Project 2 Evaluation

Project 2 Test: Audio, visual and interactive skills evaluation 

​

​

• What makes a news Story? Name the seven categories we explored.

A news story aims to deliver the most important information to the reader quickly as the news unfolds. Typically, news stories are not very long, averaging between 300-500 words, and use simple and effective language to deliver the facts. 

In order to write an effective news story, you must be able to catch the attention of the reader whilst keeping them interested throughout. This includes topics such as conflict, celebrities, human interest, quirks, science/research, and the environment. ​

​

​

• Name the different formats for podcasts that we looked at and give examples. Which did you choose and why?

Podcasts can manifest themselves in a range of different ways, such as: Solo presenter/commentary, nonfiction narrative storytelling, fictional storytelling, repurposed content, and panel podcasts (guest interviews or discussions.

For my podcast recording, I chose to do a fictional storytelling format. Me and my peers decided that this was the best thing to do, as it gave us more space to be creative with our ideas. Our original idea was to create a nonfiction narrative podcast, but we struggled with scripting our ideas in this format as it came across as somewhat forced and too factual. It also didn't leave us much space to experiment with sound effects and music, as it felt out of place.

With a fictional storytelling format, we were able to use unrealistic events to make the premise of our podcast more entertaining and felt that with fewer limits to our work, we found the whole process more enjoyable and educational.

​

​

• Why do we need to know our audience? Who are your audiences, for example for your podcast? 

Knowing your audience is crucial when writing anything, as it allows you to tailor your theme, tone, and writing style effectively to meet your specific audience's needs and expectations. It is also essential for creating impactful and effective communication. By considering who your readers are and what they need, you can tailor your message to resonate with them and foster engagement.

The target audience for our podcast would be those interested in the supernatural, paranormal, and classic ghost stories. We delivered this information during the opening of our podcast, in which we gave a brief overview of what the podcast would be about, and who may enjoy it.

​

​

• What did we look at to identify different texts aimed at specific audiences?

We looked at the languages and techniques used throughout the story to identify the different audiences within writing. For example in texts catered to young adult audiences, the language may come across as more mature and contain modern themes that young readers may relate to. Using this knowledge, we began looking at other texts and analysed who the specific audiences would be.

Personally, I found this activity helpful as I often struggle with identifying who the target audience is for my work, which can make it hard to stick to a specific style/theme. By using these skills, including reading like a writer, I have effectively managed to figure out my ideal audience and tailor my style of writing/wording to fit their expectations.

​

​

• What are the major differences between a News Story and a Feature Story? 

Feature articles and news articles are two common types of journalistic writing that serve different purposes and audiences. News articles are typically focused on reporting timely and objective information about current events, often following a traditional inverted pyramid structure where the most important details are presented first. These articles aim to answer the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how in a concise and direct manner. On the other hand, feature articles are more in-depth, detailed, and often explore a specific topic or issue from multiple perspectives. They are usually longer than news articles and may include interviews, anecdotes, and analysis to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the subject. Feature articles are often more narrative-driven and aim to engage readers on a personal or emotional level, offering context, background, and insight beyond the facts of the news.

​

​

• Name the six categories we explored for Reading Like a Writer. Give an example of how you have explored this. 

When reading like a writer, you must look out for certain specific aspects in the text, which include:

1. Ideas - how does the writer achieve the purpose? How do they reveal the main ideas?

2.  Organisation - how do they handle transitions? How do they make the writing feel finished and give important things to think about?
3. Voice - how do they reveal emotions? put personality in? demonstrate a passion for the topics?
4. Word choice - how do they make word choice more memorable and effective? What techniques did they use?
5. Sentence fluency - how do they use sound effects e.g. rhyme, alliteration, rhyme etc? What sentence types were used?
6. Conventions - Do they use conventions in unusual ways successfully? How are they used to make easy reading and make it more meaningful?  

Within week 1 (reading like a writer), I started to use this technique by analysing an extract from a piece of industry-published work. I chose to look at the opening page of 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt and highlight each of the six conventions used. This exercise was helpful as it allowed me to identify the effective techniques used in this text, and how I could incorporate them into my own work.

​

​

• Describe some of the functions and purposes of dialogue. 

Dialogue in a story serves multiple crucial functions: it reveals character traits, motivations, and relationships, whilst it advances the plot by conveying information, introducing conflicts, and resolving issues.  The use of dialogue can also help to set the tone and mood of a scene or the entire narrative, as it provides exposition in a more engaging way.  It can also reveal subtext and add depth to interactions; This creates realism by giving characters a voice. Additionally, it can help to foreshadow events and build suspense; it offers a contrast between characters to highlight differences and add complexity to the story. Overall, dialogue is a versatile storytelling tool that enhances character development, plot progression, and reader engagement.

I have noticed that these key purposes of dialogue have helped me to improve my storytelling when writing, especially when it comes to creating suspense and setting the tone.

​

​

• Tell me two purposes for writing a synopsis. 

A synopsis provides a concise summary of a work, that can be used for marketing and promotion purposes. It offers a glimpse into the key elements of the work, such as the plot, characters, themes, and main conflict, enticing potential readers or publishers to engage with the full piece. A well-crafted synopsis can effectively communicate the essence of the work and generate interest, helping to attract audiences or secure opportunities for publication.

A synopsis can also help determine the strength of your plot. This can help you as a writer craft your work and decipher from an overview of your work if it is worth reading and if the plot makes sense.

​

​

• Name the editing software you have used for audio and visual mediums. 

For this project, I used Adobe Indesign to create my visual design piece, and Adobe Audition for my audio piece.

Adobe Audition is a stand-alone audio editing and sound-mixing program that allows you to edit and apply effects to the audio from video footage. Audition includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral display for creating, mixing, editing, and restoring audio content.

InDesign is a desktop publishing and layout application for creating books, magazines, and brochures, as well as print and digital publications. It's the industry standard editing software for laying out long-form multipage documents, but it's not limited to that.

​

​

• Tell me why we use Strong Verbs? 

Using strong verbs in writing is important because they help convey action, emotion, and imagery more vividly and effectively. Strong verbs are specific, dynamic, and precise, allowing writers to paint a clearer picture for the reader and create a more engaging and immersive experience. By choosing strong verbs over weaker, more generic ones, writers can inject energy and power into their sentences, making their writing more impactful and memorable. Strong verbs also help avoid redundancy and excessive adverb use, leading to more concise and compelling writing. Overall, the use of strong verbs enhances the clarity, intensity, and overall quality of writing, making it more engaging and effective for the reader.

​

​

• Any other personal thoughts on your CREATIVE JOURNEY? 

Overall, I feel like the skills I have acquired during this semester have helped me to become more confident in executing my ideas, whether it be in a story, recording, or article.​ This is due to the creative freedom we were given throughout the duration of this project and the way in which we explored a range of different mediums. This was a great experience as it was rewarding to see my work displayed in an audio form, as well as visually.

I will continue to use my newfound skills in visual design and audio editing in future projects, and although I found the Adobe software somewhat confusing to begin with, I am now confident in how to create a piece of work using these devices.

I have also learned how to effectively craft my writing using skills such as reading like a writer and learning the importance of a synopsis.

In conclusion, I feel like this semester has taught me skills that I had little experience with in the past, so it was an interesting and rewarding experience to learn them and apply them to my own work.

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​