Description

As a class, we will write, revise, and publish a collection of pieces around a broad theme related to the topics we cover in the course. A few weeks into the semester, we will choose a theme for this collection and later on we will choose the mode in which it will be published. Everyone in the class will contribute to both a multi-modal and a multimedia project to this collection and at least one of these submissions must be collaboratively authored. In addition to authoring submissions for the collection, all students will participate in the process of choosing the topic for the collection, revising and providing feedback on your classmates’ submissions, and generally supporting the needs of the class project.

Topic / Audience
001: Social networking / college students
002: Social media / young adults

Multi-modal project

You will submit either a single or collaboratively authored, multi-modal text on a subject related to the topic for the collection. These texts must contain one or more modes of writing in addition to text, such as text and images, text and sound, etc. (if you have a question about what might count toward this requirement, please ask me prior to submitting your text), and will be the equivalent of 1,500–2,000 words (roughly 6–8 pages of double-spaced text).

These texts can take the form of a researched essay, an analysis of another text or multimedia object, or a work of creative non-fiction or fiction. Collaboratively authored texts should benefit from the work of multiple authors, either by showing more complexity in scope, analysis, or ambition than single authored texts; that is, they should make full use of the additional effort that is available to multiple authors. Unless extraordinary circumstances intervene, all members of a collaborative group will receive the same grade for the project. (That is, if the project gets an A, everyone gets an A; if it gets a C, everyone gets a C.)

You will submit a finished version of the text to be read and commented on by your classmates and myself. Using this feedback as a guide, you will then revise the submission and resubmit it at least once. This version may continue to be revised as necessary, in line with this and any other feedback, for inclusion in the final version of the collection. Like all projects for the class, if this project contains research or references to other texts or multimedia works, it will be adequately sourced according to the guidelines of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th ed.).

Multimedia project

You will also submit a multimedia project to the collection. As with the multi-modal text, this project can be collaboratively authored and collaborative projects should represent a level of work consistent with the combined effort of multiple contributors. Unless extraordinary circumstances intervene, all members of a collaborative group will receive the same grade for the project.

The project can take the form of a podcast, a video essay or documentary, or a remix of one or multiple sources, to name just a few examples. If you or your group has a question about the form of your project, check with me before you begin. Audio or video projects should be 5–8 minutes long. If you choose to produce a mixed-media text to which you believe this length requirement does not apply, let me know and we can discuss what would be an appropriate length for that project.

You will submit a finished version of this project for feedback from your classmates and myself. You will then revise this project at least once more before submitting it to the class collection. This version can then be revised as necessary, in line with this and any other feedback, for inclusion in the final version of the collection. Like all projects for the class, if this project contains research or references to other texts or multimedia works, it must be adequately sourced according to the guidelines of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th ed.).Update 4/12/12: your projects should include both in-text and full citations. The standards for these citations are different with audio and video projects. If you have any questions about how to source material in your project, contact me before submitting the project.

Grading guidelines for the multimedia project can be found here.

Instructions for adding your projects to the course collection wiki can be found here.

image credit: ant.photos