Created byAmanda Welter

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Novel Themes: A Podcast Project

Grade 9English1 days

In this project, students create a podcast that explores universal themes within a novel. As literary analysts and audio producers, they demonstrate how the author develops these themes through storytelling. Students identify themes, analyze the author's techniques, and communicate complex ideas effectively through audio. The final product is a fully produced podcast episode that showcases their analysis and audio production skills.

Literary AnalysisAudio ProductionTheme IdentificationPodcast ProductionStorytellingLiterary Devices

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as literary analysts and audio producers, create a podcast that explores and communicates the universal themes within a novel, demonstrating how the author develops these themes through storytelling?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

How do authors develop themes in literature?
What makes a theme universal?
How can we effectively communicate complex ideas through audio?
What is the role of storytelling in understanding themes?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Identify themes in a novel
Analyze how authors develop themes through storytelling
Communicate complex ideas effectively through audio production
Understand the role of storytelling in theme development

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Lost Podcast Episode

Students receive a mysterious audio file that sounds like a snippet from a popular podcast discussing the novel's themes, but it abruptly cuts off with a plea for help to analyze the rest of the book and complete the podcast episode. This kickstarts their curiosity and positions them as the experts needed to solve the thematic puzzle.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Theme Identification

Students will begin by identifying potential themes within the novel through close reading and group discussions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Read the assigned novel closely, paying attention to recurring ideas, symbols, and conflicts.

2. Participate in group discussions to brainstorm potential themes that emerge from the text.

3. For each potential theme, find at least three pieces of textual evidence (quotes, scene descriptions, etc.) that support its presence in the novel.

4. Compile a list of potential themes with their corresponding textual evidence.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA list of potential themes with supporting evidence from the text.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Identify themes in a novel

Activity 2

Theme Development Analysis

Students will analyze how the author uses various literary devices and narrative techniques to develop the identified themes.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Choose three significant themes from the identified list.

2. For each theme, identify specific literary devices (e.g., symbolism, foreshadowing, metaphor) and narrative techniques (e.g., character development, plot structure, point of view) that the author employs.

3. Analyze how these devices and techniques contribute to the development and understanding of each theme.

4. Write a detailed analysis for each theme, explaining the author's techniques and their impact on theme development.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed analysis of the author's techniques for developing themes, presented in a structured format.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goal: Analyze how authors develop themes through storytelling

Activity 3

Podcast Scriptwriting

Students will create a podcast script that effectively communicates their analysis of the novel's themes through engaging storytelling and audio elements.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Choose the themes you want to focus on in your podcast episode.

2. Develop an outline for your podcast episode, including an introduction, main segments, and conclusion.

3. Write the script for each segment, incorporating your analysis of the author's techniques and textual evidence.

4. Include creative elements such as sound effects, music, and character voices to enhance the storytelling and engage the audience.

5. Revise and refine your script based on feedback from peers and the teacher.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA complete podcast script, including narration, dialogue, sound effects, and music cues, that explores the chosen themes from the novel.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goals: Communicate complex ideas effectively through audio production; Understand the role of storytelling in theme development

Activity 4

Podcast Production

Students will record and edit their podcast episode, ensuring clear audio quality, engaging delivery, and effective communication of the novel's themes.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Record each segment of your podcast script, paying attention to clear enunciation, pacing, and tone.

2. Use audio editing software to edit your recordings, removing any errors or unnecessary pauses.

3. Incorporate sound effects, music, and other audio elements to enhance the listening experience.

4. Mix and master your audio to ensure consistent volume levels and overall sound quality.

5. Listen to your final product and make any necessary adjustments.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA fully produced podcast episode that explores the chosen themes from the novel, demonstrating effective audio production techniques and clear communication of complex ideas.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLearning Goals: Communicate complex ideas effectively through audio production; Analyze how authors develop themes through storytelling

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Podcast Theme Analysis Rubric

Category 1

Theme Identification

Focuses on the student's ability to identify and support potential themes within the novel using textual evidence.

Criterion 1

Theme Identification

Identification of potential themes within the novel, supported by textual evidence.

Exemplary

4 Points

Identifies multiple significant themes with compelling and specific textual evidence, demonstrating deep understanding of the novel's thematic complexity.

Proficient

3 Points

Identifies key themes and provides relevant textual evidence to support them, showing a good understanding of the novel's themes.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies some potential themes but provides limited or general textual evidence, indicating a basic understanding of the novel's themes.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to identify clear themes or provide relevant textual evidence, showing a minimal understanding of the novel's themes.

Category 2

Theme Development Analysis

Focuses on the student's ability to analyze the author's techniques in developing the novel's themes.

Criterion 1

Theme Development Analysis

Analysis of how the author employs literary devices and narrative techniques to develop the identified themes.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides insightful and nuanced analysis of how the author masterfully uses literary devices and narrative techniques to develop complex themes, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the author's craft.

Proficient

3 Points

Offers a thorough analysis of how the author uses literary devices and narrative techniques to develop themes, showing a clear understanding of the author's methods.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies some literary devices and narrative techniques used by the author but provides a superficial analysis of their impact on theme development, indicating a basic understanding.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to identify relevant literary devices or narrative techniques, or to analyze their impact on theme development, showing a minimal understanding of the author's craft.

Category 3

Podcast Scriptwriting

Focuses on the student's ability to write a podcast script that effectively communicates their analysis and engages the audience.

Criterion 1

Podcast Scriptwriting

Effectiveness of the podcast script in communicating complex ideas and engaging the audience through storytelling and audio elements.

Exemplary

4 Points

Crafts a compelling and creative podcast script that expertly communicates complex ideas through engaging storytelling, seamless integration of audio elements, and a clear understanding of the target audience.

Proficient

3 Points

Creates a well-structured podcast script that effectively communicates ideas through clear narration, appropriate audio elements, and a good understanding of storytelling techniques.

Developing

2 Points

Develops a basic podcast script that attempts to communicate ideas but lacks clarity, engagement, or effective use of audio elements, indicating a developing understanding of the medium.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to create a coherent podcast script that effectively communicates ideas or engages the audience, showing a minimal understanding of podcasting principles.

Category 4

Podcast Production

Focuses on the student's ability to produce a high-quality podcast episode that effectively communicates their analysis through audio.

Criterion 1

Podcast Production

Quality of audio production, including clarity, pacing, tone, and integration of sound effects and music.

Exemplary

4 Points

Produces a polished and professional-sounding podcast episode with exceptional audio clarity, engaging pacing, appropriate tone, and seamless integration of sound effects and music that enhances the storytelling.

Proficient

3 Points

Creates a well-produced podcast episode with clear audio, good pacing, suitable tone, and effective use of sound effects and music that supports the content.

Developing

2 Points

Produces a podcast episode with some audio issues, inconsistent pacing or tone, or limited use of sound effects and music, indicating a basic understanding of audio production techniques.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to produce a podcast episode with acceptable audio quality, appropriate pacing or tone, or effective use of sound effects and music, showing a minimal understanding of audio production.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

What was the most surprising thing you learned about theme development in literature while working on this podcast project?

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Question 2

If you could produce this podcast again, what is one thing you would do differently to improve the communication of the novel's themes?

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Question 3

How effective do you think the audio format was for exploring and explaining complex literary themes?

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Question 4

Which aspect of the podcast production process (scriptwriting, recording, editing, etc.) did you find most challenging, and what did you learn from overcoming that challenge?

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Question 5

How has this project changed your approach to identifying and analyzing themes in literature?

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