Soc 313 - Collective Behavior & Social Movements

wordsmithing
125 points

Writing for a movement is not as easy as it looks. Movements may have only one chance to reach a potential recruit or major benefactor, so they have to make the most of every word. Put your creative prowess to work designing a pamphlet, poster, or website for a movement that convincingly frames its injustice, agency, identity, and motivation.

Instructions: Create a pamphlet, poster, or website for a social movement organization (SMO) in a real-world social movement. The SMO may or may not be fictional, but the movement must be real. As you craft your project, draw on the knowledge of framing theorists about what makes an effective frame - e.g., think about injustice (diagonosis, prognosis), agency, identity, motivation, and other components they emphasize. Also include the basics: the SMO's name and contact information, a "what you can do" section (use your own words), and some captivating images and headlines. If you're making a website, you'll probably want to include links to other websites (SMOs, news stories, etc.). Remember, there are plenty of examples out there to look at, although, in terms of quality, they are a mixed bag.

Next, evaluate your own work. Go to the readings section of this website, download the "Wordsmithing Worksheet," answer the questions, and hand it in with your pamphlet, poster, or website. These questions are intended to guide you toward effective wordsmithing. I strongly encourage you to refer to it before, during, and after crafting your project to see to it that you highlight the key components of effective collective action frames identified by framing theorists.

A good project will look professional, be creative and convincing, and demonstrate an excellent understanding of the concepts and principles developed by framing theorists. Your worksheet answers should be concise and thoughtful and demonstrate the explicit, intentional decisions you made as you designed your project. When asked to provide concrete examples in your project, you should use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and skilled execution of the framing concepts. Then ask yourself, would you be willing to publish this work? You might find this to be a deceptively difficult assignment as you try to include a lot of information in a small space.