This assignment has two parts. Complete both parts. You can expect the entire assignment to take you a total of one hour.
Review the questions below before you listen to the following stories, because you will do some writing afterwards. You should also be prepared to discuss your reflections in class on Thursday.
A note on listening assignments: Listening is something you can do while doing other tasks (cooking, washing dishes, folding clothes, driving, walking), as long as you can remain focused on the story. That said, you should try not to engage in distracting and/or digital tasks (social media, talking on the phone, writing, watching TV) while you listen to assigned audio stories.
Part One:
Listen to all four of the following short audio stories. Pay attention to the ways these stories are told, whose voices you hear, the other kinds of sounds you hear, the use of music, the use of silence, the pacing, and the way each story makes you feel.
Regrets, I've Had a Few (Links to an external site.) (only listen to the prologue - first 13 minutes)
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/541/regrets-ive-had-a-few?act=0#play
Father and Son (Links to an external site.)
https://soundcloud.com/fallingtreeproductions/father-and-son
Moms in Prison (Links to an external site.)
https://snapjudgment.org/moms-prison
Mom vs Tornado (Links to an external site.)
https://snapjudgment.org/mom-vs-tornado
Part Two:
Write brief reflections on the following questions. I expect at least 2 - 4 sentences of writing per question. This is a college writing assignment; please write in complete sentences and use correct punctuation and grammar.
1) Describe major differences between the way these four stories are told. Think about who tells each story (narrator, people in the story), from what perspective (first person, disconnected voice, multiple voices), and what kinds of sounds they include (environmental, music, sound effects). In your answers, refer to specific examples from the each story.
2) What do you notice about the way music is used in these stories? What is happening when music starts and when it stops? What do you think the producers are trying to accomplish with their use of music? Use specific examples from these stories.
3) Think about the endings in these stories. What are the storytellers / producers trying to accomplish in the ways that they end their stories? How do the endings make you feel and why do they make you feel that way?
4) Which story resonates the most with you? Why do you think that is? What aspects of that story stand out to you?