Questions for Justin (Darius Stewart)

I really like how this assignment calls the "podcast" an audio essay and seems like a wonderful and challenging alternative to the usual analytical essay. I wonder, though, for what type of class would this be an ideal project? It seems to me that because of the highly communicative nature of the assignment, it would best suit those students majoring in a field that requires this kind of interaction--mass communications and journalism are two that come immediately to mind. I worry about how this would go over in a general education course where the student mix includes some very shy students (those who rarely participate in class discussions) who would be petrified at the thought of engaging in a recorded conversation with their peers, let alone having to interview strangers. So, for whom would you recommend this assignment? And, if one were to use this in a gen ed classroom, how would you recommend encouraging students who might not be comfortable fulfilling the requirements of the assignment?

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