Sample VoiceThread

http://uncquartet.blogspot.com/2010/12/bruegel-protest-through-death.html

April 11: Full Podcast Audio Workshop

1. Does the podcast meet the assignment's length requirements? If it is too long or too short, suggest what material the author might add or subtract.

2. Do you zone out or does your attention stray at any point in the podcast? If so, how might the author fix this problem?

Now add at least two more questions of your own. You can re-use questions from previous workshops or you can ask the author to evaluate a specific issue or section of the podcast that you've been focusing on.

3.

4.

Draft Workshop: Results & Discussion Script

1. How has the author summarized the data that she or he collected in the experiment? Does this summary feel like an onslaught of numbers? Is it disorienting, or do can you process them all as the author is explaining them? How might he or she deal with this material more clearly?

2. Does the author restate clearly the original hypothesis and how the data proved or disproved that hypothesis? How could this information be better highlighted so that the listener will be sure not to miss it?

3. How does the podcast end? Is the ending effective? Why or why not?

4. How might the author interject another voice in a way that would make the podcast both clearer and more interesting?

5. What parts of the podcast do you think will be essential to highlight with music, sound effects, etc.? In other words, what are the most important transitional moments in the podcast? Does the author indicate how s/he will deal with these effectively? Suggest ways in which the use of music and sound effects might be improved.

Francis Bacon: Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion

Podcast Audio Workshop

Listen to your partner's podcast at least once without stopping, then answer the following questions in the Google Doc where that person kept his or her script.

1. Describe the author's implementation of the middle style. Is it a higher or lower take on the middle style? Does the author come off as a credible scientist? What aspects of the podcast contribute most to the author's voice? Be as specific as possible.

2. Do you zone out or become disoriented at any point in the podcast? At what point does the author lose your attention? Does s/he read too slowly or too quickly? Is the recording clear and easy to understand?

3. Describe how the author has implemented post-production techniques such as the addition of music, sound effects, etc. Do these help you to understand the content of the podcast or do they distract you from it?

4. Has the author done everything required for both the Introduction and Methods and Materials sections? Is this information clearly highlighted? Does the author do a good job of explaining the experiment without summarizing the results? Does the podcast sound too much or not enough like a proper scientific research report? What changes might the author make in order to enhance his or her credibility or come off as more approachable? 

Now, read these questions and then listen to the podcast again, thinking about how you will answer each question. If you need to listen again, rewind and listen to part of the podcast again. When you're done, answer these questions:

1. How does the author attempt to grab the reader's attention? Do you think the reader will be "hooked" within 10-15 seconds? Can the author's attention-getter be described as one of the more or less effective introductions we talked about? Explain your answer.

2. At what point does the author transition from the Introduction section to the Methods and Materials section? Describe how this transition takes place and how the author signals to the reader that s/he should be listening for a new idea. Identify any other transitions that are unclear or confusing. 

3. Is the hypothesis highlighted clearly? Can the author be absolutely sure that even a casual listener will understand the experiment's hypothesis? How does the author highlight this information? How might it be highlighted more clearly?

After you have answered all of these questions in the Google Doc, take 5 minutes to converse with your author, explaining both your answers to the questions as well as any more general or specific comments that didn't come up in your written feedback. Also, feel free to share any tips for using the recording software that the author might find helpful.

Homework: Upload draft of your audio to SoundCloud

Once your draft is completed, in Audacity go to File > Export. Choose a location for your file and choose WAV for the format. Click "OK" through any other options (the defaults should be fine), and you should have an audio file of your draft saved in the location you chose.

Go to soundcloud.com and sign up for a free account. Once you're logged in, click the "upload" button at the top of the page, then the "choose files" button and point it toward the file you saved in the step above.

Once your draft is uploaded, submit a link to it via the "Turn in Assignments" link on the course blog. Your link should look something like http://www.soundcloud.com/YOUR_SOUNDCLOUD_USERNAME/THE_NAME_OF_YOUR_PODCAST

Agenda for Easter Weekend

Today: 

• decide who you will exchange drafts with for the Podcast Script Workshop and decide when you will exchange drafts
• review the feedback you received in the data sheet workshop and make any necessary revisions
• email me a link to your data sheet so that I can approve it before you begin your experiment

Next:

• begin your experiment once you have my approval on your data sheet
• write the script for your Introduction and Methods and Materials sections
• complete the Podcast Script Workshop

Before the next class meeting:

• turn in your script workshop using the "Turn in Assignments" form
• review the feedback you got in the script workshop and make any necessary revisions