Voices of the Century

For the Journalism Course, GCE Seniors investigated the guiding question:

What’s the story of a voice, in 3-5 minutes?

Students were faced with the scenario:

WBEZ started an online Museum of Voices that mark the 21st century. The WBEZ producers put out a call for 3-5 minute podcasts that creatively tell how a specific voice of this century is impacting the lives of people. The voices may be of musicians, politicians, radio-personalities, etc, as long as they represent some aspect of the 21st century.

The podcasts focus on the following ideas:

a mini-biography of this voice

an interview with this voice (if possible)

a story of a person or people impacted by this voice

Click on the portraits to see the students’ work.

Alignment with Common Core ELA Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7
Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.11-12.1.B
Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant data and evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both claim(s) and counterclaims in a discipline-appropriate form that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.11-12.1.D
Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.11-12.1.E
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented.

WHST.11-12.2. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.

1. Introduce a topic and organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
2. Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.
3. Use varied transitions and sentence structures to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.
4. Use precise language, domain-specific vocabulary and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the complexity of the topic; convey a knowledgeable stance in a style that responds to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers.
5. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation provided (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).