EL6062 - Audio Storytelling

You will learn through weekly three-hour workshop-style seminars, individual tutorials, and independent learning. The first five weeks of seminars will introduce you to a wide range of podcast styles and approaches to the medium. You will also be introduced to relevant critical materials, which might include creators’ self-reflections and theoretical writings. You will discuss and analyse these examples in order to develop your understanding, and carry out writing activities in order to produce your own work which turns research into scripted narrative. After enhancement week you will spend three weeks learning studio techniques, supported by specialist staff from New Writing North, before returning to the classroom to workshop your episodes-in-development.

At Level 6 the main impetus of your work must come from you: independent writing and study will form the main learning activity, and you must conceive, plan and drive forward your own writing project for this module. It is your opportunity to design and execute your own piece of scripted audio content, putting into practice the techniques you have acquired on the degree so far. Your independent learning will be focused on reading and on producing, recording and editing your own piece of writing for audio which engages with the examples explored on the course. Tutorials will enable you to gain one-to-one tutor feedback and to talk to your tutor about the development of your work.

Your learning will be academically supported by peer and tutor feedback on your work within seminars and workshops. We will help you engage with a range of podcast styles and provide exercises to help you produce your own piece of scripted/narrative audio content. Your tutor will support the development and realisation of your work towards the assessment, and provide one-to-one tutorial support.

The module handbook provides details of seminars, reading lists and assessment criteria; lecture PowerPoint slides are made available on the e-learning platform, together with links to relevant skills materials in the library.
The module tutor is available in seminars, as well as during office hours, to discuss any queries or concerns you have.
You are advised to see your Guidance Tutor at least twice each semester to review your academic progress. The Guidance Booklet, which you receive at the start of your first year, includes structured materials designed to help you develop your self-reflection skills. These materials underpin the academic side of the regular Guidance meetings, helping you to learn how to best use the feedback you receive on your assignments, how to build on your strengths, and improve in the areas where you could perform better.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of narrative approaches in the audio medium
• Develop a practical awareness of the basic techniques of audio production and editing

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Produce an effective piece of scripted audio content
• Situate your work within the contemporary podcasting landscape and its traditions

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• Reflect critically on work of self and others

Formative feedback is offered in individual 15 – 20 minute tutorials as well as through feedback in seminars and written feedback on draft materials. MLO 1, 2, 5

Summative
Assessment 1 (30% summative):

A critical report on a single podcast episode of your choice, analysing the choices made by the creator(s) in their presentation of the material. (500 words)

MLO 1, 5
Assessment 2 (70% summative):
A ten-minute episode of scripted/narrative audio content – submitted as an audio file and as the text script – accompanied by a 500-word commentary contextualising your work within the podcasting landscape as discussed on the course.
MLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Feedback will be provided using the Departmental template and comments on the script.

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Over the past two decades, podcasts have become a central part of the media landscape, particularly for younger audiences. They are relatively easy to make and distribute with limited resources, but making an engaging scripted podcast requires a range of skills, which might include journalistic interviewing, audio editing, archival research, and the writerly techniques of creative non-fiction. On this module, by working in collaboration with New Writing North’s team and the Sounds Good Audiobooks project, you will have the unique opportunity to develop creative, critical, and production skills through dedicated industry input. You will learn to deconstruct individual podcast episodes from established and emerging creators, and you will produce a short scripted episode of your own which could serve as a calling card for your own creative voice and research interests.