Eng 102 Pfister/ Spr19

Project 3: Persuasive Essay & Documentary Film

Overview
A good researcher fluidly shifts between the questions that drive research and their
answers. Reflecting on  those answers with skepticism can lead a researcher to revise
her original proposition(s), which in turn can lead to new questions and new directions
to be explored. This can give research the appearance that it is a never ending
process. However, researchers must at times move beyond mere discovery and
exposition to take positions on their researched inquiry. Put another way, sometimes
researchers must make arguments about their research’s implications.

Thus, the assignment for Writing Project 3 asks you to take a position on an issue you
have researched. This assignment is two-part: the first part is written, the second is
visual.

Part 1: 2-3 Page APA Formatted Essay

You will construct an argument, one that shows readers why they should accept (or at
least entertain) your position. To that end, your essay should:

• address an issue of social, cultural, or political import

• be claim driven

• support claims with sound reasoning and valid evidence

• account for counter arguments and divergent perspectives

• appeal to an informed audience in an accessible and rhetorically effective manner

using rhetorical structure

Research
In order to effectively persuade your audience that your position is worthy of
consideration, you will need to highlight the significant, compelling, and novel
information you have discovered and effectively deploy that information to support
your claims. Thus, you will use your research from WP2 to (1) teach your audience
about something of which they have limited awareness, and (2) convince them that
your position is valid and worthy of consideration.

Requirements
Your essay should be approximately 800 words in length (app. 3 pages),
incorporate at least 4 credible sources, attend to the specific requirements of the
assignment, and adhere to APA formatting standards

Part 2: Documentary Film

For the second part of the assignment  you will produce your own argument in a
documentary film intended for a specific audience. A documentary film is a visual
expression that seeks to stay factual and represent reality. It has some artistic point of
view, a message of some sort, a moral or ideological ambition--in short, a wish to make
Eng 102 Pfister/ Spr19

a difference, to change the world, or at least, the way in which some relevant audience
will look upon the world or themselves.

As college students you have both opportunity and responsibility to be heard, to

educate your community and produce a valuable piece of work that can be used.
Producing a visual argument advocating for specific issues facing your generation is a
wonderful way for you and your peers to positively contribute to your generation’s
present and future condition.

Compose: Using your phone, you will plan, write, film, and edit (either Apple iMovie
or Adobe Premiere),  a documentary film that creates awareness and advocates for
a change in thinking or behavior. Your film should attempt to persuade a specific
audience and have a specific purpose. The length of film should be approximately
3-4 minutes long. Ensure that the video and audio of the film are of good quality,
and that the files will upload/play correctly on YouTube. You are all welcomed and
encouraged to work together and help each other.

Design: Your film should follow a structure similar to this:

Title page with names, class, and title of film.


Introduction – state and/or show background, history, or general status of the issue.

Claim – state and/or show your side of the issue, what you want to persuade your
audience to think or do.

Support—state and/or show reasons to support your claim using appropriate

evidence.

Conclusion—bring the documentary to a close and give your viewers something

more to consider.


Fair Use Statement/Copyright/Credits

Important Requirements:

You should NOT use more than 15 seconds of outside video at a time, whether from
YouTube or your own video. Be vigilant about editing to maintain focus, to keep
yourself as the primary voice, and keep interest in your film.

Need to support the documentary film with research to support any claims you
make.

Be clear about your persuasive purpose—what the position/claim is and what you
would like the audience to do about it.


Common-Sense Clause
Do not put yourself, or others, in any dangerous situations in the making of your
film.


Do not show any illegal activity or potentially incriminate others in the making of
your film.

Eng 102 Pfister/ Spr19

Do not use video/images/language that is not suitable for an academic setting and
discourse community. Remember that you film will be shown in class and could be
shown in wider venues at the end of the semester.

Draft: We will have a workshop where we will discuss using the two edit suites and I
will make tutorials available to you via YouTube. We will also dedicate one class to
workshop your ideas, film, and do anything else you would like related to your film.

Project Submission: Much of your process work for this project will be posted to
Canvas and/or completed in class. Specific details about the process work of WP3
(e.g. readings, etc.) will be found in Canvas. Your final project will be submitted in two
ways: (1) your essay will be submitted as an APA formatted document to the WP3
assignment on Canvas, and (2) your essay and documentary will then be submitted as
a webpage on Portfolio you create for our class.