ASSIGNMENT

Multimodal Storytelling through Podcasting

Elizabeth Escobedo & José Manuel Flores Fuentes

Introduction: Writing Across Media

In this final project, students will explore podcasting as a dynamic form of multimodal storytelling. This assignment emphasizes the affordances of Writing Across Media by encouraging students to adapt their academic research essays into podcast scripts. Writing Across Media promotes the integration of multiple modes—linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, and gestural—into composition. Podcasting invites students to embody their rhetorical intentions through voice, tone, pacing, and sound design, making arguments that resonate beyond the page.

This assignment acknowledges the innovative pedagogical work of Steph Ceraso, who has integrated audio work into rhetoric courses like ENWR 3640 Writing with Sound at the University of Virginia. As Jasmine Lee and Jennifer Geraci note in Chapter 23 of Amplify Student Voices, “Students, in being given the opportunity to add their voices, literally, to conversations about Young Adult (YA) and social issues that mattered to them, developed a different sense of themselves as rhetors. They explored ethos as an embodied concept and expressed a more robust sense of ownership and authorship of their compositions” (Lee & Geraci, 2022, p.316).

Similarly, Daniel P. Richards in Chapter 22 highlights the value of podcasting as a site for critical engagement and experimentation: “An opportunity for students to produce new, aural/oral types of media through theoretical lenses that connect their compositions to larger popular debates about digital writing, namely the evidence-based and supposed technofear-driven effects digital writing practices have on memory... attention... cultural identity... and cognition” (Richards, 2022, p.302).

Students will move from written argument to sonic storytelling, learning to script, edit, and produce persuasive audio pieces that foreground voice, sound, and structure in their delivery.

Objectives

This project will help you develop skills in digital composition, rhetorical awareness, and multimodal communication. You will learn to:

Identify and adapt key ideas from academic writing
Reimagine arguments through voice and narrative
Use sound to create emphasis, emotion, and engagement
Edit and produce audio using accessible tools
Consider your audience and purpose across media

Assignment Breakdown

Part 1: From Paper to Podcast — Strategy & Script

Step 1: Identify the Core Ideas
Begin by reviewing your argument essay. Use the questions below to guide your transition from paper to podcast:

What is your paper’s main argument in one sentence?
What are 2–3 key ideas that support that argument?
What real-world examples, personal experiences, or current issues connect to those ideas?
Who is your target audience, and what do you want them to feel, learn, or reflect on?

Step 2: Structure the Story for Audio
Use the chart below as a working template for your podcast plan. You can sketch out your content and sound elements in parallel as you develop your notes and script. Your script should include at least one research question to guide your story. In addition, incorporate a summary of either one primary research method (such as an interview, survey, or observation) and/or one reliable secondary source that supports your main ideas.

Script Planning Chart

Step 3: Draft and Revise Your Script
Write your podcast script using a natural, conversational tone:

Use contractions and plain language
Keep sentences short and rhythmic
Read it aloud to check for flow and clarity
Imagine explaining your ideas to a friend

Part 2: Produce Your Podcast

Your final podcast should be 4–5 minutes long. You can record using a phone, computer, or audio editing software.

Tools you can use:

GarageBand (Mac devices)
Audacity (Free for Windows/Mac: audacityteam.org)
Anchor / Spotify for Podcasters (Free, browser-based, great for beginners)

You may include:

Narration (you speaking directly to your audience)
Background music or sound effects
Interview clips or ambient sound
Intentional silence to emphasize mood or tone

Recording Checklist

Microphone, recording device, or smartphone
Headphones to monitor audio
Your notes or script nearby
Test your microphone and audio levels
Do a couple of test recordings to check voice tone and clarity
Use a pop filter or windscreen to reduce plosives
Bring extra batteries or keep your device charged
Have a glass of water nearby to maintain vocal clarity

Editing Checklist

Remove filler words and pauses
Balance audio levels for consistency
Add intro/outro music and necessary effects
Export your file in the correct format (MP3 or WAV)
Listen to the full podcast before publishing

Copyright and Fair Use Note

“The purpose of this podcast is for the reviewing of the assignments for my RWS 1302 course. All rights are reserved to (your name here), and no copying is allowed without permission. The University requires all members of its community to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies.”

Podcast Examples for Inspiration

Submission Guidelines

Length: 4–5 minutes audio file
Format: MP3 or shareable link (Spotify, Anchor, YouTube, etc.)
Due Date: Determined by your instructor
Submission: Upload to your ePortfolio with podcast title, link or file, and a brief reflection