Up Next in ENGL 1500/2500

For the November “Up Next in ENGL 1500/2500,” ISUComm Redesign Institute Fellows Ali Ebrahimpourlighvani and Kristen Neumann have composed lesson plans using Writer/Designer as a basis for new approaches to the multimodal design projects of the courses. Writer/Designer’s concentration on the intersections of the written language with other forms of communication are invaluable to the later units of ENGL 1500/2500, and the two following exercises utilize ideas from the text in informative and innovative ways.

Kristen Neumann’s activity, “AI Consultation,” asks students to brainstorm potential multimodal design elements (including information, visuals, and audience engagement), then use AI to help develop ideas further through prompt generation. Neumann’s activity largely focuses on the Writer/Designer idea of the feedback loop, “a method for checking your work with your stakeholders […] This process is rarely linear and is often referred to as a loop. That is, you share your project, receive feedback, make revisions and move forward, and then receive more feedback, continuing on until you and/or the stakeholders (ideally both!) are satisfied” (Writer/Designer, 104).

AI Consultation

Objective: Describe potential multimodal argument pieces to convey an argument and use AI as a consultant to refine project ideas, focusing on audience engagement and effective communication. 

1. First AI Prompt: I’d like to create a multimodal argument about _______________. Can you act as my marketing consultant and ask me questions about my project?
   1. Copy + paste  AI response below. THEN, in this document, briefly answer each of the questions it asked you. 
2. Project Proposal: Write a brief proposal that: 
   1. Describes your argument 
   2. The multimodal element you plan to use
   3. Your intended audience
   4. Any other relevant points from the AI generator questions
3. AI Consultation: Then, copy and paste these things into a generator with the following prompts: 
   1. Audience: How well does my project address and engage my intended audience? 
      1. Copy + paste  AI response here: 
   2. Content: Are the multimodal elements effectively supporting my argument? What are some things I should be thinking about with my multimodal elements? 
      1. Copy  + paste  AI response here:
   3. Clarity: Is my argument clear and compelling? What are things I could do to strengthen my argument? 
      1. Copy + past AI response here:
4. Reflection: How did the AI consultation influence your approach to creating this multimodal argument? Consider the following: 
   1. How did you incorporate the AI’s feedback into the project? 
   2. Did the consultation prompt you to think differently about your audience, content, or presentation? If yes, how so? 
   3. What are the limitations and benefits of using AI as a consultant? How did these impact your project development? 

Ali Ebrahimpourlighvani’s activity, “Project Design Challenge,” asks students to split into groups and quickly design a multimodal document together. After a set amount of time, the documents are then assigned to another group to redesign, using their own interpretations and understandings of style to create something new. The groups then come back together and present their redesigned documents to each other. Ebrahimpourlighvani’s activity largely engages with ideas presented in Chapter 5 of Writer/Designer, “How Do You Design and Revise with Multiple Audiences,” focusing on audience awareness and how collaboration can change perspectives on a document or design.

Project Design Challenge

1. Round 1 – Project Creation (5 minutes):
   Each group will receive instructions to create a project. Based on these guidelines, your team should design a unique version of the project, focusing on creativity, clarity, and organization. You’ll have 10 minutes to complete your initial design.
2. Round 2 – Project Redesign (20 minutes):
   Once the initial projects are complete, each group’s project will be assigned randomly to a different group. Your task is to interpret the original project and redesign it according to your understanding and style. Take this opportunity to refine or add new elements that might enhance the project’s effectiveness.
3. Showcase & Comparison (15 minutes):
   At the end of the redesign, all projects will be presented to the class. Each group will discuss the changes they made, and we’ll compare the original and redesigned versions. Reflect on how each interpretation varied and discuss insights into the design choices.

Instructions for the Activity

Part 1

1. Form Groups: Students will form groups of four.
2. Brainstorm Project Components (10 minutes):
3. Create a Google docs but you don’t need to share within your group. This is for writing the project components that in part 2 you will assign it to one of the groups to complete.
   • Choose a Theme: Decide on a central theme for your project. Some examples include sports, education, weddings, travel, health, or any topic of interest.
   • Select a Key Object: Choose an object related to your theme. This object will appear in the project visually or narratively. For example:
     • If the theme is sports, your object might be boxing gloves.
     • If the theme is weddings, the object could be a bouquet.
     • If the theme is education, the object might be a notebook or laptop.
   • Choose a Color Scheme: Decide on colors that represent or enhance your theme’s mood. Think about how the colors will contribute to the project’s message.
   • Determine the Story/Message: Establish the purpose or story behind your project. Examples could be:
     • A guide on wedding costs.
     • A narrative on how to achieve academic success.
     • Tips on balancing work and personal life.
   • Select the Genre: Decide on the genre that will shape the project’s tone. Will it be a comedy, thriller, documentary, or drama?
   • Suggest Tools and Resources: Think of tools or strategies you would recommend for completing the project. Suggestions could include using Canva for design, Google Slides for presentation, or an animation tool.
4. Document the Project Outline: Write out your group’s project components in a Google Doc, ensuring all elements are clearly explained.
5. Exchange Projects: Once the 10 minutes are up, each group will exchange their Google Doc project outline with another group. This new group will be responsible for bringing the project idea to life.

Part 2

1. Project Creation (20 minutes): Using the outline created by the other group, start creating a draft of the project (infographic, poster, short animation, etc.). Try to stay faithful to the assigned project details, but feel free to add your group’s creative touches. Each group will assign the project to another group to start designing and completing the project.