After you complete your research paper, you will be creating a 5-minute multi-media documentary about your topic using either Wevideo or Imovie. Your presentation will likely include images, music, charts, maps, library materials, video clips, and a voice-over offering an explanation of the visuals and your argument. Because you will be explaining your ideas using your own voice, I encourage you to include as little written text in your presentation as possible.
You should think of your documentary as a stand-alone product–a piece that would make sense without any introduction from you. This will not be a Power Point presentation. You will not be allowed to talk during it. Your voice-over, included in the documentary, will provide all necessary explanations.
Your goal is to provide a clear, well-organized, accessible introduction to your topic, and a compelling and memorable version of your argument. You can use visuals, including images, maps, and graphs to help convey your ideas, and you can use the multi-media aspects, including music, to increase the emotional impact of your presentation. You may also use interview clips from people you’ve spoken to in researching the project, if you have them. In putting together your video, you should consider the following criteria:
1. Is it clear? Do I explain the relevant concepts in an an accessible manner? Do I offer a historical context so that viewer can understand my argument?
2. Is it well-organized? Do I present my ideas in a logical fashion? Do I provide necessary background before I focus on specifics? Do I cover each topic carefully before moving onto the next topic?
3. Is it engaging? Do I establish the relevance of the subject matter in order to grab my audience’s attention?
4. Do I make good use of images, videos, or other visual materials in order to explain my subject matter? Do I use relevant photographs or video clips in order to give viewers a tangible sense of the subjects I am discussing?
5. Do I make good use of sound and music? Are the audio clips relevant? Does the music help to create the right mood or capture something about the subject I am discussing?
After each presentation, there will be a brief Q&A session.
The grade for your documentary will count for 15% of your final grade. Since this may be a relatively exercise for you, I will place a lot of weight on the effort you put into your presentation. If it appears that you devoted some serious time and energy to assembling materials and planning your presentation, you will receive a good grade even if it is not perfectly polished.
Please sign up for a particular date below. There should be no more than eight presenters on any given day.
Presentation Sign-up:
May 6:
Agnes Chen
May 11:
Tshetrim Lhendup
Sandra Wu
Gabriel Rivera
Kat Jackowicz
Elizabeth Moy
Tory Watnick
Joseph Abraham
Ishraq Kabir
May 13:
Michelle Wong
Sumayyah Siddiqui
Sean Vayser
Anthony Butta
Ahmad Choudhry
Josephina Gjonaj
Raiyan Mahmud
Lisa Agranov
Alexandra Acevedo
Jehmehl Fair