Chapter Three - "A New Age"
Welcome Players! You have made it to Chapter Three: "A New Age." Chapter 3 is different than the previous two in that it requires you to work within a guild to complete a task. This chapter is broken down into three raids: Raid Five: Visual Rhetorical Analysis; Raid Six: Minecraft Technical Manual; and Raid Seven: Arguing in Multimedia. When and how you complete each of the raids is up to you, but you will be responsible for your work as well as the work your guild puts out.
Raids Five and Six are the primary raids for this chapter, requiring you to work in a guild where you will have Three Weeks for each raid. Raid Six is a class project which will require all to work together to finalize the document. Both require a Guild Leader whom will be responsible for making sure all guild members meet their deadlines.
Raid Seven is an individual venture in which you will create something in Minecraft Education and share it with the class.
Read below for more details.
Raids Five and Six are the primary raids for this chapter, requiring you to work in a guild where you will have Three Weeks for each raid. Raid Six is a class project which will require all to work together to finalize the document. Both require a Guild Leader whom will be responsible for making sure all guild members meet their deadlines.
Raid Seven is an individual venture in which you will create something in Minecraft Education and share it with the class.
Read below for more details.
Raid Five: Visual Rhetorical Analysis
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Raid OverviewNow that you have researched a villain or monster, you have a good idea about the background and history of it. For this raid, each player will create a “sanctuary” for their villain or monster in Minecraft Education and create a short video guide of the structure. Then, each player will swap visual texts and write a visual rhetorical analysis of the pieces. The aim of your argument is to support a thesis—using the rhetorical tools of persuasion—concerning how the chosen visual text
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offers a persuasive argument through design aesthetics. Make an argument that persuades readers of your thesis. The form of this assignment is an integrated textual and visual essay that utilizes visual images and the rhetorical elements of composition, presentation, intended audience, and argument. This assignment should be between 750 and 1500 words.
Raid Instruction
1. Plan out your Sanctuary
Now that you have completely researched your villain/monster, it is now time to take that knowledge and create a three-dimensional image in Minecraft Education in which you and your classmates can explore. To start, think about the following to plan:
2. Build your Sanctuary
Now that you have everything planned, it is time to make it. Think about how you want to present it to your classmates because this will change the way your design the structure. Make sure you do the outside and at least a little of the interior. Use Minecraft wikis to help you decide on blocks. Building tutorials are also very useful. Make sure you change the spawn location to where you want your audience to spawn: /setworldspawn
3. Create a Short Video
Create a short video of your sanctuary. This is the main piece that your classmates are going to interact with, so make sure you are happy with it. Here are some questions to consider:
4. Analyze the Sanctuary
Once you find a partner to trade with, you will do a visual rhetorical analysis of their sanctuary. First, watch the video several times and take notes. Second, you may go into the Minecraft file and explore. Remember, you are taking notes on the design aesthetics, location, and relation to the monster. Think about all the design decisions you made for your own sanctuary and apply it to the analysis.
5. Write a Critical Visual Rhetorical Analysis
The aim of your argument is to determine if this sanctuary is a good representation of the monster through an analysis of design aesthetics in Minecraft and the video, as well as the use of location in the Minecraft world. Make an argument that persuades readers of your thesis. Remember to utilize the visual images and the rhetorical elements of composition, presentation, intended audience, and argument. Think about ethos, pathos, and logos during your analysis.
Now that you have completely researched your villain/monster, it is now time to take that knowledge and create a three-dimensional image in Minecraft Education in which you and your classmates can explore. To start, think about the following to plan:
- Does your villain/monster reside below ground, above ground, or in the sky? Should he/she/it be in the hills or in the sea?
- What colors should be used? Are certain colors associated with it?
- What about block texture? Should it be clean and smooth stone or rugged netherack?
- Should there be water, lava, or fire?
- Will the sanctuary be hidden or in plain sight?
- Do you want to create the sanctuary in a superflat or in a regular biome?
2. Build your Sanctuary
Now that you have everything planned, it is time to make it. Think about how you want to present it to your classmates because this will change the way your design the structure. Make sure you do the outside and at least a little of the interior. Use Minecraft wikis to help you decide on blocks. Building tutorials are also very useful. Make sure you change the spawn location to where you want your audience to spawn: /setworldspawn
3. Create a Short Video
Create a short video of your sanctuary. This is the main piece that your classmates are going to interact with, so make sure you are happy with it. Here are some questions to consider:
- Do you want to show just the exterior or interior as well?
- Do you want to show the surrounding area?
- Do you want to have textual narration on slate?
- Do you want it to be one long shot or do you want to edit it?
4. Analyze the Sanctuary
Once you find a partner to trade with, you will do a visual rhetorical analysis of their sanctuary. First, watch the video several times and take notes. Second, you may go into the Minecraft file and explore. Remember, you are taking notes on the design aesthetics, location, and relation to the monster. Think about all the design decisions you made for your own sanctuary and apply it to the analysis.
5. Write a Critical Visual Rhetorical Analysis
The aim of your argument is to determine if this sanctuary is a good representation of the monster through an analysis of design aesthetics in Minecraft and the video, as well as the use of location in the Minecraft world. Make an argument that persuades readers of your thesis. Remember to utilize the visual images and the rhetorical elements of composition, presentation, intended audience, and argument. Think about ethos, pathos, and logos during your analysis.
Requirements
- Create a Sanctuary and accompanying video to give to a peer for analysis.
- Write an analysis between 750 and 1000 words.
- MLA format.
- Works Cited
- At least one image from the sanctuary.
- Argue your thesis to persuade your reader using the rhetorical concepts we discuss in class.
- Use bold, italics, different fonts, and colors for emphasis.
Resources
Here are some resources that may help with the building and analysis:
- Purdue Owl - Organizing your analysis
- Purdue Owl - What is visual rhetoric
- Purdue Owl - Visual Rhetoric slide show
- Purdue Owl - Color Theory
- Sheffield - Breaking down an Image
- Norton - Click on "Analyzing a Text" then "A Guide to Analyzing a Text"
- Go to Quest Items and click on "Intro to Rhetoric" (very useful for writing and visualizing)
| vizrhet_short_lesson.pptx |
Please go to "Portal Help" if you need help uploading a video.
Raid Six: Minecraft Technical Manual
Raid Overview
This raid requires all players to work together in order to develop a technical manual for Minecraft Education. The technical manual should cover basic game information, block information, building techniques, frequently asked questions and encountered problems. This technical manual should cover all aspects of the game but must be tailored to class functionality. The class will decide on what will be included, how it will be designed, and what roles each player will have. Players will divide tasks among qualified individuals, plan, and publish the technical manual will either be in book, website, video, or wiki form. The full manual with go through several drafts and will be presented on the final day of class.
This raid requires all players to work together in order to develop a technical manual for Minecraft Education. The technical manual should cover basic game information, block information, building techniques, frequently asked questions and encountered problems. This technical manual should cover all aspects of the game but must be tailored to class functionality. The class will decide on what will be included, how it will be designed, and what roles each player will have. Players will divide tasks among qualified individuals, plan, and publish the technical manual will either be in book, website, video, or wiki form. The full manual with go through several drafts and will be presented on the final day of class.
Raid DetailsAs a class, you will first have to decide on two guild leaders; one for the first three weeks and one for the second. The guild leader will make sure that everyone has a role, everyone is doing their responsibility, and that the entire project runs smoothly. They will organize the voting and other responsibilities. The following should be taken into consideration when designing the manual:
Also, the Minecraft Wiki is a great source to start. |
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Raid Seven: Presenting in Multimedia
Raid Overview
This raid requires players to develop a multimodal composition using Minecraft Education or another approved platform that touches on all aspects of the multimodal presentation (visual, textual, audio, tactile). If using Minecraft, each player must complete a large build in Minecraft Education and develop a multimodal presentation about it. The project can contain multiple structures or focus on one larger historical structure.
Players may also create a work of art (painting, sculpture, piece of music, etc.) and document the process of their composing. After the project is completed, the player must create an Adobe Spark Page or video in Adobe Premiere to compliment a five-minute presentation on their process, complications, failures, and successes of the project. Students will sign up a date to present their projects.
This raid requires players to develop a multimodal composition using Minecraft Education or another approved platform that touches on all aspects of the multimodal presentation (visual, textual, audio, tactile). If using Minecraft, each player must complete a large build in Minecraft Education and develop a multimodal presentation about it. The project can contain multiple structures or focus on one larger historical structure.
Players may also create a work of art (painting, sculpture, piece of music, etc.) and document the process of their composing. After the project is completed, the player must create an Adobe Spark Page or video in Adobe Premiere to compliment a five-minute presentation on their process, complications, failures, and successes of the project. Students will sign up a date to present their projects.
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Raid DetailsEach player will choose a historic structure(s) and build it in Minecraft Education. The structure should be detailed and well thought out. You can focus on the exterior as well as the interior, but the exterior for larger projects is fine. For the presentation, think about the following prompts:
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If a player chooses to do something outside of Minecraft, such as a painting, sculpture, or piece of music, they must still show the process of their composition and the inspiration for it. This cannot be a single stick figure drawing, but must be a well thought out work of art that will be shared with the class.
Remember, your video should be made in Adobe Premier and be uploaded to the class Adobe Behance page. The presentation should be a total of five minutes (give or take 30 seconds) for full credit. Each player should discuss their process, complications, failures, and successes of the project. Any planning, reference images, drawings, etc. should be included. In-progress images are also encouraged. Please make sure you sign up for a presentation date HERE!
Remember, your video should be made in Adobe Premier and be uploaded to the class Adobe Behance page. The presentation should be a total of five minutes (give or take 30 seconds) for full credit. Each player should discuss their process, complications, failures, and successes of the project. Any planning, reference images, drawings, etc. should be included. In-progress images are also encouraged. Please make sure you sign up for a presentation date HERE!
Important Deadlines |
First Raid deadline and switch: April 13
Second Raid deadline: April 27 All presentations should be done by April 27th |
