Sample Student Podcasts (ENGL 1101, Georgia State University, Fall 2022)

In this class, we discussed episodes of audio podcasts (Broken Ground, Living Planet, Who Cares Wins, & Breaking Green Ceilings) that each took on a small piece of the immense and intricate puzzle presented by global climate change. Our exemplary compositions used several rhetorical approaches by presenting both problems and potential solutions/mitigations with guest experts and co-hosts (building their credibility, or ethos), by presenting published findings or research in progress (using logos to support their claims), and by telling stories of climate challenges and impacts (employing pathos to encourage listeners to relate to their content). They kept the conversation interesting and focused by taking a deeper look into one aspect of the larger issue, rather than maintaining a broad focus.

In this assignment, students were asked to create their own short audio compositions embedded in accessible websites, demonstrating:

a) the successful use of multiple rhetorical modes;

b) the synthesis of their firsthand knowledge and research;

c) a careful consideration of audience, purpose, and focus; and

d) a creative approach to this contemporary, public mode of writing.

Here are some student compositions:

Climate Change and Education: A Podcast by Fred Brown

We Speak Climate: A Podcast by Elsa Romero