Using the topic of your audio essay, create a conversational podcast episode. The episode should be 15-20 minutes in length and include at least two people. The podcast should also include audio samples that bring research or other relevant materials into the conversation. Here are more details:
Research driven: The podcast should provide an alternative means of exploring the research question(s) you have taken on in the audio essay. As such, it should include significant research. A key milestone will be the submission of a research brief on Friday March 29th.
Conversational, yet focused: You will need to find at least on person to join you in your conversation about the topic. You can start with colleagues, friends, family members, or others with whom you would feel comfortable. If helpful, you can also enlist classmates. Ideally, you can find someone who shares an interest or has expertise in your topic. If you have major trouble finding others to participate, I can assist. You will also need to prepare ahead of time audio materials to include in the conversation and a set of talking points to guide the discussion.
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. You will also need to work to find a good environment and the right equipment to record the session. I recommend reserving a time between April 3rd and April 8th in the MRC podcast studio or audio booth. I also will be able to loan out a few microphones for those wishing to record elsewhere. And you can check out mp3 recorders from the MRC. If necessary, you can use the built in microphone on your laptop but that should be the last option.
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.
This assignment should give you another opportunity to think about how audio formats can be used to communicate. 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 piece so that it is a solid composition.
Here are details about the key milestones:
Research brief. Compose a two- to three-page research brief about your topic. The research brief should include at least five sources, two of which must be academic sources accessed through the UNC Libraries web site. In the brief, list one of the sources, and then identify two questions that are likely to reveal key conclusions or interesting aspects of the source. Also identify two quotations from the source. In your brief, provide 1) the name and location of the source, 2) two research questions, and 3) two quotations. Repeat this process for all five sources. Submit the brief by March 29th.
Materials and talking points. Identify and capture at least four audio clips that you can play during your recorded conversations. Clips should generally be around 30 seconds long. For each clip, create an mp3 or wav recording. Also queue these recordings on a laptop or other device so that you can play them during your conversation. Also create a talking points script that incorporates questions and quotations from your research brief into a road map that will guide you as you hold your conversation. Due April 3rd.
Final submission. Capture the conversation, and then complete the post-recording production and editing. Upload the finished episode to our web site on April 10th.