Units within this sandbox: