ENGL 2089 Remix/Mashup Project Multi-Genre Composition

Remix: A form of media that has been altered from its original state by adding, removing, and/or changing some of its elements. Virtually any composition can be a remix – the primary characteristic is that a remix changes other existing materials to create something new.

Mashup: A mixture or fusion of dissimilar elements combining content or functionality from different sources.

Assignment Context: This assignment concludes the semester because it utilizes your work on previous assignments and draws together everything that you have learned so far: rhetorical situation, use of discourse, rhetorical use of genre, and more. We also end with this assignment because it’s fun and different, and allows you to showcase your skills in composition through methods other than a formal essay. The point of this assignment is to make connections among what you learned this semester, as well as to remix or mashup elements of an academic assignment and compose in a new genre. You’ll also present/share your project to the rest of the class and explain your choices in an Artist’s Statement.

Task and Focus: The assignment allows a great deal of flexibility as long as it relates to our work this semester. To help you decide how to begin, the assignment is broken into steps. Steps: 1. Topic/Purpose: Determine a topic derived from one of our assignments this semester and a purpose for your Remix Mashup. What do you want to pursue further? An issue of concern to your discourse community in the Discourse Community & Genre Analysis Research Essay? Further examination of a particular genre? An aspect of your literacy from the Extended Blog? The choice is yours. The only requirement is that your topic must relate to an assignment we have completed this semester (major or minor). What, then, do you want to do? Explain? Argue? Inform? Educate? Entertain? Your purpose is likely to impact your choice of genre. 2. Form: Remix or Mashup - Alter, mix, or fuse your prior academic work into another genre in order to discuss your topic. You’ll write a brief analysis that one could call an essay, but the project portion of the assignment is the Remix or Mashup composition. Choose a method that allows you to showcase your composition skills in a new genre rather than through an essay. 3. Share: Share your Remix Mashup composition with the class through Blackboard Discussion Board. 4. Artist’s Statement: Write an explanation about issues such as intended audiences, purposes or aims, organization, document design, and any other contextual issues. This is your chance to discuss your rhetorical choices and say anything else that you need to say. The analysis should be about 2 pages double-spaced. Please do not discount this portion of the assignment; grades will depend heavily on the quality and critical thinking in your Artist’s Statement. Treat it like an essay – think, plan, draft, revise, edit, and proofread.

You may remix your academic work into any genre that you like. Here are some resources you might investigate: →Web writing: Tumblr, Wordpress, Blogger, Blogspot, Weebly, Edmoto, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Linkedin, Pinterest, Glogster, Smore, Scribd →Video: iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, your cell phone, YouTube, Vimeo, Animoto →Audio: Audacity, GarageBand →Narrative or story: Storify, Voicethread. →Animation: Xtranormal, Pixton Consider your interests and strengths: If you have a strong voice, think about mixing you work into audio or video. If you want to be persuasive, consider genres such as editorial writing, speeches, and advertising. If you want to be informational, consider genres such as pamphlets, signs, and brochures.

Grading Rubric – Your Remix Mashup must demonstrate your ability to: o Exhibit knowledge and understanding of a concept or concepts studied this semester. o Remix and mashup up components of a previous assignment into a new genre to creatively and effectively make your point. o Consider rhetorical situation by composing for a specific audience, purpose(s), and context. o Explain your rhetorical choices in a thorough, cohesive Artist’s Statement that shows your thinking. o Share your Remix Mashup project with the class. Please note: This is not an art class. It’s not a design class or a video production class or a web design class or even a creative writing class. I can’t draw a stick person, so I don’t expect your art skills to be at a professional level – I simply want you to remix your work from an academic genre into a new genre. This is a composition class, so the analytical writing in your Artist’s Statement will account heavily for your grade.

Review/Revision We will have conferences three weeks before the project is due and again one week before the project is due, and both times you may seek feedback from me. The Remix Mashup project is due to a Gallery on Blackboard to share with classmates at the beginning of Week 15. You will then have the rest of that week, until Friday, December 2, to submit the Artist’s Statement.

DUE: o Remix Mashup project ONLY due to share with the class on Monday, November 28 to Bb Discussion Board Gallery. o Artist’s Statement due to professor on Friday, December 2 to Assignment Submission button on Bb. The final project/presentation through Blackboard/Artist’s Statement is worth 25% of the overall course grade.

See Wordpress for my own Remix Mashup – I remixed an assignment into an election campaign ad!