A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT MESSAGES AND PRACTICES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND ELON UNIVERSITY

Civic engagement is vital to the future of the country, and I recognize the importance college students must place on their individual role as contributing citizens. I believe a student's development during the college years is vital to the growth of his/her sense of civic responsibility and awareness. Since the ages of 18-22 are so formative, my study focuses on the messages universities promote to their students to persuade them to be civically engaged during their college years. I argue that universities are the place where students learn citizenship and develop the skills necessary to be useful members of their communities. I investigate what universities are doing to prepare citizens since what the students do during their time in college has a strong impact on their values later in life. I also argue that specific universities tell stories that portray the values of commitment to others and the importance of connecting what is taught in the classroom with civic action. I believe these stories are important because they foster productive citizenship. Through these stories, students create a specific relationship to the school's tradition, pride, and values and the universities become a space for students to grow and transform into thoughtful, engaged and committed members of their communities.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Green, Patty Ann

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/33485

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/33485