This American Life Final Semester Project (50 Assessment Points)

This American Life is a staple of public radio. In three acts, Ira Glass and his contributors explicate upon a particular theme. The show has become so successful it added a television component on Showtime. Both on radio & on TV the conceit has remained the same:

“Each episode has a theme. That's mostly because a theme makes it seem like there's a reason to sit and listen to a story about a contest where everyone stands around a truck for days until only one person is left on their feet...or a grown man trying to convince a skeptical friend that not only has he heard the world's greatest phone message, but that it's about the Little Mermaid...or a man who's obsessed with Niagara Falls, lives minutes from the Falls, writes and thinks about the Falls all the time, but can't bring himself to actually visit the Falls because, as he says, "they've ruined the Falls." If you're not doing stories about the news, or celebrities, or things people have ever heard of elsewhere, you have to give people a reason to keep listening. The themes make it seem like you should.”1

Each episode shares the specifics below: • A singular thematic topic • Two or Three acts (or segments that show the thematic topic in three different lights) • Each act can stand on its own as a report/story • A narrator that introduces each act • Each report/story is a narrative

Your Project: To illustrate Brave New World’s continuing relevance in our society by creating your own episode of This American Life. You will work in groups of 4-5 and your episode should: • Isolate a theme within Brave New World, To Kill a Mockingbird or any of the poetry we have read • One act should be dedicated to showing how this theme makes itself apparent in the novel o Feel free to be as creative as you would like to bring this act to life—invoke Aldous Huxley or Harper Lee, bring the characters of Brave New World or To Kill a Mockingbird to life. Just remember, it all must be true to the novel and the people. You may have to do outside research to ensure accuracy. • Two other acts should show how this theme appears in our world today o You will have to interview others or describe examples or research resent history that illustrate the theme in our world, but remember one of the aspects that makes This American Life so appealing is that the reporting takes on a narrative structure • Reflect This America Life’s rhetorical conventions and strategies

Project Requirements: • A completed Think Trees pre-thinking sheet (This will be turned in prior to you project and will count as an assignment, rather than an assessment. It will be worth 25 assignment points) • Episode presented in class via pod cast, live presentation or video • Works cited page in MLA format. This will include the book as well as all music you use and interviews you conduct • Individually, you will to write a one-page reflective group evaluation. Use the questions on the back of your rubric as a guide. Make sure you are thoughtful and reflective. • Your episode should be between 6-8 minutes • Your episode should demonstrate a deep understanding of the theme within your chosen text • Music that adds style and drama

Due: On the day of your final exam. 3rd Period’s final is on Tuesday 12/11. 7th Period’s final is on Wednesday 12/12. • You will have at least two class periods to work with your group. However, if the majority of the class is not working during this time, you will loose it. • CA 9/10 Standards Reading • 3.0 Analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a selection represents a view or comment on life, using textual evidence to support claim Writing • 2.3 Write reflective compositions • 2.1 Write fictional, autobiographical or biographical narratives Listening and Speaking • 1.4 Use rhetorical questions, parallel structure, concrete images, figurative language, characterization, irony, and dialogue to achieve clarity, force and aesthetic effect • 1.7 Use appropriate rehearsal strategies to pay attention to performance details, achieve command of the text, and create skillful artistic staging • 1.8 Use effective and interesting language • 2.3 Deliver oral responses to literature • 2.4 Deliver multimedia presentations

1 “About the Radio Show” This American Life: About. 2008. Chicago Public Radio and Ira Glass. 20 October 2008.