Assignment

toc =1984 Project Assignment=

Objectives:
1. Students will learn how to evaluate online sources for bias and accuracy. 2. Students will become more efficient online researchers and use Noodlebib. 3. Students will engage in critical analysis of the text and related issues through wiki-based discussions. 4. Students will learn basic wiki creation and editing techniques; they will practice using embedded hyperlink citation. 5. Students will create an audio/video recording, which will be embedded in the wiki. 6. Students will present their wiki to the class.

Assignment Overview:
Working in assigned groups, students will respond (in depth) to one question from the list of choices. Each group will be responsible for a different question. Members of each group will work together both in class and online to produce a wiki that presents the group's response.

What is a wiki?
A wiki is a website that is easily edited by any number of people, making it ideal for collaborative work such as this project. Wikis typically have a "discussion" feature, enabling the participants to post and respond to messages about their work. Your will be using this discussion feature to create, plan, and edit your wiki. Time permitting, you will also use this feature to comment on the work of other groups in Ms. McCormick’s English 32 classes.

Timeline:
Students will have one class period for training in the creation and editing of wikis, and 5 class periods for research, discussion, and creation of a short audio/video clip to enhance the wiki content. Students are expected to work outside of class researching and contributing as needed. Since wikis are editable from any internet-connected computer, this project is able to be edited outside of class time. Your group will need to decide how to structure time most effectively to complete all components of the project by end of the 5th work-period.

Audio/Video Public Service Announcement:
Take a stand! Your group will create a public service announcement that takes a stand on one of the topics listed below. Keeping in mind what we have learned about advertising, your group's audio/video response to your selected question (your PSA) can either be an audio recording or a slide show accompanied by an audio recording. It is up to the group to decide how best to address the question while still meeting the project requirements. This portion of the final product should be 60 plus/minus 5 seconds long. Your group should research the topic thoroughly, prepare a written script, and carefully practice the audio piece before recording. Include the script on the wiki.

In addition to your PSA, you must also include on the wiki a “Producers’ Note” – meant only for behind-the-scenes eyes -- which deconstructs the 60 second spot and explains the rationale behind the choices made. As you explain the genius behind your work, you will need to cite the sources (using embedded hyperlinks) that gave you information and inspired your own ideas/ commentary. *Proper citation is an important component of this project!

Final Product
Your group's overall final product will be the wiki itself. It is up to the group to decide how to make a wiki that is informative, appealing, and well organized. This wiki will be presented to the class and must include the following:

-Your group's audio/video public service announcement that responds to your group’s selected question - A Producers’ Note that deconstructs the genius behind the choices made, as well as gives credit (through embedded hyperlinks) to websites visited - A script of the 60 second spot, complete with a description of images as well as spoken text -A properly formatted works cited section that includes all sources used in this project. Use MLA format.

Topics for PSAs
1. An influential organization believes that the growth of technology limits personal freedom. Record a public service announcement (PSA) arguing for or against this position. 2. Think about how/why politicians and others manipulate or even corrupt language. Record a PSA that critiques [recent] political speech (or speeches), pointing out the use of doublethink and/or newspeak and how this use affects both the meaning of the speech and what people believe. 3. Think about the specific ways we are subjected to censorship (news, government, school, etc.). Is censorship ever appropriate? Record a PSA arguing for or against censorship. 4. You are a critic of "The Party" and of all forms of strict government control/ regulation. Record a PSA that draws some connections between "The Party" and either Nazism or Russian communism, as well as with our own form of government -- the democratic and republican parties. 5. Define psychological intimidation and discuss how it works. How is it being used today? Record a PSA that critiques how a current government uses psychological intimidation and compare it with the tactics of the Orwellian “Party.” 6. Explore how propaganda has been used historically to rally masses. What present day examples are there? Is political propaganda always negative? Record a PSA that takes some kind of stand on propaganda and supports the argument with historical/ current evidence.