Overview
Working in a group of 4 or 5, students will create a 7-9-minute multi-media text that explores, depicts, and makes an argument about the history of a public controversy. This multi-media text will present new information about this controversy in a lively, compelling, and well-organized way.
The objective of this assignment is three-fold:
- to integrate the rhetorical skills you have been developing thus far in the course, especially with regard to the variety of rhetorical modes available in a digital context
- to work as a team researching, designing, and presenting an informative text to the class.
- to develop basic facility with a variety of multi-media tools.
Ideas for Controversies:
A controversy is a prolonged dispute or debate over which there is varied and strongly held opinion. A public controversy is a controversy or debate that affects a larger community (not just an issue that affects you or only a few people).
Though controversies are by nature prolonged, often issues gain importance by being timely and current.
Below is a partial list of controversies that students have addressed in the past. PLEASE DO NOT FEEL LIMITED BY THIS LIST.
Hazing
Student housing
The White Out shirt
The student section being moved
Public health at the University
On-campus dining, healthy dining
New system for selling football tickets
New fraternity drinking policies
Increasing bus costs
Drunk Bus
Bookstore costs
St. Patty’s Day
Haiti adoption scandals
Walk of shame rhetoric
Jersey Shore
sexting
Broad issues
Harassment at Penn State
Diversity, Race Relations at Penn State
Drinking at Penn State
Money and the University Experience
Details
The multi-media text can be created using I-Movie, for which training will be provided, but other programs may be used as well. The text your group produces should incorporate more than one medium, such as:
- podcasts,
- video,
- photographs,
- screencasts,
- green screen,
- and/or written text.
Note: This project often takes more time than you might think. Plan accordingly.
Links and Resources
How to Give Credit in Your Video
Interview Permission Form-1.docx
Creative Commons – File for your own license here
Media Commons at Penn State – Locations, free equipment, technical help, copyright info and more.
Yes You Can – Answers Common Questions about Filming
Spring 2012 History of a Controversy – All Videos
Super Size Me: The introduction offers a “History of a Controversy”, of sorts, in five minutes. Note how the film-makers offer us some crucial questions to help us frame this controversy.