Podcasting in a Writing Class? Considering the Possibilities

Option from List of Various Media: Capstone Project

The purpose of the capstone project is to demonstrate what you have learned in your studies in college, and particularly in rhetoric and composition. This capstone project allows you to more fully explore and work in some area relevant to rhetoric and composition that has caught your interest during your studies. The type of project you do is open, but you must successfully argue for your project in the proposal (otherwise none of the other project components will be accepted). The project must clearly be related to rhetoric and composition, technical communication, or at least English (as a subject) in general.

Project ideas:

• The traditional academic/professional paper: 15-25 pages. If you chose to do this print paper you will make some sort of argument drawing on the literature in the area you are examining and possibly your own research. This should follow the general format of an academic article; however, I am not going to be overly strict about the formatting (within reason). Turn in on paper or via email as a .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .rtf.
• A rhetorical analysis: 15-25 pages. For this project, you would select some text, such as a book, a speech, a website, an article, a blog, a podcast, or a series of speeches, articles, podcasts and so on and analyze them. You may also choose to analyze two different texts, for comparison and contrast. This could be turned in on paper or another form.
• Podcast(s): You may choose to do a single long podcast or a series of podcasts on either of the two above choices, or something else related to rhetoric and composition. Make sure you chose the correct media and provide transcripts of the podcast(s). The amount of work should be equivalent to a 15-25 page academic paper. Submit via iTunes.
• Something else entirely: Come up with your own idea. Make sure it is based in your rhetoric and composition education and is related to this area, including technical communication and business writing. You could create a website, wiki, some combination of blog and podcast, or any manner of things. But you will need to have and present a clear idea of the project and make a strong argument for it within your proposal for me to accept the idea. Send me the URL, submit podcasts to iTunes or put them on the blog/site/whatever.

For non-print projects: The amount of work should be equivalent to a 15-25 page academic paper. For a website or blog this may be 10-20 pages/nodes/posts (or the equivalent of 10-20 pages print) and for a audio podcast approximately 15-25 minutes (video podcasts could be slightly less, talk to me should you be interested in this), although in both cases longer will be acceptable. Submit in the correct form.

This assignment has four parts:

• Proposal: due 9/23 by class if submitting them on paper, by 11:59 pm if submitting them via email as an attachment (MS Word .doc is preferred, but .rtf and .pdf are acceptable). Worth 20% of the project grade.
• Project: due 12/2. You choose your form, due by the start of class (email me the link, email me telling me the podcasts are on iTunes, turn in the paper or email it as an attachment). Worth 40% of the project grade.
• Presentation: due 11/30 or 12/2. Worth 20% of the project grade.
• Reflection: due 12/2 by class if submitting on paper, by 11:59 pm if submitting them via email as an attachment (MS Word is preferred, but .rtf and .pdf are acceptable). Worth 20% of the project grade.

Project:

Due 12/2 by the start of class. Worth 40% of the project grade.
For this project you may choose your subject, genre, and media/um. The project must be clearly related to your degree—and thus in the areas of rhetoric and composition, technical communications, or at least English. See above for a list of possible media and genres. Your project must be approved through the proposal or it will not be accepted.