Overview:

You chose a topic and created a Collection with Introduction, a Position Paper, and now, you will create a two to three minute visual essay which will be comprised of a script and images.

Think of the digital essay as the third piece of a “story package.” It complements the other two pieces. A reader who sees all three pieces could read or watch all of them, or choose to read only one or two, depending upon what she wants to learn or understand.

Your piece can have any of the following purposes, although I suggest that you use the process of writing this piece to learn something you need for the collection/introduction or the position paper. For example, if you’ve struggled to describe arguments in favor of Universal Basic Income, work on this can help you learn to describe it. If you have struggled to summarize an an issue, this can be an opportunity. For example, if you are writing about DACA, then you know that “DACA” no longer exists. The question now is “What will replace it?” You could make a digital essay that answers the question, “What are the alternatives that congress is considering to replace DACA?”

Instructions:

We will take this through steps together, class by class.

Step One: Watch the assigned digital essay and analyze it. It is our model.

Step Two: Compose a two hundred fifty to three hundred fifty word script for your digital essay. To do so, do the following:

• Choose a purpose: Will you teach the viewer about an aspect of an issue? Will you describe the opposing points of view on the issue? Will you describe an issue, propose a solution and address objections?
• Decide on a question your digital essay answers. That will be its title.
• Write a script using sources which you will refer to in your script. You will also provide a works cited page for your your viewers on the last slide, so keep track of your sources.
• Post your script in your submissions folder in a folder called “Digital Essay”. Print a copy for your notebook so you can read it aloud to classmates.