Valley of the Shadow Project

Mr. Cerenzia, what exactly is the Valley of the Shadow Archive? Links to an external site.

Great, so what am I supposed to do with this? Two things: 

1. A creative writing assignment based on archival research done solely from the Valley of the Shadow archives. This creative writing assignment can take on many different forms. What's that? You have no idea where to begin? Ok, go here for some ideas. Links to an external site.
   • Have you gone there? Great! Be sure to look at the Creative Writing examples they provide, and NOT the traditional essay assignments. 
     • These should serve as frameworks for potential ideas. You can select one of the 7+ examples they provide, or you can craft your own project. All projects should be rooted solely in Valley of the Shadow research however. 
     • Wander around the archives. Take a look at the vast array of \materials. In all likelihood, your research should be based in the years between 1859-1865. Here is a link to the main landing page for archival research Links to an external site.. 
     • Essays should be 3-5 pages in length and submitted via Canvas by way of an anonymous file. 
2. A visual element and presentation that you will use to supplement and support your creative writing project. The visual element must be produced digitally and of your own creation.
   • Let's do a thought experiment...
     • Imagine your creative writing assignment was being turned into a book. Well a book needs a cover and we're going to judge your book by its cover. Would it look like this?  Links to an external site.
     • Imagine your creative writing assignment was so good Hollywood optioned it and it's being turned into a film. What would that movie poster look like? Links to an external site. 
     • Feeling super ambitious? Imagine that film was made—well now we need a trailer.
     • Make a trailer Links to an external site.
   • The presentation element will be slightly different than you're accustomed to. Think of this as an elevator pitch. What is an elevator pitch?  Links to an external site. You will have 2-3 minutes to make your pitch to a room of "publishers" and "movie producers." You need to be persuasive, efficient, and compelling. You've written the story, so you should know it inside and out. You will have the digitally produced visual element to help make your pitch. 
   • These will also be submitted via Canvas. 

How you choose to make the digital visual element is up to you, but I recommend Canva.com Links to an external site. to do so. It's super user friendly and has tons of options. I made this birth announcement last month in roughly 35 minutes. Download I made this birth announcement last month in roughly 35 minutes. It is modeled after the StepBrothers movie poster Links to an external site.. I had fun making it. You should have fun too. Learning can be fun. It's often easier to learn when it's fun. Make it fun. Formal rubrics to follow soon. 

Good luck....