This Final Project is a creative research project, for which you choose ONE “news” “story”, research the topic, craft and communicate the “news” “story” in two distinct ways.
The first mode should be a 3-4 page text written in an evidence-based journalistic style. It should present as a well-written substantially researched article, citing primary and secondary sources. You should be clear on the position and view you are taking on this topic. You should be clear on the style, the voice, the audience, the genre of the type of “news” “story” that you are writing and communicating, ie. “objective fact-based journalism.”
You are also required to submit your working notes for this assignment, which aligns with an established model in journalism of ensuring that all purported claims are verified and that the supporting materials are maintained should there be challenges as to the veracity of the “news” “story.” This could be the working versions, the outline, the research notes as you revise and refine your final text. The working notes can be added as an Appendix to the Text Assignment.
Review Aristotle’s model of the elements required for persuasive rhetoric. “Proofs” (see Aristotle) will be essential for this first mode of communication.
Review Harold Lasswell’s model of communication, the 5 Ws in the Class #4 slides and the expansion of elements defined by Briggs & Burke in the same slide set.
The second mode should be a distinctly different communication of the same topic, in a rich, mixed, visual, or audio media format. Again, you should integrate supporting primary and secondary materials so this second communication is not just your opinion. You can choose the media and combine as you wish or work with only one media and you could design this for an existing media platform or app. This could be a video, images, memes, Powerpoint presentation, audio, and you can incorporate online media as material for your “news” “story.”
An A level final project: will build on the concepts, models, methods, and theories outlined over course material; will be clear on evidence for supporting claims; will be attentive to in-text citations and Works Cited; will be polished in presentation (proofing, organization, writing mechanics).
All primary and secondary materials require citations in MLA style, including in-text citations & Works Cited for the written text and a thorough Works Cited for the Rich Media assignment.
Assignments missing citations will be graded 0% until the citations are provided. The missing entries can be provided in a Word doc and uploaded in the Reply function of the Assignment page. The window for submissions of missing citations will be the last day of classes and after that, the grade will remain 0%