Spring Break is almost here

Just a couple things left to do before we all get a little downtime:

1. Finish the assessment test and get it to me by the end of Monday.  You can put it in my mailbox in the science office or just slide it under my office door.  Bring your copy of the test questions with you to class.
2. Talk to the members of your audio project group about the scope of your project and be ready to present your ideas in class this coming Wednesday.

The Pitch

For this coming week's class be ready to give a pitch for your radio segment idea.  You will have up to one minute to explain your idea and to try and convince the class that it should be produced.  Look over the Olson book section on elevator pitches and storytelling as you lay out how you will present your idea.  Think about what science could be presented, what interviews and/or audio could be included, and what would be engaging about your story.

As a class we will select 3-4 of the ideas and then split into production groups to start working on them.

UPDATE
You should also be ready to share with the class the critique you did of one of your classmate's blog posts, and how it followed the 3-act structure discussed in class.

Storytelling structure and radio project prep

Freelance reporter Gretchen Cuda,
our next class visitor

No new blog posts required for this week (but feel free to add one if you like), but I do have some reading, listening and thinking for you to do for next week's course:

• Read over your fellow students' posts from this past week and see how well they fit the 3-act structure you read about in Olson's book, and that we talked about in class this week.  Pick at least one post that used 3-act structure and take notes on how it did so.
• Listen to some science radio segments on NPR's website.  Look for stories that are about 3-4 minutes in length, like those played on All Things Considered or Morning Edition.  Think about the structure of these stories as you listen to them.  Do they follow 3-act structure?  Do they have interviews?  What sound effects are used?
• In preparation for our visit next week by Gretchen Cuda, check out her profile on LinkedIn.  Also listen to her radio segments on allergy treatments and kids' sugar cravings, and herbal relaxation drinks.  You can search the NPR or WCPN sites for additional samples.
• Start brainstorming some ideas for your own radio segments and bring your thoughts and notes to class.