4.1 Assignment: Call for change!
You have explored how resilience is portrayed by
the media. Now that you have some idea of how media coverage works, you have
the chance to take on the role of an editor. Choose a protest or event in which
people are seeking change and create a photo essay or podcast about it. You
will then write an ‘artist’s statement’ about your piece.
This assignment is worth 15% of your course grade.
Instructions
Choose a topic. The topic you select
for this assignment must be a protest or event where people are seeking
change. The following are some possible topics for you to consider:
Protests over the death of
George Floyd
Ontario high school
students walk out for climate change
Indigenous Day of Action
G20 Summit
Idle No More
Not Another Black Life
Occupy
Hong Kong Umbrella
protests
Arab Spring
Oka crisis
If there is a topic you are interested in that is not on the previous
list, you may pursue it as long as the topic you select is a protest or event
where people are seeking change. If you are unsure about your topic, you may
contact an ILC Academic Officer.
Research the protest or event. Use
the following questions to guide your research:
Why did the protest take
place? What was the inciting incident?
What is the background to
that incident?
Who organized the protest?
Who were the protesters?
Where and when did it take
place?
Did it remain peaceful or
were there damage or casualties?
Did any change result from
the protest?
Select the type of media product you want to create. You must choose to create one of the following
options. Either option is fine, I don’t mind. If you choose podcast, please
do everything except for the recorded video, as I will have to record
myself.
Option 1: Photo essay
Check out some examples of
photo essays online. Media outlets like The New York Times and Time magazine
share a variety of examples.
Create a photo array of
6-9 photos that appropriately captures your topic. Since you were likely
not taking photos at any of these events, you will have to research
online for images. As this is a school project, not for profit, you will
not have to pay royalties, but be sure to credit the photos you choose
using proper MLA format. Check out the Bold text startMLA Citation GuideBold text End to review the MLA
citation style that you’ve been using throughout the course.
Aim to narrate a story
with your photo essay. Include a title or write a caption for each photo.
Think about the overall message(s) you want to convey with your photo
essay about the chosen topic and make deliberate choices with your
selection and arrangement of photos and title/captions to build the
message(s). What do you want your audience to take away from your photo
essay?
Option 2: Podcast
Listen to a few podcasts or long-form
radio broadcasts. You will likely notice a variety of voices, sound
effects, and music. Sometimes the voices will be delivering context, and
sometimes there will be prepared quotations, interviews, or even
background voices.
Record a 1-3 minute podcast about your
topic. Consider including sound effects. Sound effects may be an ambient
sound, or you may download or create sounds for appropriate effects. There
are many online resources for free sound effects or tips on creating your
own. If you need to recreate quotations, it is acceptable to use your
friends and family as voice actors.
Aim to narrate a story with your podcast.
Think about the overall message(s) you want to convey with your podcast
about the chosen topic and make deliberate choices with the content,
structure, and delivery of your podcast to communicate the message(s). What
do you want your audience to take away from your podcast?
Once you have planned what you are going
to communicate, record your presentation using an audio recording program
or device. As you prepare to record your presentation, it will be helpful
to consider and apply the following tips.
Practice a few times
before you record yourself.
Speak confidently and
clearly.
Pause as needed; don’t
rush, breathe.
Avoid filler words (for
example, the words “like” and “um”).
Pretend you are speaking
to a specific person.
Create your ‘artist’s statement.’ that you have completed your photo essay or podcast, write an
explanatory paragraph for your audience that meets the following criteria:
Why you decided on this
topic.
A brief description of the
events you are portraying, which should include your research – reason,
name of organization, date and place, and other relevant information.
Explain at least three
decisions you made in shaping your assignment.
Describe a challenge you
encountered and how you overcame it.
For this assignment, you will need to submit your
photo essay or podcast and your artist’s statement.
Your teacher-marker will grade and provide feedback
on your work using the following success criteria and rubric. Before submitting
your assignment, review the success criteria and rubric. If you are unsure
about how to format your assignments, citation or what constitutes plagiarism,
please review the following support pages:
Referencing and Formatting Submission Guidelines(Opens in new window)
Avoiding
Plagiarism Guide(Opens in new window)
Success criteria and rubric
Photo essay or podcast:
Selects elements that represent different
perspectives.
Organizes elements logically (media production).
Shows balanced, journalistic coverage of the event.
Shows care for detail and presentation.
Uses images or voice for maximum effect on the
audience.
Uses images or voice with purpose and
intentionality.
Artist’s statement:
Contains background details on the event.
Shows depth of consideration of goals and
challenges.
Demonstrates a strong command of the English
language.
Uses appropriate tone/voice for purpose and
audience.
Organizes ideas logically and concisely.
Adheres to the conventions of grammar, sentence
structure, and spelling as appropriate for the purpose.
