My Story (150 points) Due: 10/3 by midnight on BB

Skills: Using theoretical insights and technical skills gained in this course, you will compose
digital story about a place meaningful to you.

Learning Objectives:
Identify and apply the elements of professional digital storytelling
Distinguish how digital stories circulate and their impact on cultures and communities
Produce high-quality audio and video stories designed to engage various audiences
Compare and contrast the benefits and constraints of audio/video stories and differentiate which
method to use for different digital stories
Goals: This assignment requires you to think about the connections people have to place(s) through
the lens of your own experiences. After considering a particular place and story, you should begin
capturing/collecting the pieces of media you will need to create an engaging, emotional digital story.
Remember, your story can be serious, funny, dramatic, etc., it should work to elicit an emotional
reaction in your audience. Through completion of this assignment, you should understand how to come
up with a story idea and compose your story using audio/visual elements.
Requirements:

1.) Complete the planning worksheet (attached below) for this assignment.
2.) Complete a storyboard/shot list. For assistance with storyboards, see the Resources page
on course website for information on storyboards.
3.) Complete a 4-5 page reflection that cites at least 5 theories or theorists we discussed in
the readings.
4.) Work to draft, edit, and compose an audio or video story that communicates a connection
to a place(s).
5.) Upload your completed story to YouTube and turn in your storyboard and reflection and
the YouTube link on BB by midnight on 10/3.

Grading Criteria:
___ Story Quality (40 points)
- The story is appropriate given the project parameters.
- The digitals images, video, and audio/text work together to tell a cohesive story.
- The story isnt generic you speak in specifics.
- The story has the quality of accessibility, it is identifiable and specific.
- The story shows rather than tells.
- The story appropriately connects to the goals and parameters of the assignment (see
above).
- The story addresses an appropriate audience.
___ Video/Image Quality (25 points)
- The video/images are edited appropriately to reflect the story told.
- The video/images work in conjunction with audio/text to tell the story.
- The video/images represent the story; in other words, they are not flashy for the sake of
being flashy.
- Video/images are cleanly edited and professional.
- Transitions are appropriate.
- Video/Images are cited appropriately in the digital story.
___Audio (25 points)
 - The story includes appropriate audio that works in conjunction with video and imagery.
- Audio elements enhance the video/images to tell a story, neither detracts from the
other.
- Audio is cleanly edited and professional.
- Transitions are appropriate.
- Audio elements are cited correctly in the digital story.
___Reflection Paper (40 points)
- The reflection paper is 4-5 pages in length.
- The reflection paper cites at least 5 appropriate theories/theorists we discussed/read
about for class.
- The reflection paper considers the story-making process and shows that the student has
grasped the necessary technical and theoretical concepts necessary to be proficient in
digital storytelling.
- The reflection paper includes proper citation of sources and a Works Cited page.
___ Planning Worksheet (20 points) (Due Tuesday, 9/12 via BB)
- The planning worksheet was completed and thorough.

Comments:
 My Story Planning Worksheet

Directions: Complete the following sections designed to help you prepare for the My Story
assignment. DUE Tuesday 9/12 on BB.

Section One: Jot down any places that are meaningful to you in the space below. Next to each
place, write down one word that you associate with that place. For example, Youngstown
home.

Section Two: Pick two of the places you identified above and in the space below, write down 2-
3 sentences about how that place makes you feel. Try to remember the sights, sounds, smells,
and any other sensory experiences you remember from this place.

Section Three: Narrow down the two places you identified above to one. Write one paragraph
250-300 words below about why this place is meaningful to you. Then work to articulate any
stories associated with this place. In other words, identify the philosophical/meaningful portion
of your story and the anecdote (story) you will use to illustrate the emotion or larger point of the
story.
Section Four: Write down the digital media artifacts you will need to illustrate your story. For
example, you might create a shot/sound list here. Use this list to guide you as you collect the
pieces you will need to edit your story. i.e. Picture of steel mill, timelapse sunset, etc.