Schedule for Reading and Class Discussion

Schedule and Links, RH399, Fall 2004

Last updated 5 September, 2004

(Please note that reading assignments are due, rather than assigned, on the day on which they are listed.)

Week Zero

Thursday, Sept. 2: Introduction to Course. Rhetoric terminology (rhetorical situations, the triangle; the appeals: ethos, logos, pathos; exigence). Assignment for Thursday night: watch GOP convention coverage in prime time (if possible, starting at 9pm, through when Pres. Bush finishes speaking.) Helpful general links: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/ slate Time magazine http://www.publicagenda.org/ http://www.debates.org/

Friday, Sept. 3: Discussion of GOP convention, and media coverage of it. Getting to know the Republican party and the Bush/Cheney ticket. Key links: GOP convention GOP website Bush/Cheney re-election site group report on Bush.

Week One

Monday, Sept. 6: Getting to know the Democratic party and the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Skim Newsweek July 19, 2004, pp. 20-33 (on library reserve). Key links: http://www.democrats.org/ ; http://www.johnkerry.com ; group report on Kerry issues: handout, presentation; group report on Kerry's Biography and Family: presentation
Tuesday, Sept 7: Group analysis of speeches from Democratic and Republican conventions (in-class activity).
Thursday, Sept. 9: Getting to know third-parties and independent candidates. Key links: third parties vote smart http://lp.org/ http://www.votenader.com/ View report on Nader: handout, presentation.
Friday, Sept. 10: "The Issues": what are the issues in the 2004 election? Where do the different parties and candidates stand on the issues?

Week Two

Monday, Sept. 13: Prof. Casey on the electoral process (from a political science/American government perspective); come with questions about how we elect our President; mock campaign preference forms due.
Tuesday, Sept. 14: Campaign groups assigned; mock campaign planning time. View segments from Outfoxed.
Thursday, Sept. 16: "The Issues" continued. Campaign platforms: what are they and how are they formed?
Friday, Sept. 17: Jamieson Ch. 3; in-class time for mock campaign work--bring laptops.

Week Three

Monday, Sept. 20: Reading due for discussion: Morris on LBJ's use of negative ads (on library reserve); Watt will lecture from Jamieson on attack advertising, Chs. 12, 13, 15 (pp. 107-114, 121-122) (not assigned reading).
Tuesday, Sept. 21: Class discussion of '527's, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Move-on PAC. View "Bush in 30 seconds" ads.
Thursday, Sept. 23: mock campaign platforms and biographies due (bring 10 hard copies); Williams/Lahman paper "On the Spot" (electronic copy will be available).
Friday, Sept. 24: Morris on "Triangulation" (reading on library reserve)

Week Four

Monday, Sept. 27: media critiques due; everyone bring laptops and network cords to read/comment on the critiques; discussion of expectations for websites/brochures
Tuesday, Sept. 28: Jamieson Chs. 26-27 (pp. 203-210); discussion of role of polls in campaigns; initial poll of our mock-campaign media members.
(Weds, Sept. 28-Friday, Oct. 1: Watt away at conference)
Thursday, Sept. 30: sub will show video of 1992 presidential debate in class; you're also assigned to watch, outside of class, the first real presidential debate of 2004, which airs this evening (watch it live, or arrange for taping and view before Monday).
Friday, Oct. 1: no class meeting

Week Five

Monday, Oct. 4: discussion of debates; Jamieson, pp. 161-165 (Chs. 20 and 21)
Tuesday, Oct. 5: Mock campaign website or brochure due; link to guidelines. Class discussion topic(s) open. In evening, view real Vice-Presidential debate live.
Thursday, Oct. 7: Discussion of real VP debate. Media critiques of websites/brochures due; everyone bring laptops and network cords to read/comment on the critiques.
Friday, Oct. 8: Watt away at conference. View Rock the Vote Debate in class (aired Nov. 4 2003). View real 2nd real presidential debate live on TV Friday evening, or arrange for tape to view before class Monday.

Week Six

Monday, Oct. 11: Discuss real debate. Media mock debate questions due (email). Class time to prepare for mock debate.
Tuesday, Oct. 12: . First Mock Presidential debate (classroom). 3rd/final real presidential debate on Weds, Oct. 13--view live or tape and watch before next class, on Monday.
Thursday, Oct. 14-Friday, Oct. 15: FALL BREAK

(Note: Week 6 journal entries can be anytime between Mon. Oct. 11-Mon. Oct. 18 9am.)

Week Seven

Monday, Oct. 18: Media stories on debate due; everyone bring laptops and network cords to read/comment on the stories. General class discussion of mock debate, and 3rd/final real presidential debate.
Tuesday, Oct. 19: The genre of the "announcement of candidacy" speech. Read in preparation Kucinich's announcement speech. In-class analysis of Edwards and Clark announcement speeches (copies will be provided in class).
Thursday, Oct. 21: Mock campaign advertising material or stump speech due, delivered in class. As time allows, in-class peek at the candidates in the Indiana governor's race: Joe Kernan and Mitch Daniels. How is the gubernatorial campaign like/unlike the presidential campaigns?
Friday, Oct. 22: In-class viewing of Journeys with George.

Week Eight

Monday, Oct. 25: Media critiques of material/speeches due; everyone bring laptops and network cords to read/comment on the critiques. Preparations for mock VP debate.
Tuesday, Oct. 26: Begin viewing The War Room (96 mins.) in class.
Thursday, Oct. 28: Finish viewing The War Room .
Friday, Oct. 29 :

Week Nine

Monday, Nov. 1: Mock Vice-Presidential Debate. Classroom during regular class period, business attire.
Tuesday, Nov. 2: Media stories on mock VP debate due: everyone bring laptops and network cords to read/comment on the stories. ELECTION DAY (real)!. Follow news coverage, in our class and outside of class, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday, Nov. 4: Discussion of election results; preparations for final mock debate.
Friday, Nov. 5: Reading due for class discussion: excerpt from Bill Clinton's My Life, pp. 410-421 (on reserve).

Week Ten

Monday, Nov. 8: Second Mock Presidential Debate and Post-Debate Spin, PA Room of Union, 7:30-9:30, business attire for all). (there will be no regular class meeting on Monday.)
Tuesday, Nov. 9: Media Roundtable Reaction to Second Presidential Debate; media come prepared with notes and comments to share, such as you would use for your story--but share them aloud in a roundtable format, with the campaigns having the opportunity to ask questions and respond. Peer Review of Book Report Drafts (bring whatever you have done: complete draft, partial draft, outline?)
Thursday, Nov. 11: Book Reports due, and sharing observations from them. Campaign group member evaluation forms due. Course evaluations.
Friday, Nov. 12: Written defenses of choice for best-run campaign due from media; everyone bring laptops and network cords to read the defenses; media votes for 2 winners: best-run campaign (objective), and who would personally vote for if were real election (subjective) (using the 10-point system).