Mike+Lemon's+Podcasts


 * Objective:** Literature comes from an oral tradition, so it does not make sense that we do not occasionally read it out loud. This podcast assignment will allow students an opportunity to experience reading allow, and in turn publish their readings for future generations. Also, the students will be challenged to find contextual clues to the literature (music, recordings, images, etc.), which will help them understand the cultural background behind the written word.

1. Select a piece of literature (poem, snippet from a novel, scene from a play) or a literary concept (genre or author's biography) which you would like to share with your fellow classmates. The idea must be approved by me before you start. Your recording will only be three to five minutes, so choose wisely.
 * Assignment:

2. Practice reading your piece. If you chose a literary concept, write an outline or a script for you to follow during the recording. There should be no "umms" heard in the final product.

3. You must find some context behind your recording. Contextual clues can be found in images, recordings others have produced, and music relating to the culture. You must find at least two contextual clues to your selection, which you will present in the podcast itself or in your podcast portfolio which you will turn into me. We will go to the library together, but I would encourage you to take some time outside of class to find some material. Some good websites for this research are Freeplay Music and Wikimedia Commons.

4. Now that you have practiced and found some outside resources, here comes the recording day. We will go down to the computer labs, break into our groups, and then we will record your podcasts with Audacity. If you have music to place in your podcast, we will place it into your recording. Remember, in your final product, there should be no "umms;" you have practiced for this.

5. After all the recordings are finished, I will upload your podcasts into Audioboo, and then put them onto the class website for download. That way, you can take a little of what you have learned on your iPod.

Here are some samples of podcast I recorded about Langston Hughes, so take courage. If I can do it, so can you. Podcasts for Mr. Lemon's Class **