Using Non-Print

Media in the
Writing Classroom
Jacob Greene
What is “non-print media?”

● Digital and/or multimedia (videos, podcasts, films, websites, etc.)

● Other non-print sources like paintings or musical compositions

● You can have students analyze and/or create non-print texts

● General examples:

○ YouTube videos

○ Podcast series/episodes

○ Website
Why use non-print media?

● Student familiarity

● Good for less confident writers

● Skills are transferrable to print assignments (e.g. audience awareness, crafting introductions,
writing concisely, identifying rhetorical concepts, etc.)

● It’s fun!
Using non-print media for in-class activities

Primary goal is to teach writing. Identify learning outcome before choosing media or creating lesson. I
like to have students analyze AND create through non-print media.

Example learning outcome: Students will learn how to craft concise and engaging introductions.

Resource: Transom.org (“On your mark. Get set. Start your story.”)

Example lesson: Students will analyze podcasts in groups and identify different types of introduction
(e.g. anecdote, overarching question, etc.). Then, students will use one of these structures to rewrite
their essay introductions as 60-second script for a podcast intro.
Using non-print media for assignments

Be sure that project still fulfills major assignment objectives and teaches the genre (e.g. writing a
proposal, evaluating an argument, etc.). You can also combine in-class activity with major assignments
(e.g. create a 60 second VideoScribe commercial for your proposal assignment and present in class).

Example 1: Create a 1200 word podcast where you analyze the argument of a print-based text.
Students will learn how to 1) evaluate print arguments, and 2) compose an evaluation in writing.

Example 2: Create your proposal assignment as a website with links to multimedia resources and
embedded videos.
Example projects

● Podcast series on ADHD

● Location-based audio tour of campus sculptures

● Video rhetorical analysis of online argument

Resources for working with non-print media

● Transom.org (HowSound podcast)

● Journal of Interactive Technology & Pedagogy “Tool Tips”

● Kairos PraxisWiki

● Grassroots Writing Research “classroom tools”

● Teaching College English blog

● Writing Spaces
Brainstorm

How would you use non-print media to teach one of the following learning outcomes for a first year
writing course? Work in pairs to come up with a basic lesson idea. Feel free to create the lesson for a
learning outcome not listed here:

● Writing concisely

● Crafting a thesis statement

● Setting up a problem (for proposal assignment)

● Spotting logical fallacies

● Evaluating potential sources