"Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas."
—AUSTIN KLEON

OVERVIEW

MULTIMODAL REMIX What?

First, let's clarify some key terms:
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• MULTIMODAL: Multimodal projects are simply projects that have multiple “modes” of communicating a message. For example, while traditional papers typically only have one mode (text), a multimodal project would include a combination of text, images, motion, or audio.

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• REMIX: To understand Remix as a cultural phenomenon, think first of remix in music. A music remix, in general, is a reinterpretation of a pre-existing song, meaning that the “aura” of the original will be dominant in the remixed version. The remix when extended as a cultural practice is a second mix of something pre-existent; the material that is mixed at least for a second time must be recognized otherwise it could be misunderstood as something new, and it would become plagiarism. When we "remix" something, we take existing ideas, objects, stories, songs, or many other creations and consider how we might revise those things for new audiences and purposes. This is a creative assignment, and you have a lot of flexibility in what you create and how. Feel free to experiment with new forms of communication, but consider what artifact might best suit your chosen audience and purpose.

• RESEARCH ESSAY: A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. It is, perhaps, helpful to think of the research paper as a living thing, which grows and changes as you explore, interpret, and evaluate sources related to a specific topic. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article). The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide you with an exceptional opportunity to increase your knowledge in that field.

DESCRIPTION

Throughout the semester you have developed your skill in the writing process: brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, editing, peer reviewing, and revising. This assignment asks you to research a topic related to cultural literacy, take what you have learned about the writing and research process, and adapt your findings to a unique rhetorical situation, meaning you will select a topic, audience, genre, and medium to present your conclusions about the research. For instance, you might choose to present your conclusions to an audience of parents with children ages 2-4 in an infographic, or a YouTube video to high school students in the Mountain West region of the United States. 

This assignment asks you to compose a critical essay that provides an analysis of literacy as it relates to a cultural phenomenon, event, movement, or pastime. The essay should focus on how language and rhetoric function in public discourse communities and how certain rhetorical strategies are used to enact social, cultural, and/or political change. This assignment is built on the premise that understanding a particular cultural phenomenon will help us to better appreciate and comprehend that culture’s literary productions, just as a careful reading of a literary text may lead us to better understand the culture from which it emerged. For example, you might consider:

• Literacies of a Cultural Phenomenon such as ComiCon, the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, Earth Day, the Women’s March, or of a trend, fad, popular TV show (Squid Game, Tiger King, Game of Thrones), film, musical artist, social media, etc.
• ​Literacies of a Cultural Movement or Moment in Political or Cultural Activism: #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, Critical Race Theory, "Wokeness," MAGA, COVID-19
• Emerging Literacies of a Favorite Pastime or Passion: Minecraft, Tik-Tok, exercising, crafts, sports, etc.
• Literacies of a Custom or Ritual from another country, a group, a religion, etc.

This project consists of two parts: the Multimodal Remix Research Essay (including a topic & modality proposal, an annotated bibliography of sources, an outline of major arguments, and the final project) as well as the Multimodal Remix Reflection or Cover Letter.

"The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house."
​—AUDRE LORDE

DETAILS

PRE-PROJECT PROCESS

Though the presentation of your final project will be completely up to you, each of you will be required to compose and submit the following pre-project assignments for my feedback and approval:

PROJECT PROPOSAL: a short, one-page project proposal in which you identify your research problem, explain why your question is problematic and/or why the question is significant or important, define its significance to you and your position at this time, and identify the modality you plan to use for your final presentation.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: an annotated bibliography of the 6+ sources you plan to use in your project. These sources must include, but are not limited to:

• 1 credible, online source (cited)
• 1 BHCC library database article (cited)
• 1 graphic—a chart, graph, illustration, photograph, work of art, etc.
• 1 audio/visual source (youtube, TED talk, song, Documentary, podcast, etc.
• 2 additional sources of your choice

OUTLINE/OVERVIEW: before receiving final approval on your project, you will be asked to compose a short, functional outline of your thesis, major arguments, and preliminary evidence.

COVER LETTER/REFLECTION: as with all assignments, you will need to submit a reflective cover letter addressing the questions posed in the Cover Letter Assignment Sheet.

FINAL PROJECT

This project is about affordances of different media, especially in terms of interactivity with your audience. You should imagine your audience as extending beyond our class. In other words, imagine that you will share this project in a public venue and not just to your peers and professor. Depending on your audience you might create:

• Prezi, Tumblr, or PowerPoint that visualizes the argument in a different way using images and text 
• Podcast reaching a public audience to spread awareness or analysis of a particular issue
• Infographic with links to outside resources 
• Short video using WeVideo or iMovie that illustrates your argument and texts you analyzed 
• Website or Blog dedicated to informing a particular audience about an issue
• Classic research essay dedicated to scholars in your field but which incorporates mixed-media (visuals, links, etc.)
• A “mashup” or “remix” (where you take images, videos, audio, etc. from other sources and represent them in new, creative ways to conceptualize your research project argument)

For this project, I want you to think creatively about how to represent your research in a new format and genre keeping your audience and purpose in mind. Nearly anything goes. You are free to choose whatever genre and format you want to use for your remixed essay. The only requirements are that your project needs to be digital, it needs to be published online, it needs to use at least three modes of communication. Other than that, your options are open on this assignment.

"Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat.​"
​—STEVE JOBS

BREAKDOWN OF ASSIGNMENT GOALS

1) Audience / Rhetorical Situation

Demonstrate that you understand the importance of rhetorical considerations for any communicative act: the audience, purpose, genre, medium, and demonstrate your thinking about your rhetorical situation through your choices for this project.​ Be sure that your chosen topic, mode, and medium accurately reflects and addresses your rhetorical situation. ​Be sure to tailor your rhetorical analysis to a specific audience who may not understand the rhetorical and linguistic context of your subject/topic. In other words, imagine your audience having limited knowledge of the type of texts, language, and rhetorical and structural elements of your subject. How can you make this information readily accessible and understandable to your audience?  And, part of meeting any audience’s expectations is to draft and edit your project so that your content, style, tone, and presentation are carefully edited and appropriate for the audience.

2) Thesis & Progression of Main Points

Aim to make your project carefully narrowed, organized, and transitioned. Your thesis should be specific, highlighting just 2-3 rhetorical and linguistic features that you either find central to the construction of the argument or particularly significant or interesting. The organization of your argument and analysis should be crafted in way that your ideas are delivered to your audience in a “digestible” fashion. Throughout the presentation, please use transitional “signposts," whether visual, written, or audio to guide readers/viewers and let them know what is about to happen. 

3) Sources

Accurately credit source material no matter which mode of presentation you choose. Use list of Works Cited if your project does not lend itself to a credits screen.  Be sure to credit sources and use resources appropriately and fairly according to guidelines for attribution and fair use. This process will enable you to develop the skills and knowledge required of digital citizens to confidently choose and use digital resources without fear of breaking the law. Be sure that your sources pass the CRAAP test. Two approaches to using the work of others include: Creative Commons and Public Domain. We will discuss these throughout the semester.

4) Rhetorical Analysis

Select appropriate rhetorical concepts/terms your analysis will focus on and then carefully select evidence (quotes and examples) you’ll use from the text(s) to support your analysis. Your analysis should follow the “10 on 1” rule of thumb—that is, it is better to make ten observations or points about a single representative issue or example (10 on 1) than to make the same basic point about ten related issues or examples (1 on 10). Thus, be very choosy in selecting representative examples that demonstrate your ideas. It also means that you’ll need to be extensive in your analysis of those select examples, providing appropriate description and interpretation to show your audience what you see.

5) Creativity/Originality in Making Your Argument

Be creative. Your goal is to create a piece that engages the audience you’re envisioning in your argument and research. You can do this in a number of ways: by appeals to logic (logos) using alphabetic text/numbers/research. You can use images and video clips to appeals to emotion (pathos). How well do you select interesting images or video clips? How well do you arrange them to tell a story?

"Learn the rules like a pro so that you can break them like an artist."
—PABLO PICASSO

ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA

FINAL PROJECT CRITERIA

AUDIENCE / RHETORICAL SITUATION	THESIS & MAIN POINTS	SOURCES	ANALYSIS	CREATIVITY / ORIGINALITY
Does the project demonstrate an understanding of the importance of rhetorical considerations: the audience, purpose, genre, and medium? How effectively does the project tailor its argument, examples, language, modality, and presentation to meet the expectations of the intended audience?	How effectively is the project narrowed, organized, and transitioned? How effective and specific is the thesis? How effectively does the essay answer the So what? Who cares? question to demonstrate the exigence of rhetorical analysis and to make connections to larger implications?	Are all sources credible, reliable, and relevant? Are sources used  appropriately and fairly according to guidelines for attribution and fair use? Is source material accurately and consistently credited no matter the medium of presentation?	How effectively does the essay rhetorically analyze the text by applying 2-3 specific rhetorical concepts and adopting the 10 on 1 rule of thumb? How effectively is the analysis supported with evidence?	Does the project engage the audience it envisions in argument, research, and presentation? Has the creator attempted to challenge their own skills and limitations by learning a new modality? Is the project original and appropriate for its subject/audience?

PRE-PROJECT PROCESS CRITERIA

PROPOSAL	ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY	OUTLINE / OVERVIEW	COVER LETTER	​GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Does the proposal meet all requirements: one-page identifying a research problem, explaining the problem and its significance, defining the author's position and identifying a potential modality for the final project?	Are all source credible and reliable? Are citations complete and correct? Do annotation address all components: summary, credibility, relation to research project? Are all source types accounted for?	Is the outline detailed, thoughtful, properly formatted and easy to follow. Does it demonstrate sincere effort and critical thinking? Does it contain a clear thesis, major arguments, and preliminary evidence?	Does the cover answer all questions in Cover Letter Assignment Sheet thoughtfully and in detail?	Were all requirements for the assignment met? and due date met in terms of timeliness, expectations, and objectives?

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"
—SHERYL SANDBERG