Ms. West and Ms.

Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 1

Name_______________________________________ English 7-_________

Mystery Group Podcast Project:

Old Time Radio Crime Fiction Program
(Crime Fiction Unit Assessment)

Project (Test Grade):

You and your Mystery Group partners will create an Old Time Radio Crime
Fiction programin the likes of Suspense or The Shadow, and so many other
Crime Fiction programs that entertained people before television. First, your group
will write an original script for the program. Then your group will record the
script (using ONLY the school Garage Band), edit the script (and include
appropriate sound effects), and present the program to the class. You will work
inside and outside of class on this project. It is important that you do your part and
that your group turns in each part of the assignment on time. Remember your
group commitment! If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact your
group and complete any make-up work. What you do individually impacts your
overall group. Be sure you are in contact with each group member throughout this
project.
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 2

Project Calendar

Date In-Class Podcast Homework

(As usual, you will also have other
homework to complete, such as studying
for quizzes and working on Semester 2
IR.)
Monday, April Old Time Radio Listening assignment due. Study for HoB Quiz.
3rd
Final HoB Discussion.

Block Day, The Hound of the Baskervilles Quiz Each individual writes down clear
April 4-5 thoughts and ideas for the groups story.
Mystery Group Podcast Project Introduction.
Groups discuss OTR Listening assignment notes
and reflections. Groups brainstorm ideas for
mystery program.

Thursday, Groups discuss each members story ideas, decide Work on script.
April 6th on an official storyline, and complete the Style
Chart and Plot Journey pages. Groups assign parts
of the script for each member to write based on
the completed Style Chart and Plot Journey
sections. Overall Podcast Idea/Approval Due
by the end of class.

Friday, April Work on script. Work on script.

7th
Monday, April Introduction of Garage Band (How to Create Complete typed scriptdue the
10th Folder and Record Voices). beginning of next classprinted and
ready to compile with group. You must
Work on script. bring in a copy of your portion of the
script for each member of your group.

Block Day, First 5 minutes to compile scripts, so that each Practice script.
April 11-12 member has a fully compiled draft.

Any reminders/additional information on Folders

and Recording Voices in Garage Band.

Do a practice read through of the script.

Thursday, Vocabulary Workshop Unit 5 Quiz No HW Weekend.

April 13th
Read through script. Begin recording script. Save!

Monday, April Record script. Save! Practice script and revise any parts of the
17th script your group has deemed necessary to
change.
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 3

Block Day, Introduction of Editing, Sound Effects, and Music Work on Mystery Podcast (including any
April 18-19 in Garage Band. Begin editing program (including script changes).
music and sound effects).

Finish recording script, if necessary. Save!

Begin edits.

Thursday, Any reminders/additional information of Editing, Work on Mystery Podcast (including any
April 20th Sound Effects, and Music in Garage Band. script changes).

Continue editing program (including music and

sound effects).

Friday, April Work on editing program (including music and Work on Mystery Podcast (including any
21st sound effects). script changes).

Monday, Typed Final Script due by the end of class to

April 24th your teacher (already printed and properly
compiled with all necessary information). -----

Final edits (including music and sound effects).

Completed Garage Band program due before
the end of class.

Block Day, Crime Fiction Podcast Presentations (listening

April 25-26 to Crime Fiction podcasts) ------
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 4

Overall
You and your Crime Fiction Group must create a 10-15-minute script that involves some type
of Crime Fiction storyit could be Mystery Fiction or Detective Fictionyour group must
decide.

Part 1: Plot Journey and Style

Before writing the script, your group must agree on characters, Crime Fiction details, and the
storys plot. In order to do so, your group will first brainstorm ideas using the knowledge
you gained from your OTR Listening assignment (see Brainstorm page to jot down ideas). Then
your group must complete the Style Chart and the Plot Journey Chart. Each group member must
fill out the agreed upon information on his/her own charts. The group, as a whole, must also turn
in a separate, clean copy of each of these charts on the day the scripts final draft is due.

Part 2: Writing the Script

1. After your group completes the Style Chart and the Plot Journey Chart, each person in
the group must write and type 2-3 pages of the script. Because each person is writing
a section of the script, it is essential that you have clearly developed your story and
characters as a whole group before each individual writes his or her portion of the script
in order to have a clear, cohesive flow of the plot and character development. Use the
Plot Journey Chart to develop your scripts story and to help determine who will write
what section of the script. You are not allowed to write/type other group members
script portions. Type and save everything on your Office 365.

2. Use the overall Old Time Radio program story formulayour story must have the
following:
A narrator
A short commercial for a fictional product (no more than 30 seconds in length)
A clearly and fully developed Crime Fiction story. Your story may not be a
cliffhanger.

3. Remember that your audience cannot see you, so what you say, how you say it, and what
you have as sound effects and music will all be extremely important. Therefore, you need
to include how a character should say something as part of the script. Also, remember to
include notes on types of sound effects and music throughout your script. Use brackets to
show these character expressions, effects, and music notes. (See example script.)

4. This assignment is creative writing, so you may use any person (first, second, and third),
school appropriate wording/slang/colloquialisms, and any appropriate tense. If in doubt
about whether or not a word will be appropriate to use, ask your teacher!

5. Use your OneDrive account so you may access your work in school and at home.
However, do not compile and converge each persons portion of the script into one big
document. Your teacher needs to see the individual efforts of your group contributions.
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 5

Use Times New Roman/12, or one inch margins, and single spaced with paragraphs in
chart form. See the example script with how to format your script and type voice actions,
music, and sound effect details in brackets.

Be sure you have divided the parts equally. You might have to play more than one role.
For each of your individually written/typed script pages, your own first and last name
along with the correct chronological page number for where it falls in the overall script
should appear in the upper right hand header.

6. On the Final Podcast due date (see calendar), your group will turn in one clean, updated
typed Final Draft Script to your teacher. The Final Draft Script should be stapled
together in the following order:
A typed, cover page with your groups name (Mystery Group #), group
members full names, period number, and program title all centered on the front.
A clean, completed copy of the Style Chart
A clean, completed copy of the Plot Journey Chart
A character list page that should include which actor (group member) is
playing each character
The rest of the pages should be the script itself with correctly numbered pages.
Even though you have a separate character page, remember that each actors
name should appear in parentheses next to their character within the script. (See
example script.)

Podcast Directions
Remember, your audience cannot see you. Therefore, how you say the lines is just as important
as what you say. This mystery radio program is a form of entertainment and you do not want
your audience to be bored! So, you will act with your voice. If you make a mistake while
recording, pause briefly and pick it back up. Remember, you will edit this script to make it one
nice, clean, flowing program.

While editing, you must incorporate appropriate music and sound effects. Our amazing
librarians will show you how and have included an editing video to help you. You want your
program to be creative, interesting, entertaining, and suspenseful.

Have fun, but take the assignment seriously. Remember, this assignment is a Test
grade. Also remember, you have specific, set deadlines. Therefore, you and your
group must remain focused and on task throughout each step of this assignment
and complete each nights homework as directed!
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 6

Brainstorm:

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 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 7

Mystery Group Number _______________ English 7-___________

Group Members
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Plot Journey Chart

Plot Journey Sections Information

Exposition

Rising Action,

Complications, and

Conflict

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

(Solution)
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 8

Mystery Group Number _______________ English 7-___________

Group Members
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Style Chart

Element Information

Subgenre

Sub-subgenre

Protagonist

Antagonist

Investigator

Foil

Commercial Product

Crime Type

Victim

Suspects

Witness(es)

Method

Culprit

Motive

Red Herrings
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 9

Script Example

Delroy Cartwright 1

Narrator Welcome to another exciting episode of [pause; dramatic music] Turtle Mystery Theater!
(Camille): Todays episode will have you holding on to your seatswith fear, terror, andTURTLE
FEVER![dramatic music]

But what does every turtle need to help him through a rainy day? [rain and thunder sounds] Why
a strong, water resistant covering, of course! And not only do turtles need such coverings on
these rainy days, but so do humans. Thats why we recommend [pause] Rainfords Ultimate
Shell, the durable umbrella for the ultimate rain experience. Rainfords Ultimate Shell will keep
the water off of your head and withstand any type of wind! Buy one today! Thats Rainfords
Ultimate Shell. The umbrella for the ultimate protection.[pause]

Now we begin todays terrifying tale on.. Turtle Mystery Theater! [program music]

Ellen (Liza): [cooking sounds] What would you like for breakfast this morning, dear? I started to make eggs,
but then I thought, wouldnt it be nice to have pancakes? What do you think, dear? Hmmm?
What do you think?

Charles (Delroy): [in an annoyed voice; newspaper rustling] What? It doesnt matter, Ellen? Anything. Anything.

Ellen (Liza): [whining, but attempting to be playful] But Charles, dear, what do you want?You know I will fix
you whatever you want. Do you want eggs? Do you want pancakes? How about French Toast?
Hmmm, my sweet? Hmmm? What do you want for breakfast? [pots and pans sounds]

Charles (Delroy): [annoyed, trying to contain anger] It doesnt matter, Ellen. Ive told you this before, it

Ellen (Liza): [interrupting] But Charles, it does matter! Now, I could use the eggs to make you an omelet.
How does that sound? [as if speaking to a baby] Hmmm, Charlesy-Warsley? Do you want an
omelet?

Charles (Delroy): [trying to contain anger] Fine! Im going to my study. Call me when its ready. [chair moving]

Ellen (Liza): Okay, Sweetums!

---- [footsteps, door opening then closing, chair sound]

Charles (Delroy): [quietly, yet clearly angry] Like a child. Like an infant child! Thats how my own wife treats
me. How much more of this can I take? How much longer? How [phone rings]

Ellens voice from Will you get that Charles, dear?

a distance (Liza):

Charles (Delroy): [yells] Yes, my love! [mumbles angrily to himself] Of course, I will get it Ellen, dear! [deep
breath] Hello? Grant residence. Charles speaking.

Bill (Sam): Hey, Charles, my man! Its Bill. Are we still on for golf today?
 Ms. West and Ms. Elliott 2017 Podcast Project 10

Crime Fiction Radio Podcast Grade Sheet

Elements Required Information for each Element Total Points
for each
Element
Overall Group Typed, completed, and turned in on time
Script/Story Organized in correct order with all necessary pages as
instructed
Actors and parts clearly marked on character list page and each
page of script
Story line clearly belongs to Detective Fiction or Mystery
Fiction
Story has a cohesive/flowing plot line that clearly follows Plot 30
Journey format
Story has a program name and a narrator with other distinctive
characters and actions throughout
School appropriate wording throughout

Individual Script Pages Typed, completed, and turned in on time

2-3 pages
Proper script format, as instructed
Individuals first and last name with correct page number in
upper right hand portion of each page 20
Well-written with proper punctuation and script format

Plot Journey Chart Completed, neat, legible, and turned in on time

5
Style Chart Completed, neat, legible, and turned in on time
5
Commercial At least one
Unique, made-up but realistic product
Flows as part of the story programing 10
Sound Effects and Music Enhance the realism of the story
Include music and noise effects that move the story further
along throughout the plot 10

Creativity/Entertainment Voice Work reveals clear and appropriate character emotion,

reaction, and action throughout the program
Overall program keeps listeners attention and interest 20
and the story flows well throughout as a cohesive audio story

Overall Grade
(Counts as a Test) -------
100