English 103 Section 33: 2009-03-22

English 103 Accelerated Composition

Guideline to Multimedia Project

Introduction:

This assignment requires students to develop an extended argument using multimodal composition strategies such as an op-ad, a photo-essay, a website, a Facebook, a MySpace, a video, a podcast, a mp3 file(s), a campaign, or other multimodal combination. A written report detailing your project’s rationale and process should accompany the final product. The report should be in MLA format and a minimum of 3000 words. The project will be showcased to the class the day it is due.

Due Dates:

1. Multimedia assignment (STORYBOARD/OUTLINE) (Due on 4/13)

2. Multimedia assignment (FINAL DRAFT) (Due on 4/20)

Description:

This project should a visual rhetoric by itself, conveying a clear message through verbal and visual languages. As the function of rhetoric differs—to inform, to convince, to please, to persuade or to entertain, your multimedia composition should serve one or more than one of the purposes. The topic could be about anything, social issues, pop culture, economy, history and politics and so on. You can make a short film, a digital remix, a website, a photo-essay, a song, a blog, a vlog, a Facebook, a MySpace, or a PowerPoint document. Whatever you choose, just make sure that the viewers, including your classmates and instructor, could get your message.

Beside, you will also write a report of at least 3000 words going along with the multimedia composition. The report is supposed to explain what you have done for the project, and which kind of message (s) you want to convey through it. Therefore, the report should include these parts:

1. A project log:

When who did what, and what you’ve learned so far.

2. Technology description:

Which software you have used, and what you’ve learned.

3. Material description:

What images, music and other sources did you use?

Why did you choose to use them?

How did they help convey the message?

4. Message description:

a. What do you want to present through the film, the digital remix, the website, the blog, the vlog, the PowerPoint document, the photo-essay, or the song?

b. Which visual and verbal elements have you used to present the theme?

c. How do those elements work together to present what you want to present?

Evaluation Criteria:

The purpose of this project is to examine how well you can produce rhetoric works by using multimodal languages. Your multimodal composition should inform, convince, persuade, move or please certain audience of some clear message. During planning and producing process, you should pay close attention to the usage of three rhetorical appeals, the content, the structure, and the design. Your composition will be evaluated how effectively you have used these rhetorical techniques:

* Ethos: the credibility of the author is established through professional language, use of appropriate sources, and evidence of author’s perspective (within or in addition to the main multimodal documents)

* Pathos: the texts make appropriate emotional appeals that both engage the reader and provide insight into the chosen topic

* Logos: the texts present a clear and coherent central idea, supported with appropriate evidence and argumentative strategies

* Content and Structure: the choice of mode and media support the message in the texts and elements of multimedia are thoughtfully integrated into the project rather than as a gratuitous add-on

* Design: the choice of design principles (contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity) as well as rhetorical decisions (transitions, word choice, visual choice, music choice, stance) combine to make an attractive and effective presentation

Examples:

Videos:

The Atrocities of War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYdYDEFcaIY