Your final project contains three pieces: you will 1) convert your Researched Argument Essay into another medium, 2) write a Rhetorical Response that analyzes the rhetorical choices you made and conveys your understanding of the rhetorical situation, and 3) present your new media composition. The first two will be graded together and will comprise your grade for Unit 4. Your presentation will count as your final in this course.
Multimodal Composition: You’ll convert one of your essays into a multimedia composition such as a blog (using a service like WordPress), three-minute movie (using iMovie or MovieMaker), podcast (with software like GarageBand), or any other medium if you clear it with me; you’ll need to convey the thesis and main supporting elements from your researched argument essay into the new medium. You should incorporate visuals along with text and/or sound for your composition. The purpose is to turn your textual essay into a multifaceted composition that communicates your ideas in a compelling manner. You’ll want to consider which images, and, if applicable, sounds can get across the main ideas of your essay without all of the text to demonstrate them. You may use original images and music or find these online; both must be properly cited in your credits. You’ll want to think about order, mood, and effects (texture, designs, fonts, etc.) that can help do this work for you, and these are the rhetorical choices you’ll explain in your rhetorical response and presentation.
- There are many resources online to help you:
- The New Media center at TCU has an excellent site with information about using various technologies, copyright, rhetorical choices, and sample compositions.
- Digital Writing 101 lists software and websites that you can consider using.
These are just a couple of places to start; feel free to poke around on your own to get some ideas of what you can do. You can also look at these examples from former students for inspiration:
- A website extolling the virtues of postcards and slow communication.
- A video arguing what qualities make teachers effective.
- A website about the dangers of photo manipulation.
- A prezi about 19th century medical remedies.
- A video about the Underground Railroad and SAU.
- A website about the need to rebuild the Soo Locks.
- A podcast informing parents about the advantages of homeschooling.
- A video encouraging students to take a gap year.
- A video advocating for equality between physical and mental health insurance.
Rhetorical Response: To accompany your multimedia composition and presentation, you’ll submit a rhetorical response in which you explain how you revised your researched argument essay into a new medium and what you learned in the process. Specifically, you’ll want to accomplish three things:
- Remind readers of the context and give an overview of the essay you converted;
- Explain in detail the choices you made in turning this into a new medium for your audience;
- Describe what you learned about the rhetorical situation (issues of audience—including location—form, visual appeals, etc.) and new media from making these changes. This essay should be approximately 1000 words.
Presentation: You’ll 1) give the context of your essay and 2) explain the rhetorical choices you made to change your textual essay into a different medium. Explain what analysis you made in terms of audience and purpose as you developed your argument in the new medium. Your presentation must include your multimedia composition and should be ten minutes in length, with a minute or two for questions after those ten minutes.
You won’t read from your Rhetorical Response for your presentation, but you will share some of the ideas from it. So you’ll present your new media piece and describe in detail the rhetorical choices you made for your visual essay. Your presentation will be evaluated with a grade based on:
1) the effectiveness with which you convey your ideas to your audience (i.e: management of information given the time allowed) and the interest you sustain with your audience (this can be done in a variety of ways—think in part of rhetorical strategies we’ve discussed in class, how you might convey ethos, pathos, logos, for example);
2) your new medium and explanation of the new medium;
3) and your ability to display your understanding of rhetorical contexts through describing the rhetorical choices you made in converting a textual essay to a PowerPoint or movie.
There will be a minute or two for questions after your presentation, and you’ll be assessed on how you answer these as well. Finally, your grade will include your work as a participant—asking questions of others’ presentations, being engaged in their presentations, etc. Your presentation counts as your final and comprises 5% of your course grade.