I have taught courses in oral and written communication, rhetorical theory, media, and public policy rhetoric. I have also had the opportunity to work closely with undergraduate students by mentoring teaching interns, conducting an independent study and research assistantship, and advising several honors projects. In summer of 2015, the Department of Communication debuted an online course I created and designed called Public Communication in Everyday Life. As part of my work as an instructor, I have been able to design substantial portions of my own class syllabi and lesson plans. I am passionate about working closely with undergraduate students and facilitating their engagement with the field of Communication through historical and contemporary examples of public controversy, important theoretical and philosophical texts, as well through their own research projects.
Courses I have taught (descriptions are from my course syllabi):
CMN 220: Communicating Public Policy: Public policies profoundly shape our public and private lives. They often influence us in ways that we do not notice or expect. Public policies are born in the rough and tumble of public debate and deliberation. This course explores how important policy decisions are made, conveyed, and contested to and by publics. As a communication course, CMN 220 focuses on how policymakers, protesters, interest groups, and citizens justify, advocate for, and critique policies. This course also introduces students to the art and study of rhetoric, which scholar Thomas B. Farrell defined as the “the art, the fine and useful art, of making things matter.” Throughout the semester, students read and analyze policy texts from recent American history and practice writing, critiquing, and delivering effective, powerful public policy communication.
CMN 210: Public Communication in Everyday Life: In our everyday lives, we instinctively assume that there is a clear distinction between the “public” and the “private.” However, in practice these boundaries can often be quite blurry. When a candidate for political office promises to work for “the public good,” a news anchor discusses the results of a recent “public opinion” poll, or a corporation engages in “public relations,” they all draw implicitly on a long tradition of ideas about what it means to live and communicate in public. From the pages of social media to the grand stage of a presidential debate, ideas about the public play significant roles in our lives as citizens, consumers, and community members. In this course, students consider important questions about the public by studying concepts drawn from theories of rhetoric and public communication. The course begins with the classical Roman idea of the res publica—or “the public thing,” a term recognized today as the “republic”—and works through such topics as civility, citizenship, common sense, and the public sphere. Through encounters with significant case studies and concepts, students learn to engage critically the theory and practice of public communication and consider its political and ethical implications.
CMN 310: The Rhetorical Tradition: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history and theory of rhetoric. Students read primary texts in rhetorical theory from Ancient Athens to the mid-twentieth century alongside a history of ideas in western Europe. Units include Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, Rhetoric in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and Postmodern Thought. In addition to studying a history of ideas, students are trained how to read and write about difficult philosophical arguments.
CMN 111: Oral and Written Communication I: CMN 111 is the first half of a two-part course aimed toward mastering the basic skills of written and oral communication. This course strives to develop basic critical thinking skills as well as strong speaking and writing abilities in order to help students understand their role as engaged student-citizens, and become more effective communicators in school and in the workplace.
CMN 112: Oral and Written Communication II: CMN 112 is the second half of a two-part course in speaking, writing, and critical thinking. In this course, students build on the fundamental skills they began to develop last semester in CMN 111 while deepening their engagement with argumentation, current events, deliberation, rhetoric, and debate.
CMN 277: Introduction to Mediated Communication: This course is designed to acquaint students with the place of mediated communication in American society. Most people take it for granted that the media play an important role in their lives, but few of them have a solid understanding of the way the media have developed and interacted with one another. Perhaps more importantly, few people are familiar with the accumulated social-scientific evidence we have about the effects of exposure to the mass media. The course is divided into two components. The first part of the course is focused on the history and structure of the major communication media. Each of the central areas of the American media (e.g., newspapers, television, internet, advertisements) receives a brief review in lecture and readings. The second section turns to theories of the effects of exposure to media messages. We will talk about theories concerning violence, pornography, value system formation, race, gender roles, political beliefs and opinions, and emerging technologies.
CMN 390: Independent Study on Rhetoric and Public Policy Research: This course was designed to acquaint the student with the process of doing research in rhetorical studies, specifically with the intersections of rhetoric, public policy communication, and government. By completing hands-on activities, writing an original research paper, and discussing key scholarly texts with the instructor, the student honed his own research and writing skills. The student provided research assistance for the instructor's ongoing research project. The student assisted with reviewing secondary sources in rhetorical studies, synthesizing Congressional floor transcripts and hearings, and archival research. The goal of these projects was to expose the student to both the day-to-day, practical aspects of research as well as motivate the student to discover and re-examine his own interests in communication. The process left the student with research questions or topics that of interest and transferrable research skills that could be used in future research projects.
Courses I have taught (descriptions are from my course syllabi):
CMN 220: Communicating Public Policy: Public policies profoundly shape our public and private lives. They often influence us in ways that we do not notice or expect. Public policies are born in the rough and tumble of public debate and deliberation. This course explores how important policy decisions are made, conveyed, and contested to and by publics. As a communication course, CMN 220 focuses on how policymakers, protesters, interest groups, and citizens justify, advocate for, and critique policies. This course also introduces students to the art and study of rhetoric, which scholar Thomas B. Farrell defined as the “the art, the fine and useful art, of making things matter.” Throughout the semester, students read and analyze policy texts from recent American history and practice writing, critiquing, and delivering effective, powerful public policy communication.
- Instructor of record for two sections
- Introduced students to key scholarly research in the field of rhetoric, public policy, and democratic deliberation
- Assisted students in conducting original research projects and policy briefs
- Revised and updated all course assignments
- Designed new syllabus of this course to reflect new focus on rhetoric & contemporary public policy
CMN 210: Public Communication in Everyday Life: In our everyday lives, we instinctively assume that there is a clear distinction between the “public” and the “private.” However, in practice these boundaries can often be quite blurry. When a candidate for political office promises to work for “the public good,” a news anchor discusses the results of a recent “public opinion” poll, or a corporation engages in “public relations,” they all draw implicitly on a long tradition of ideas about what it means to live and communicate in public. From the pages of social media to the grand stage of a presidential debate, ideas about the public play significant roles in our lives as citizens, consumers, and community members. In this course, students consider important questions about the public by studying concepts drawn from theories of rhetoric and public communication. The course begins with the classical Roman idea of the res publica—or “the public thing,” a term recognized today as the “republic”—and works through such topics as civility, citizenship, common sense, and the public sphere. Through encounters with significant case studies and concepts, students learn to engage critically the theory and practice of public communication and consider its political and ethical implications.
- Instructor of record (2015)
- Designed the first Department of Communication online course in the area of rhetoric and public culture
- Collaborated with University of Illinois instructional technology office to develop online tools for the course
- Constructed the course syllabus, selected reading materials, designed activities, and created online course modules
- Wrote and filmed 15 course lecture videos
- Filmed interviews with rhetorical scholars and a local mayor on topics related to the course
CMN 310: The Rhetorical Tradition: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history and theory of rhetoric. Students read primary texts in rhetorical theory from Ancient Athens to the mid-twentieth century alongside a history of ideas in western Europe. Units include Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, Rhetoric in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and Postmodern Thought. In addition to studying a history of ideas, students are trained how to read and write about difficult philosophical arguments.
- Instructor of record for two sections (2015)
- Served as teaching assistant and for Dr. Ned O'Gorman for two semesters (2012, 2013)
- Guest lectured for Dr. O'Gorman on "Nietzsche and the Postmodern Legacy" (2012)
- Guest lectured for Dr. O'Gorman on "Habermas and the Public Sphere" (2013)
CMN 111: Oral and Written Communication I: CMN 111 is the first half of a two-part course aimed toward mastering the basic skills of written and oral communication. This course strives to develop basic critical thinking skills as well as strong speaking and writing abilities in order to help students understand their role as engaged student-citizens, and become more effective communicators in school and in the workplace.
- Instructor of record for two sections (2011, 2012)
CMN 112: Oral and Written Communication II: CMN 112 is the second half of a two-part course in speaking, writing, and critical thinking. In this course, students build on the fundamental skills they began to develop last semester in CMN 111 while deepening their engagement with argumentation, current events, deliberation, rhetoric, and debate.
- Instructor of record for two sections (2012, 2013)
- Advised six undergraduate student honors projects
CMN 277: Introduction to Mediated Communication: This course is designed to acquaint students with the place of mediated communication in American society. Most people take it for granted that the media play an important role in their lives, but few of them have a solid understanding of the way the media have developed and interacted with one another. Perhaps more importantly, few people are familiar with the accumulated social-scientific evidence we have about the effects of exposure to the mass media. The course is divided into two components. The first part of the course is focused on the history and structure of the major communication media. Each of the central areas of the American media (e.g., newspapers, television, internet, advertisements) receives a brief review in lecture and readings. The second section turns to theories of the effects of exposure to media messages. We will talk about theories concerning violence, pornography, value system formation, race, gender roles, political beliefs and opinions, and emerging technologies.
- Served as teaching assistant and led five discussion sections (2013)
- Advised two undergraduate student honors projects
CMN 390: Independent Study on Rhetoric and Public Policy Research: This course was designed to acquaint the student with the process of doing research in rhetorical studies, specifically with the intersections of rhetoric, public policy communication, and government. By completing hands-on activities, writing an original research paper, and discussing key scholarly texts with the instructor, the student honed his own research and writing skills. The student provided research assistance for the instructor's ongoing research project. The student assisted with reviewing secondary sources in rhetorical studies, synthesizing Congressional floor transcripts and hearings, and archival research. The goal of these projects was to expose the student to both the day-to-day, practical aspects of research as well as motivate the student to discover and re-examine his own interests in communication. The process left the student with research questions or topics that of interest and transferrable research skills that could be used in future research projects.
- Designed a syllabus of thematic readings and met weekly to discuss them with the student
- Assisted student in doing hands-on archival research for an ongoing research project
- Instructed student in rhetorical criticism and historical research methodologies
- Guided student through the research process by assisting him in developing an original research paper
- Currently helping the student develop the research paper for submission to a national research conference