Tapping Into Your Rhetorical Imagination

Objective: Use your rhetorical imagination to change a community through writing.

The situation:
The University of Denver is making a push to become a “green campus.” There are currently a number of recycling bins strategically placed around campus, as well as a few occasional flyers that say “Please Recycle.” However, this is only scratching the surface on what could be done in order to conserve energy and become a much more environmRCRentally friendly institution. There are two student-groups on campus that are affiliated with recycling and the environment, and they are eager to help DU achieve the task of “going green.”

You’re task:
You are to work with these two student-groups on campus to come up with an efficient plan to help the school become a pillar of environmental consciousness and a model for other schools around the country.

Before you begin:
You are going to need to be very familiar with several issues prior to working with all parties involved in the process, as well as become familiar with what “going green” really is.

In order to do this you are going to need to research and find out what the two DU student-led organizations are and what their goals are. You should become very familiar with what they have already accomplished and what their current plans are. You will also need to familiarize yourself with the University’s policies with regards to recycling and energy saving. Be sure that you know what efforts they have made thus far and how seriously they have enforced their policies in the past.

This part of the process will most likely be done through a series of interviews, as well as reading information provided by the University of Denver. You can acquire this research however you choose, however, it is vitally important that you document this information and are aware of where you got it.

Next Step:
Now that you are an expert on DU’s history regarding their efforts to be environmentally conscious and conserve energy, you need to apply your knowledge and come up with an effective plan to get the school well on its way to achieving its goal.

In order to accomplish this, you are going to come up with a plan which you will present to both groups, as well as the University’s “Student and Campus Life” board. You want to be sure that your plan, whatever it is, is achievable and practical, and can be sold to the school through your presentation.

In your presentation, you will need to be sure that you explain exactly what you are going to accomplish, and all steps that will be necessary to do so. Be sure to take into consideration all aspects of the plan, potentially including how you will market your idea around the school, how you will reach the audience that you are aiming to, and what problems you might run into.

Once you have presented your proposed plan to all necessary groups, you will begin implementing it. This make take a little time to gather momentum and begin making an impact, so be sure to remain patient and try to see it out.

After:
Write a paper reflecting on the experience. Included in this should be an outline of the research that you initially started out with, your original plan that you presented to different groups of people, an explanation of the audience that you were trying to reach, and an overview of the results and how you think the project played out. Be sure to explain your results and discuss if you feel like you were successful.