Using the topic chosen by your group, create a conversational podcast episode. The episode should be about 30 minutes in length and include all the members of your group. The podcast should also include audio samples that bring research or other relevant materials into the conversation. One member of your group should serve as the media person who will be in charge of playing samples during the performance. You may also want to designate an MC, who will guide the conversation. And someone will need to capture the audio performance. Here are more details:
Research driven: The podcast should provide an alternative means of exploring the research question(s) you have developed related to your topic. As such, it should include significant research. Each of you will conduct research, so you will want to coordinate so that you cover a range of concerns related to the topic.
Conversational, yet focused: You will need to develop as a group a "script" that consists of talking points/prompts, quotations from sources, and plans for media samples. The script will serve as a roadmap, but you may end up with a few detours along the way. Aim for a somewhat casual tone applied to a serious topic.
Captured live: You will record the podcast in a live session. You will need to do significant planning and practice so that the recording session goes smoothly and takes up the key points you want to discuss. We will go over these logistics in class. Recording will take place between October 4th and 11th.
Post-production clean up: Once you capture the conversation, you will want to do extra work in an audio editor to smoothly integrate high quality audio versions of samples you discuss. You can also clean up noise, adjust volumes, add music and transitions, etc. We will go over this in class.
This assignment should give you an opportunity to think about how audio formats can be used to communicate and how a live conversation differs from an audio essay format. You can think of it as a kind of presentation mixed with a conversation. You are responsible for conducting research and sharing it via an audio format. You will create a compelling discussion about the topic as a means of doing so. And you will polish the audio piece so that it is a solid composition.
You will need to submit preliminary materials including sound clips and a road map by September 30th.
We will perform the podcasts in class October 4th-11th