Spring 2004 English I & II

Prof. Gregory

My American Life Journal

During this semester, each of you will be telling a story about yourself and your experiences in America. You will do five projects. Each project will focus on a different topic. The projects will follow these steps:

1. You will use a digital still camera to take pictures that relate to the topic of the project.
2. You will create a story about the pictures you have taken.
3. You will share that story and your pictures with a Willamette friend.
4. Your Willamette friend will give you advice on how to improve your story. For example, she/he will help you with correct grammar and pronunciation.
5. After you have talked with your Willamette friend, you will use a handheld cassette tape recorder to record yourself telling your story.
6. When your recording is finished, you will download the pictures to a computer and save them there.
7. You will also turn in your recorded stories to me. I will digitize your recording and give it back to you on a CD.
8. When you get your CD from me, you will put your recorded stories on the computer in the same place you have stored your pictures.
9. When all five projects are completed, you will combine the pictures and recordings into a movie, using the iMovie software in the Kaneko Multimedia Center.
10. On Friday, May 7^th, you will share your movies with the class.

The technology assistants in the Kaneko Multimedia Center will help you learn how to use the computers and the software that you need to do this project.

The tentative dates of this project are listed on the back page:

	Date Assigned	Date Due
American Life Journal #1 – My New Home Take at least 6 pictures (could be more) of your new home at Willamette. You can choose any pictures you want. You could take pictures of your dorm, your dorm room, favorite places on campus, etc. Then, create a short story describing these places: what they are, where they are and why you like them. Write down your story so you can remember it. Practice reading your story out loud several times. Then, find a Willamette friend or one of our class tutors. Read your story to her or him. Ask your Willamette friend to correct your pronunciation and grammar. Read your story out loud to your Willamette friends a few times. Make sure you make the corrections suggested by your friend on your written copy. Later, use the handheld tape recorder to record the final, corrected version of your story. Find a quiet place to make your recording. Speak directly into the microphone on the recorder. Hold the recorder close to your mouth when you speak. Listen to your recording and make sure it is clear and easy to hear. Turn in your tape recording on the due date (3/1). Get help from the KMC to download your pictures from the camera onto your H drive. Turn in the camera to Prof. Gregory	Mon. 2/23	Mon. 3/1
American Life Journal #2	Mon. 3/1	Mon. 3/8
American Life Journal #3	Mon. 3/15	Mon. 3/29
American Life Journal #4	Mon. 4/5	Mon. 4/12
American Life Journal #5	Mon. 4/19	Mon. 4/26
iMovie Finished Movie	Movies due by Friday, May 7^th.