The Creative Argument

Description
The Creative Argument will involve two parts:
Presentation of the Project @ 100 points
Written Rationale/Evaluation @ 100 points

The Creative Argument will focus on cross-curriculum learning and creative thinking. For this assignment, you will work on an argument of your choice. After doing the necessary research, analysis, and interpretation, you will not write a research paper; instead, you will choose one of the following methods to present your argument to the class.

• Visual arts: a painting or sculpture, a photographic essay, a series of relief prints, a quilt, needlework, costume or clothing design, an architectural design, a set design for a play, a comic strip, an advertisement or series of advertisements for a product.
• Performing arts: an original song or collection of original songs, a ballad, a dance recital, "performance art," an original dramatic monologue, an original play, an original video presentation.
• Language arts: a series of poems, a short story, a play.
• Technical arts: a website, a video documentary, a multi-media presentation

Students will be graded in four areas: Quality of Information (20 pnts); Quality of Presentation Mode (40 pnts); Creativity (20pnts) and Overall Effect (20pnts).

Each student will have 10 minutes to present their project to the class, and will sign up for a date and time near the end of the semester. Presentations will begin the week before Finals Week and will conclude during our scheduled final exam. If a student misses his or her presentation, he/she will fail the entire assignment. There will be no make-ups. Students will be responsible for making sure all necesary equipment for presentation is available on the day they present. If you have special needs please see me as soon as possible. Students will be responsible for learning any new software programs necessary to create their presentation, for securing all equipment necessary to produce their final project, and for generating any supporting materials for the presentation (handouts, samples, overheads, etc).

The Written Rationale/Evaluation
Students will turn in a report that includes the following:

I. Summary: (including an outline, thesis statement, and bibliography. (2 pages).

II. Historical Overview: provides an overview of how others have used this medium to convey their messages (2 pages). All references to other artists/writers and their work must be documented appropriately following MLA standards.

III. Self-Analysis: analyzes your project—the meanings within the work, the significance of its composition, explanations of any symbols (visual, auditory, or other), and the hoped-for effect you want your work to have on your audience, and discusses your experiences in general with the project. (2 pages)

Your written rationale must follow these guidelines:
Typed, DS, 6 pages
The page layout must follow MLA guidelines.
You must type a title page.
Your "Works Cited" must include complete citations for all works that you mention in the first portion of this paper.
All material that is borrowed from sources—whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized—must be documented appropriately following MLA guidelines. You must use parenthetical references rather than footnotes or endnotes.

Due Dates
See Schedule for specific due dates.

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