A Walk Across Godwin
This project is one in which you duplicate (to some extent) what Peter set out to do in his walk. Now, I know you’re thinking, “Wouldn’t it be nice to grab my backpack and take a hike right in the middle of the year and (unfortunately) have to miss the rest of the year.” But you really don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to pack much - or even have a dog with you - or even leave school!
It’s like this. At the heart of Peter’s trip was the quest “to find America.” For this project, your mission is “to find Godwin.” That may mean any number of things, like: What kind of place is Godwin really? How is it like/unlike other high schools? What’s going on here that nobody/few/the faculty doesn’t know about? What’s the real Godwin? What’s the nature of Godwin in terms of how people get along, how different groups co-exist, what’s wrong (or right) with this place, etc. You may develop any number of questions or views to profile. The sky’s the limit! Picture yourself as an investigative reporter doing a story about some intriguing aspect of Godwin High School. You may critique Godwin or merely report on it. You must, however, have a thesis or a main subject/idea you follow, though.
Now here’s the thing. You will then either film or record using a tape-recorder and photographs (you can use GHS media.) You should use interviews with GHS students or staff. You should edit this so that you have a presentation of seven to ten minutes of quality work which you will then present to the class on December 17, 18, or 19. Work must be completed by Wednesday Dec. 17.
You may work with a group. Keep in mind that this project requires several skills and also requires you to be able and willing to pursue interviewees during times accommodating to them (as well as getting their permission.) You will have to be creative here. (One the other hand, one student several years ago did an awesome job of interviewing just one faculty member. The questions they asked – and the faculty member’s answers – were so good that the interview held our attention.) The point is, you will need to have a good game plan especially in figuring out what you want to investigate, as well as how you want to do it.
Should you wish to do this project, (as with them all) let me know by Monday, Dec. 1 of your intentions and thesis. If you want to bounce ideas off me, see me RIGHT AWAY!
GENERAL INFORMATION:
1. Your finished, edited movie/recorded-photographed piece
must be no less than seven minutes long, no longer than ten.
2. If you are working with a group, it must be clear that every
member did equal amounts of work.
3. This project may require time extra outside of class – but
not necessarily.
4. Don’t be afraid if you have not done filming or photography,
though it would certainly help. The filming and editing are
not that difficult and are fun to learn. I can help you get
started or work out a snag.
5. A key is a good thesis/question/subject/focus. It should
capture your interest, and hence, ours. If your thesis is
not interesting, your project probably won’t be.
6. You should have some explicit reference to AWAA to make it clear
that you are connecting to AWAA on some level (this need not be
a big thing.)
7. You can be “controversial.” BUT you can’t be inappropriate. You
can and should, though, be creative! You must write down your
proposal by Monday, Dec. 1 and receive approval for me.
8. Though because of the nature of this project, your product literally
is a presentation, I will nevertheless give a small percentage of your
final (test) grade for how you present your project to the class.
Rubric for Project
R Rubric / 70-76(D) / 77-84(C) / 85-92(B) / 93-100 (A)Creativity / A little bit of creativity here, but you could’ve shown more. A
basic story idea, though not highly
intriguing. / An average amount of creativity shown. A somewhat
intriguing thesis/
idea pursued. / More than average amount of creativity displayed.
Good thesis/
Story idea. / Awesome, highly original, fresh.Care
has been
taken to make this special.
Highly intriguing
story and
thesis.
Work-
manship / Minimal, perhaps characterized by sloppiness, incompleteness, or low quality in general. / A reasonably well put together piece. Filming/recording/
Photos are decent. / Well put together, more than average. / Something other
genera-
tions
of Godwin-
ites will
admire.
Effort / A tiny bit of effort, but it’s obvious you didn’t put your heart into it. / More than minimal effort displayed, but still average. / More than average effort. / Great
Effort displayed –
and it
shows!
Presen-
tation / Minimal presentation skills: little presence, not organized, hard to hear / More than minimal presentation skills. / Presenter relates well to audience, is organized, etc. / Presenter
at ease
with aud-
ience, volume good;
organized.
Due Date: Wednesday, December 17
Should you choose to do this type of project, you will be put on a schedule to present your project to the class on either Wednesday, 12.17, Thurs., 12.18, or Fri., 12.19. You must show me evidence of a completed project, however, on Weds. Dec. 17! This is for a test grade. If you are unsure of “what kind of project” or whether what you want to do is appropriate, see me RIGHT AWAY!
TEAR OFF BELOW AND GIVE TO MR. WOZNY IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS PROJECT. FILL IN APPROPRIATELY! SUBMIT TO MR. WOZNY BY MONDAY, DEC. 1.
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Name______
I want to create “A Walk Across Godwin”
I need help: ____Yes ____ No