podcasts

Year 9 English, Waverley Christian College,

2022
 What is a podcast?

Podcasts are like audio blogs that cater to all kinds of

different interests. Podcasts can span a huge range of

genres: celebrity interviews, true crime stories, recent news,

fictional storytelling, politics, business, personal advice, and

the list goes on. There are even podcasts about podcasts!

The most essential elements of a podcast are pretty simple;

you just need something to say, and something to record

with. Some features and conventions of podcasts are:

 Varying lengths, but usually not longer than an hour

 Recorded as part of a series or season

 Recognisable intro music and background music

 Sound effects to help break up different segments

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Podcast Structure

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 The Prompt
The prompt for your podcast will be:

Recount an experience you had in your childhood or adolescent years

and reflect upon how it helped to shape the person you are today.

Some things you might talk about could be a cultural experience, a

joyful time, a challenging time or a discovery about yourself or the

world.

Use this space to brainstorm ideas for your podcast:

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 Waverley Christian College
Year 9 English, 2022
Podcast Task Outline

Purpose:
Students will build upon their developing understanding of the concept of ‘growing up’, in the many
ways that our experiences and surroundings can influence who we become. In this task, students will
recount an experience that has influenced the person they are today.

Description:
Using your knowledge of the podcast format, and your understanding of how your experiences and
relationships can impact the person you grow to be, you will create a podcast. This podcast episode
will focus on you, and will be centred on the following prompt:

Recount an experience you had in your childhood or adolescent years and reflect upon
how it helped to shape the person you are today.

You may work in pairs/groups to create a ‘conversational’ podcast, where you both discuss your
responses to the prompt, or you may work individually and share your own story.

You will need to record yourself, and include the following elements of ‘production’:
- Sound effects (for transitions or impact)
- Intro and background music
- An opening, welcome, body, and closing segment

You may use any device to record yourself (consider what device will give you a higher quality
sound). The final product will need to be submitted on SEQTA as an audio file.

Although regular podcasts often go for over thirty minutes, your own podcast will need to be at 3-5
minutes long (or at least 3 minutes per speaker)

Conditions:
Length: 3 minutes (per speaker)
Statement of Intention: 300 words
SEQTA submission
Weight: %

Final Submission Due:

Waverley Christian College
Year 9 English, 2022
Podcast Task Rubric

4
 Very Low Low Medium High Very High
Irrelevant or Somewhat engaging, Provides a response Engaging Catchy and clever
inappropriate response does not to the prompt and introduction. introduction.
Introduction

response to prompt., fully consider the engages the Provides relevant Provides relevant
that does not engage prompt. audience as the response to prompt response to prompt
listener. Does not introduction and establishes a establishes a clear
include an intro, or proceeds. clear purpose. purpose engaging
the purpose is vague the listener
and unclear. immediately.
Discussion is not Some elements of Discussion is Discussion is Creativity and
relevant or discussion are relevant to the thoughtful and original content
responsive to the relevant but are brief prompt. Stays on relevant. Stays on enhance the purpose
prompt. Does not or long-winded. topic with a brief topic, and conclusion of the podcast in an
stay on topic. No Occasionally strays conclusion. wraps up the innovative way.
Content

clear closing from the topic. podcast effectively. Keeps focus on the
statement is Conclusion vaguely topic. Conclusion
provided. summarizes wraps up podcast
discussion. thoughtfully with a
clear message.

Delivery is hesitant, Appears Rehearsed, smooth Rehearsed, smooth Well-rehearsed,

and choppy and unrehearsed with delivery. and thoughtful smooth delivery in a
sounds like the uneven delivery. Enunciation, delivery. conversational style.
Delivery

presenter is reading. Enunciation, expression, and Enunciation, Highly effective

Enunciation of expression, pacing is pacing is effective. expression, pacing is enunciation,
spoken word is not sometimes effective and expression, and
clearly expressed. distracting engaging. rhythm keep the
audience listening.
Transitions are Transitions are Music and effects Voice, music, and Voice, music, and
abrupt and uneven with are used but could effects are used well. effects enhance and
background noise inconsistent spacing; be used more Podcast length keeps improve the
Production

needs to be filtered. ambient noise is thoughtfully. Podcast audience listening. presentation.

Volume changes are present. Volume is length Podcast length keeps
highly distracting. occasionally the audience
Podcast is either too inconsistent. Podcast interested and
long or too short to length is too engaged.
keep the audience long/short.
engaged.

Comments:

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Grade: /20 Waverley Christian College
Year 9 English, 2022
Podcast – Statement of Intention

5
Statement of Intention:
Your Statement of Intention should explain the choices you have made in putting together
this podcast. Use the following questions as a basis for writing it.
1. How have you used the production of your podcast (e.g., sounds, transitions, etc.) to
create an engaging listening experience?
2. Who is your intended audience?
3. What is your purpose in creating the podcast? I.e., what big ideas and values do you
want to convey about growing up?
4. How have you drawn ideas about growing up from The Happiest Refugee?
5. (Optional) How have you drawn ideas from supplementary texts?

Very Low Low Medium High Very High

Limited articulation Basic articulation of Sound articulation Thorough Insightful
of intention behind intention behind of intention behind articulation of articulation of
choices (use of choices (use of choices (use of intention behind intention behind
voice, intonation, voice, intonation, voice, intonation, choices (use of choices (use of
production, etc.), production, etc.), production, etc.), voice, intonation, voice, intonation,
demonstrating demonstrating some demonstrating solid production, etc.), production, etc.),
minimal understanding of understanding of demonstrating clear demonstrating
understanding of purpose and purpose and understanding of complex
purpose and audience. Limited audience. Vague purpose and understanding of
audience. No connections made connections made audience. Clear purpose and
connections made with The Happiest with The Happiest connections made audience.
with The Happiest Refugee. Refugee. with The Happiest Thoughtful and
Refugee. Refugee. sophisticated
connections made
with The Happiest
Refugee.