University of Miami Communications Essay

This assignment serves as a study guide for this week’s reading, Chapters 8-9 (and the epilogue) of Tufekci’s Twitter and Tear Gas.

As you read these chapters, you will encounter many key terms and concepts that are important for the study of civic engagement. Synthesize these themes using this study guide as you proceed through the text. This guide is intended to help you with the process of reading critically, so I’m looking for thoughtful responses that take Tufekci’s larger contexts and discussions into consideration, rather than just copy-and-paste answers.

In section 1 of this assignment, define the terms below in your own words. Some of them have clear definitions in the chapters, but others will require some interpretation. I have included page numbers for your reference, but these concepts are discussed throughout the chapters.

In section 2, respond to the provided discussion prompts. As with the page numbers in the first section, these are just a reference point–the responses to the prompts may require several more pages of context to fully understand.

Please submit both sections in one .doc or PDF by Sunday, 11:59 PM.

Section 1: Key Terms

• Consciousness-raising groups (193)
• Mainstream views (194)
• Symbolic statement (197)
• Signaling theory (199)
• “50 cent party” (237)
• Streisand effect (228, 242)
• Astroturfing (250)
• Pluralistic ignorance (268)
• Adhocracy (269)

Section 2: Discussion Prompts:

1. What does Tufekci mean when she refers to the “capacities” of social movements? What types of capacities does she discuss in relationship to social movements? Briefly discuss each and explain how these relate to rhetoric and civic engagement? (spans chapter 8)
2. How has censorship by governments across the globe changed with the evolution of social media? (228)
3. What are the relationships between homophily and pluralistic ignorance in civic engagement? (250)