Wrapping an Event
From time to time you will probably be involved in a community event that is important to you, that addresses an issue of deep concern to you. How can a citizen-activist make the most of the energy that goes into a public event?
What can the writer prepare ahead of time in order to:
a) build an audience
b) instruct the audience
How can the writer cover the event itself in order to:
c) capture the highlights
d) evaluate the event
How can the writer keep the energy of the event alive later in order to:
e) maintain the audience
f) learn from the event
These questions imply that a public intellectual, a citizen-activist, would want to develop skills that could be used to wrap an event in writing published before, at the time of, and after the event, in order to prepare an audience, capture the energy of the event, and maintain the benefits after the event has passed.
This semester one of the major assignments will be to compose (and revise) at least five blog entries that wrap an event of your choosing. If possible, this event should relate to your research topic, but if this is not possible, then propose a substitute with the instructor.
Plan to attend the event and to post interesting entries before, at the time of, and after the event that are aimed at the accomplishments listed above.
