Assignment 2: Radiolab Mini

Draft: 10.6 |Final: 10.13

Description: In this assignment, you will create an exactly 5-minute-long audio essay discussing your
research topic in the style of NPRs Radiolab. You must combine at least 1-minute of your own narration with
clips from 2 or more other sources online (think about stripping sound from TedTalks, RadioLab episodes, etc.),
and 1 interview that you perform yourself. Your narrative must also include the Radiolab introduction stripped
from a Radiolab episode, not spoken yourself (AlrightYoure Listening to Radiolab from WNYC and NPR)
and at least 2 music tracks (we are not worrying about copyright for this assignment).

Style: While producing this piece you should think carefully about its auditory style. Are you creating a
smooth interview? A fragmented collage art piece? What auditory techniques are you using to your advantage?
Overlapping sounds? Juxtaposition? Music? Volume? Texture? Suspense? White space? You might consider the
ways in which the visual rhetoric terms from the last unit transfer to audio. As we will read/hear, what makes
these pieces really work is extended examples and building pictures of things happening for your listener.
Though some kind of critical reflection/narration is important, the majority of your essay should be showing
(extended example and description) rather than telling and moralizing.

Requirements

Exactly 5 minutes
At least 1-minute of your own narration
Clips from at least 3 other audio sources
1 interview you do yourself
Some kind of coherent story arc, argument, or topic
At least 2 music tracks
Radiolab introduction
Music must create a soundscape, mimicking the mood of the topic being discussed and marking
changes in topic

Possible Layouts*
The Essay Proper
Starts with a description of what youre talking about, possibly a quote from some technology theorist. Muses
briefly on the topic. Then introduces the first speaker. After first clip, analyzes the clip briefly then introduces
the second clip and so on. Concludes with a synthesis of each clip and a final thought on the topic. 
The Personal Narrative
Works as a personal story about an experience youve had with technology. Uses clips from technology experts
or people in the story as a way to analyze the technological theory behind the story.
The Bricolage
Rather than directly analyzing clips for an extended period, the goal of bricolage is to juxtapose interesting clips
with each other in the hopes the listener will make their own comparisons. Your required 1-minute might be one
of these snippets or a longer conclusion clip that brings things together.
Other: A news story including interviews on a topic. A technological literacy narrative (how I learned) of
yourself or someone else. Something else you come up with on your own. 

* Warning:

In the past a few students have attempted to edit their audio file to sound like they were interviewing the source
clips that they took from YouTube or Radiolab, this rarely works. Further, when you interview a subject of your own,
please make sure to actually interview them rather than having them read a written script (another mistake of students past).
Reading a script sounds very unnatural and rarely results in a clip that is more interesting than just asking your subject to
tell you a story.

Assignment 2: Rubric
For full description of grading criteria, see above.

_______Technical Skill (20 points)

Audition is utilized effectivelydoesnt sound sloppy, isnt hard to hear
Audio levels are well balanced
No distracting background noises
Skills taught in class as well as skills learned on students own are well-demonstrated

_______Complex Content (20 points)
Content is complex and specific, not broadit passes the Scattegories test
Clips are well integrated and make sense together
The listener is left thinking about something
Primarily consists of examples and description
Each piece adds something newit doesnt repeat itself

_______Narration (15 points)
Narration sounds naturalnot read (even though it is read)
Narration is cleanno stumbles, coughs, etc.
Narration adds something, its not redundant or just repeating what the other audio clips say

_______Structure and Pacing (15 points)
The narrative does not move too fast or too slow
The listener has time to understand the subject matter without becoming bored
The clips progress in some logical orderspeaking to one another

_______Transitions (5 points)
Purposeful, use Fades, cued by something
Clips are not cut off as you switch between sources

_______Music (5 points)
Not too loud or soft, fits mood and tone, Fits Subject Matter, Used for Rhetorical Effect, Adds doesnt
distract

_______Assignment Requirements (10 points)
See above

_______Design Justification (10 points)
Explains the project effectively and rhetorically, using language from the readings and class discussions.
Explains how you fulfill the assignment criteria and why you did so in the way you did.

______Total (100 points)