For this assignment, each student will visualize one or more activist networks and analyze what it or they reveal. The products of the network analysis will be:
- One or more network visualizations. Many different activist networks' aspects can be visualized, such as a group's various investments in different social media channels, a group's connections with allies and opponents, the search relevancy of different groups with regard to particular issues, the funding streams that support various groups, etc. These aspects can be visualized through network graphs, geographical maps, tree diagrams, etc. There are plenty of examples available online; you might look at the Social Media Research Foundation and its helpful tool NodeXL or Govcom.org's Issue Crawler, and then just search around for maps of Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube networks.
We will share and swap different visualization techniques in class. Your goal for this assignment is to explore activist networks through visualization and find the meaningful narratives that emerge.
- An essay: a document that provides insight into one or more activist networks by drawing upon evidence revealed by the corresponding visualization(s). The essay should use concepts found in course readings and discussed in class where appropriate. It should be approximately 1,500 words and in MLA format. Its goal is to do the following:
- Assert a contestable thesis
- Offer a description of the network visualization(s) including its (their) data sources
- Identify and discuss evidence drawn from the visualization(s) that supports the thesis
- Provide a conclusion that places the findings in context
The network analysis will be submitted electronically as an email attachment.
Resources
Theses items may help you produce visualizations, but of course you don't need to use sophisticated software. You can build an effective visualization with familiar tools. |
|