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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16
During Class:
Homework due before next class:
 
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18
During Class:
Homework due before next class:

​OPTION #1: First half of Audacity Tutorials on Lynda.com.​​

 

          

OPTION #2: First half of tutorials for alternate software.

  • For Reaper: Complete the following tutorials HERE: 001, 002, and 003.

    • Note that Reaper says you get a free 60-day trial but the trial is actual permanent. You can choose to pay to support the product.

  • For Audition: Complete tutorials on Lynda.com #1, 2, 3 and 4.

  • When you have completed the Reaper or Audition tutorials, write your own 10 question "learning checkup." (Basically a short quiz.)  Questions should be multiple choice (with one or more answers). Write 4-5 potential answers for each question, and cover ONLY what you think are the MOST important things users should learn from the tutorials. I'll be doing the tutorials and will test myself with your questions, and I may  use questions from your "quizzes" when I create the learning checkup for this software next time around.

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  • SOUND DIARY Entry #1 

  • If you didn't complete your homework last week by customizing your website/blog so that it doesn't feature generic content, do so now. Your space should be designed with intention, and contain a system of organization for assignments.  

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
Pirates of the Caribbean
During Class:
  • Saving files
  • Sound as rhetorical device: A look at movies and music
  • Overview of Sonic Mood Board Assignment
  • Recording stories for sonic mood board.
 
Homework due before next class:
  • Complete 2nd half of tutorials on your software.
  • Sound Diary Entry #2
  • Work on Sonic Mood Board, due before class on on Tuesday, January 30.
 
The Lion King
Thursday, January 25
During class:​
 
Homework due before next class:
  • Complete Sonic Mood Board and post on blog
  • Read The Fourth State of Matter
  • Sound Diary Entry #3 on the following audio essay, composed by a college student at Boise State University:
  • Need help coming up with a topic? Click HERE to complete your Interest Inventory!
Tuesday, January 30
During Class:
  • Share Sonic Mood Boards
  • Discuss The Fourth State of Matter
  • Rhetorical analysis of audio-essays
 
Homework due before next class:
  • Proposal for Audio Essay
  • Complete Sound Diary #4 on the following audio essay, composed by a college student at Boise State University:

Thursday, February 1

Required Reading:

How To Tell a True Story, By Bruce Ballenger

Suggested Viewing:
Andrew Stanton--film director, writer, and author of Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Monstors Inc. etc--on how to tell a great story.
During Class:
  • Share Proposals
  • Rhetorical analysis of audio-essay
    ​
Homework:
  • Watch Parts I & II of Ira Glass on Storytelling and apply what you learn to the writing of your story. This is focused on podcasting, BUT his insight into storytelling is useful for all storytellers. Pay attention to his discussion of anecdotes (narrative) and reflection.
  • Read How To Tell a True Story, by Professor Bruce Ballenger (see PDF to left)
  • First draft of audio-essay (at least 4 pages) due next class on your blog. Title this "Draft 1 of Audio Essay." Use brackets to indicate where you might use sound effects or music, or where you might fade music/sound in or out--or any other initial ideas about sound that you have. You are writing for a medium other than print, so compose with this medium in mind. 

Tuesday, February 6

During Class:
 
Homework:
  • Read Origami and the Art of Identity Folding
    • This link should take you to the right place in the Google Book, but if not, find the essay in the book. All pages are available.
  • Work on revision, due on Tuesday Feb 13

Thursday, February 8

During Class:
 
Homework: 
  • Complete second alphabetic draft of your essay 
  • Bring two print copies of draft to class AND post on your website (title this "Draft 2 of audio essay")
 
Tuesday, February 13
During Class:​
 
Homework: 
  • Record your essay. Import into Audacity/Reaper/Audition. Post on your Site.
     
 
Thursday, February 15
During Class:​
  • Thinking about reading aloud
  • Workshop of 1st audio draft
  • Planning the remainder of Unit 1
 
Homework: 
  • Revise alphabetic essay
  • Revise audio essay
  • Post Audio Essay Draft #2, labeled as such, on your website before class on Tuesday.
  • Bring THREE print copies of your script to class.
 
Tuesday, February 20
​
Reminders:
  1. As decided during class, the audio essay should be 4-7 minutes long.
  2. The final audio essay is due on your website by Friday, March 2 by 11:59pm. 
 
During Class:​
​
 
Homework: 
  • Begin revision of audio essay to include music and sound effects. 
  • Please note that your final audio essay should be free of background noise, clipping, and any other unintentional use of sound. Every sound in your audio essay should be intentional.
    • You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of The Workshop in the basement of the library, both for the audio studio and the recording tools.
    • Orientation session times for the audio studio are listed HERE.
 
Thursday, February 22
During Class:​
  • Rhetorical analysis focused on music/sound
  • Overview of Design Rationale for Audio Essay
  • Sign up for Whole Class Workshop
 
Homework: 
  • Continue revision of audio essay with music and sound.
 
Tuesday, February 27
Thursday, March 1
During Class:​​
  • Three volunteers for whole class workshop, with a focus on use of music and sound.
 
Homework: 
  • Continue revision of audio essay with music and sound.
  • Post Audio Essay Draft #3, labeled as such, on your blog.
  • Bring THREE print copies of script to class on Thursday.
 
During Class:​
  • Final Audio Essay Workshop
 
Homework due Friday March 2 by 11:59pm: 
  • One post on your website that includes the following:
    • Final Audio Essay 
    • Updated script that matches your audio​​​
    • Design Rationale for Audio Essay
 
March 6 and 8: Spring Break!
Tuesday, March 13
During Class:​
 
Homework due Thursday 3/13 by 11:59pm: 
  • Choose to use either iMovie, Adobe Premiere, or VideoPad. iMovie is free, runs only on Macs, and can be accessed on any Mac at VCU. Premiere, which is for Mac or PC, is $19.95 per month for the student rate if you sign an annual contract, or it's $29.95 monthly with no contract. Videopad is free for PC or Mac. Note that I haven't personally used it but The Workshop recommends it. 
  • Complete the first half of Lynda tutorials for iMovie or Premiere. Choose the appropriate tutorial (see options in the image to your left) based on your version of the software. If you are using VideoPad, click HERE for written tutorials and HERE for video tutorials. Note that there are more written tutorials than video, so you will need to read and watch. 
    • If you already know the basics, then choose a tutorial that will increase your knowledge.
  • While you are watching the tutorials, do two things: have the software open and follow along yourself, and take notes about how to perform each of the main tasks. Post your notes on your blog, titled Video Software Notes, Part I.   
  • Important Note: You will not be allowed to use an existing theme from your software, so know that you will need to start from scratch.
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Homework due before class on Tues. March 20:
  • Complete 2nd half of video tutorials and post notes on your blog, titled Video Software Notes, Part II.
 
Thursday, March 15: No Class
Tuesday, March 20

By Daniel Brown, Spring 2016

During Class:
  • Rhetorical Analysis of Video-Essay
 
Homework due Before Class on Thurs. March 22:
Thursday, March 22
During Class: 
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Homework Due Before Class on Tuesday, March 27:
  • Complete Photo Story
    • Create a 60-90 second story that uses the following:
    • 6-10 photographs/images of your choice
    • At least one transition
    • Aural Narration
    • Visual Text 
    • Cropping
    • And something else you learned of your choice
    • Post photo story on your blog before class on Tuesday. 
    • Review the types of Creative Commons Licenses and decide which you might like to use for your video essay. Part of the assignment for the video essay will ask you to to license your final project.
    • Review Creative Commons Best Practices
Tuesday, March 27

Click me for Storyboard Template!

During Class: ​
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Homework Due Before Class on Thursday 3/29:
  • Gather at least 15 images/videos you plan to use in your video essay. Post them on your blog in a post titled: Media for Video Essay
    • ​If you are including video from Youtube or Vimeo, embed the video. If you include original video you created, no need to post it on Youtube/Vimeo--just take one screenshot and post that (and note it's a video).
Thursday, March 29
During Class: 
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Homework Due Before Class on Tuesday April 3:
  • Storyboard Due
Tuesday, April 3
During Class: 
  • Feedback on storyboards
  • From Storyboard to Video
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Homework Due Before Class on Thursday April 5:
  • Read PDF of chapter in Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design, by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen
  • Begin Draft 1 (due on Tuesday, April 10): At least two minutes of video with audio (narrative) and some attention to sound effects
Thursday, April 5
During Class: 
​
Homework Due Before Class on Thursday April 5:
  • Complete Draft 1 with at least two min of video. Post on Blog.
Tuesday, April 10
During Class: 
  • Workshop 1 of Video Essay​
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Homework Due Before Class on Thursday April 12:
  • Continue work on video essay; 5 minutes due on Thursday, April 19
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Thursday, April 12
During Class: 
  • Complete workshop for draft one
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Homework Due Before Class on Tuesday, April 10:
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Tuesday, April 17
During Class: 
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Homework:
  • Continue work on video-essay
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Thursday, April 19
During Class: 
  • Workshop of Draft 2 (5 minutes)
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Homework:
  • Continue work on video-essay
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During Class: 
  • Workshop of Draft 2 (5 minutes)
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Homework:
  • Continue work on video-essay.
  • Final video essay is due before class on May 1.
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Tuesday, April 24
Thursday, April 26
Tuesday, May 1
During Class: 
  • Watch final video-essays
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The End! Happy Summer!
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