Week Nine—Profile Introduction

Class One, “Profiles as Podcasts” (10.14)

Student Objectives:
• Begin thinking about profiles as a genre and the conventions of that genre.
• Recognize the value of oral storytelling.
• Identify patterns in the Everything is Alive episode that could work for their own profile
assignment.

Leading Questions:
• How does the podcast episode function as a profile?
• What composing processes did the podcasters have to engage with to create the
episode?
• What were your initial reactions to the episode? What surprised you?
• Was it difficult to think about an inanimate object the way it is presented in the
podcast episode? Why?
• What does it mean to adopt the identity of something/someone else? How can this
add to/take away what we can say in the stories we tell?

Daily Breakdown:
• Listen: “Ana, Elevator” episode from Everything is Alive podcast (20 min)
• Introduce Assignment: Profile (15 min)
• Activity: Choose partners (5 min)
• Write: Brainstorm for Profile and Questions (10 minutes)

Homework Due: N/A

Homework Assignment: Listen to another Everything is Alive episode of your choosing

Class Two, “Sound Walk and Exploratory Questions” (10.16)

Student Objectives:
• Use thoughtful observation techniques to identify an object to profile.
• Use embodied listening techniques to be present in the soundscape of UA.
• Begin drafting well-developed research questions (Exploratory Questions) about their
objects

Readings: Another Everything is Alive episode

Leading Questions:
• What sounds occupy your object’s space?
• What do you want to know about the object?
• What could you learn about the object’s history?
• What is the object’s connection to the community/people?
• What is the object’s “life story”?
• How could you find the answers to your questions?

Daily Breakdown:
• Discussion: Another Everything is Alive episode with partners (5 min)
• Activity: Sound Walk (20 min)
• Activity: Choose Objects (5 min)
• Discussion: Useful Inquiry (10 min)
• Write: Begin developing exploratory questions (10 min)

Homework Due: N/A

Homework Assignment: Revised Exploratory Questions due to Blackboard @ 11:59pm on

Thursday, October 17th.
Class Three, “Research/Field Observation Day” (10.18)

Student Objectives:
• Use exploratory questions to begin investigating Profile objects
• Begin contextualizing their Profile object with:
o Field Observations
o Notes on outside sources that answer Exploratory Questions

Leading Questions:
• How can you use your senses to immerse yourself in observation?
• What kind of elements should you be paying attention to?
• What is the benefit of seeking outside information?

Daily Breakdown:
• Discussion: Research & Observation Tips and Expectations (15 min)
• Activity: Field Observation or Research (35 min)

Homework Due: Revised Exploratory Questions.

Homework Assignment: Research Notes due to Blackboard @ 11:59pm on Tuesday,

October 22nd and Field Observations due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October
23rd; Read “How to Write a Podcast Script” on Blackboard.
Week Ten—Profile Development

Class One, “Script Writing” (10.21)

Student Objectives:
• Understand the flexibility of a podcast script
• Understand how a podcast script can be useful to them
• Understand how to format a podcast script
• Begin drafting a podcast script using the Exploratory Questions, Field Observations,
and Research Notes they’ve produced.

Readings: “How to Write a Podcast Script”

Leading Questions:
• Why is it important that we produce scripts for our podcasts?
• How do we write for speaking, and how is it different from writing for reading?
• Why should our podcast scripts be flexible?
• Who will be taking on what role in your own podcasts?

Daily Breakdown:
• Activity: Summarizing Main Points (15 min)
o Students will be broken up into five groups, and each group will be assigned
one of the main points from the article.
o Together, the group will work to summarize the main point and one
representative will present it to the class.
o I will write what the group comes up with on the board as a guide for students
as they begin drafting their scripts.
• Discussion: Formatting a Podcast Script (10 min)
• Writing: Begin drafting Podcast Script with partners (25 min)

Homework Due: N/A

Homework Assignment: Research Notes due to Blackboard @ 11:59pm on Tuesday,

October 22nd and Field Observations due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October
23rd
Class Two, “Rhetorical Aims and Strategies” (10.23)

Student Objectives:
• Use Exploratory Questions, Field Observations, and Research Notes to consider the
rhetorical aims of their Profile Podcasts.
• Identify how those rhetorical aims can be reached through different rhetorical choices.

Leading Questions:
• What is the rhetorical situation of this assignment?
o Purpose?
o Audience?
o Genre?
o Angle?
o Media?
• What are your rhetorical aims (i.e. what do you want to accomplish with this project
and what do you want the audience to understand)?
• What is soundwriting?
• What are some elements of soundwriting that will help you achieve your rhetorical
aims?
o Do you want to be serious and inform?
o Do you want to be funny and tell a story?
o Do you want to do a bit of both?

Daily Breakdown:
• Activity: Re-writing for Rhetorical Situations (15 min)
o Students will either re-write a Tweet as a thesis statement or re-write a thesis
statement as a Tweet.
o Students will have an opportunity to share their revisions.
• Discussion: Rhetorical Situations and Soundwriting (15 min)
• Writing: Develop Rhetorical Aims and Strategies with partners (15 min)
• Activity: Sign-up for Conferences (5 min)

Homework Due: N/A

Homework Assignment: Continue working on Podcast Script.

Class Three, “Sanford Media Center” (10.25)

Student Objectives:
• Understand the resources available to them in the SMC
• Understand how to record and edit quality sound
• Understand how to use Audacity to compose those sounds into a podcast
• Know where to find royalty free music and sound effects

Daily Breakdown:
• SMC Instruction (50 min)

Homework Due: N/A

Homework Assignment: Continue working on Podcast Scripts. First drafts are due to
Blackboard @ 11:59pm on Sunday, November 3rd; Begin working on podcast portion of the
assignment.
Week Eleven—Conferences

Student Objectives:
• Be able/willing to discuss progress as a writer throughout the class.
• Be able to articulate what is working for them, and what they are having trouble with.
• Feel comfortable asking questions about the writing process/nature of the class.
• Be able to discuss progress on current project.

Leading Questions:
• What are your main successes/concerns in the course so far?
• What can I do as an instructor to help you improve your writing?
• What tools can I provide for you to help you further succeed?
• What processes are working for you in your writing?
• What questions/comments do you have about the current project?
o Struggles
o Clarifications
o Reactions

Homework:
• Students should spend this week recording, editing, and producing their Profile
Podcasts.