Building a Curation: Visual Persuasive Compositions

Brandi Bradley
Oct 2, 2019
4 min read

A reminder, P1Draft 2 is due on SUNDAY OCTOBER 6 before 11:59 pm. I am putting together your evaluation groups, but if you have not listed your group member preference yet, please do so now.

While we put the final touches on Project #1, I want to go ahead and set up the requirements for the upcoming Project #2.

For Project #2, you are required to write a 1,500-word genre analysis. Before then, you must curate a collection of compositions which best represent a narrative sub-genre.

A curation is a carefully selected collection. You see curations everywhere, like Pinterest Boards, Best of Lists, or Instagram which is a curation of the images of your life. For THIS ASSIGNMENT, you are putting together a curation of narrative compositions - movies, stories, books, etc. - all under the same subgenre.

For Short Assignment #1 which is due TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 before 11:59 pm, you must select a subgenre of the narrative genre (Alien Horror, Teen Romance, Medical Thriller, etc,). When you decide which subgenre you want to work with, I want you to also remember that you will eventually be asked to write an original narrative in that subgenre. So if you hate detective mysteries, don't assemble a detective mystery curation. Then, you must define the conventions of that narrative subgenre.

Conventions are the expectations of that subgenre, like what are the rules of that subgenre to make it fall into that category.

Let's think about conventions of a specific subgenre. On the P2 Style and Design page, I provide the example of Teenage Romance. I picked this because Teen Romance is way more specific of a subgenre than just romance. Also, ultimately more fun.

The conventions I listed are the specific rules a teen romance must follow in order to classify under that subgenre. In the past, students have googled the conventions of their subgenre, and that's lame, to be honest. If you are picking a subgenre that you like, then the conventions should be based on your observations about that subgenre. If you are really into Alien Horror movies, you should be able to name 10 things which makes it fall into that category.

You must provide at least 10 conventions on your P2 page. Next, you must provide 10 examples of narratives which can be classified into that sub-genre. DO NOT ONLY SELECT MOVIES. You need some variety on your page. Books, movies, podcasts, short fiction, television shows. Hit as many different modes and medias as you can. If you look at the P2 Style Page, I have books, movies, comics, TV shows, and a play. That't the kind of variety I am looking for on your page.

Include images to your selections, links to how someone might view the selection (or the IMDB link), and 50 words EACH on why that selection fulfills the conventions of that subgenre. Your purpose is to persuade viewers to think this subgenre is awesome and want to engage with these narratives.

Additionally, I want you to consider examples which fulfill the subgenre, but also might subvert the subgenre. A selection which subverts genre conventions looks like it is following the rules, but in essence, also breaks them. Gossip Girl is a teen soap. But is it a teen romance? Legally Blonde is a comedic movie with romance, but is it a romantic comedy?

For Project 2 Curation (P2SA1), you will be graded on

Understanding of Conventions of the narrative subgenre (are your convention definitions accurate? Are your examples plausible?) and your understanding of the persuasive genre (Do your 50 persuasive words for each example convince the reader?)
Style and Design (Is it pleasing to look at?)
Accessibility (Do the link buttons work? Is it easy to find everything? Is it easy to read?)
Whether the curation fulfills the prompt (Do you meet the word counts? Do you have all 10 definitions of the sub-genre conventions? Do you have all 10 examples on the page?)

You are building this on your Project #2 page, and it should be visually appealing and accessible. Your page should have dominant art on the page. The Conventions should be listed together in at least 14 pt font. Your collection of narratives should include images of book covers or movie posters and buttons to access the selections.

Remember, we are meeting in conferences this week. But, I normally have Office Hours on Wednesdays and Thursday afternoons between 1pm and 3pm. Feel free to make an appointment if you have questions.

We are quickly approaching the Mid-Semester Mark. OCTOBER 11 is the last day to drop classes without dean approval.

If you are struggling in your classes, no one is going to know unless you tell them. If you have questions, require additional assistance, or need face-to-face feedback, YOU need to contact your instructors or advisors.

Furthermore, if you are considering dropping one of your classes, don't wait around to talk to your advisor. Advisors are at their busiest time right now, so make an appointment or make the time to wait outside their office.

If you are struggling, do not white-knuckle it for the remainder of the semester. Get the help you need. FSU has many, many resources which you are ALREADY PAYING FOR with your student fees. Check out my What Kind Of Student Are You page for links to a variety of resources which may help you make it through the semester.

Don't Forget: