Unit 3: Audio Story Assignment

Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to turn in an 4-7 minute audio narrative or audio collage about your topic. You will develop skills in gathering original audio through interviews and ambient sound recording to use in your story.

The first step in this project will be to gather original interviews and other footage about your topic. You may find the Skype recording tools useful. You may interview yourself as well. Please post the raw audio of at least 2 interviews to your blog by 5pm on Tuesday, October 18th (15 points).

Next, using Adobe Audition, edit together clips of your audio interviews and footage to create an audio narrative or story about your topic. You have the creative freedom to develop this story as a narrative or collage. You may choose to narrate the story yourself with a written voiceover. Please post a draft of your edited audio story and write-up to your blog by Monday, October 24th at 5pm (50 points). (See rubric for audio story and write-up below).

Over the weekend, please post constructive feedback to your group members’ (20 points). Please have your feedback posted by Wednesday, October 26th at 5pm.

Using the feedback from your group members, and self-critique, please post your updated audio story and write-up by 5pm on Tuesday, November 1st (125 points, rubric below).

Useful links:

Transom.org (audio recording and editing tips)
Ira Glass on Transom (another interview about creating audio stories)

This American Life (Great audio stories on a variety of topics using narrative, collage, and journalistic approaches. A couple of my early favorites include Episodes 58 [we listened in class] & 80. You can view a list of other favorites here.)

This I Believe (excellent archive of audio essays)

Final Project Grading Rubric: 

Audio Story (75 points):

1. Creativity in Audio Composition – 25 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Primarily remains within conventional or safe parameters of thinking and ideas. Minimal exploration or experimentation. Explores multiple ideas or approaches, with some flexibility and experimentation / risk taking. Generates many ideas, exploring inventive & divergent thinking. Demonstrates flexibility and openness, new combinations and experimentation.
Comments:
2. Content – 20 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Audio story identifies and communicates the topic/issue with limited success; some basic aspects may be incomplete or confused. Audio story identifies and focuses on the topic/issue. Communicates narrative about the topic/issue it is designed for. Audio content clearly and effectively communicates a narrative about the topic/issue it is designed for.
Comments:
3. Design principles – 15 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
The audio story is difficult to follow. There is little or no evidence of a storyline. Adequately demonstrates understanding of audio story design. Narrative is generally relevant and flows with overall story. May be lacking some depth. Demonstrates strong understanding of audio story design. Narrative is clear and is very easy to follow. Demonstrates strong story planning.
Comments:
4. Technical Proficiency – 15 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Audio does not blend smoothly. Gaps exist in narrative and other audio elements. Transitions awkward or empty. Audio is consistent through most of the narrative. Transitions are mostly smooth with some obvious edits. Audio is consistent throughout the narrative.  Edits are smooth and undetectable. No empty spaces in the story.
Comments:

Write-Up (50 points):

1. Creativity in writing – 10 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Minimal or absent explanation or exploration in description of the audio narrative process. Explores design process with some flexibility. Length is acceptable and clearly communicates topic. Generates many ideas in exploring the process of creating the audio narrative. Thoughtful and insightful to story creation.
Comments:
2. Relates to topic/issue – 15 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Absent or minimal explanation of how audio elements in relate to topic/issue narrative. Little explanation of design elements’ meaning. Adequate explanation of how audio elements relate to topic/issue. Some elements inclusion may be unclear, but overall theme is understandable. Strong explanation of how audio elements in relate to topic/issue. All elements in narrative are thoroughly explored and explained.
Comments:
3. Diverse Perspectives – 10 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Audio narrative explanation is largely discussed with little consideration or inappropriate for Internet audience. Audio narrative explanation includes some original thinking and acknowledges or relates to multiple viewpoints. Adequately written for wide Internet audience. Audio narrative explanation includes accurate, nuanced, and respectful thinking. Acknowledges and relates to multiple viewpoints. Easily accessible for wide Internet audience.
Comments:
4. Technical Detail – 15 points
1-Minimal 2-Emerging 3-Developing 4-Competent 5-Effective 6-Publishable
Absent or incoherent explanation of how audio editing was executed using software tools. Adequate explanation of how audio editing was executed using software tools. Some elements may be missing or unclear, but gives an overall understanding of software tools utilized to create narrative. Strong explanation of how audio editing was executed using software tools. It is very clear how the narrative was created and how audio elements were manipulated to create the final narrative.
Comments:

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