The objective of the remix is to have some fun with the assignment while learning about relating information through different mediums. Just as musicians alter existing tracks to create new ones, writers sometimes “remix” or refashion their writing for new contexts. A mechanical engineer uses elements of her technical report about a new engine part to write instructions for the machinists who assemble the part. A historian turns his scholarly article on World War II and disability into a podcast episode for the general public. A sociology student transforms her essay on food scarcity into an infographic to persuade her college administration to start a food pantry. In each scenario, the writer modifies all or part of their earlier work for a new purpose, audience, genre, stance or medium.
In college courses across the curriculum, you might be asked to do the same — for example, by writing a researched report for a class assignment and then sharing your work through a multimedia presentation for your classmates or others.
Below are three points you must consider about your remix, which will be the basis for your remix grade:
A clear connection to the original subject: A remix always hearkens back to the original subject in some way.
A modification of the earlier work: By definition, a remix involves change. Something in the writing situation changes — like the writer’s purpose or audience — and that change requires other modifications as well. The writer will need to work within a new medium, or adopt a different stance, or write in a new genre to get their message across most effectively.
Attention to genre and media/design expectations: Often remixes require a change in genre or a change in medium (or both), and effective remixes meet audience expectations for a the new genre or medium.
Prompt:
Choose ONE of the four essays you wrote this semester, consider the topic and message you wrote about carefully and determine what you will be “remixing” it into. Your writing situation, especially your purpose and audience, will determine the type of remix you might create. Choose ONE of the alternatives (remixes) listed below to remix the essay into:
Remix your essay into a 16 line or more poem, each line containing at least ten syllables.
Whichever remix you select from the list above, create it in a form that I can be open in a computer. I should be able to open the file and read/view it without any problem.
Your remix MUST show an obvious connection between it and the original essay and have the same message as that of the original essay. You MUST attach your original essay to the remix as evidence of the connection.
As part of the remix grade, at the beginning of finals week, you must upload your remix to the threaded discussion board and briefly explain the connection between the remix and the original essay, the modification you did, and how that modification meets the expectations of the new media and design.