Embedded Files
In this 7 part podcast series, we will be 'investigating' the 1933 'murder' of Minnie Reid, her killer Harold Courtney, and the mystery surrounding his possible escape from execution. We will focus not only on evidence collection and historical context, but also on storytelling, and how an artist can take a true event, and re-imagine it as literature.
In this 7 part podcast series, we will be 'investigating' the 1933 'murder' of Minnie Reid, her killer Harold Courtney, and the mystery surrounding his possible escape from execution. We will focus not only on evidence collection and historical context, but also on storytelling, and how an artist can take a true event, and re-imagine it as literature.
Ultimately, we'll decide: did the right man hang?
Ultimately, we'll decide: did the right man hang?
BBC Radio Ulster: Assume Nothing
Listening Schedule: Episode 4 (Wed, 2/17)
Episode 1 (Mon, 2/8) Episode 5 (Mon, 2/22)
Episode 2 (Wed, 2/10) Episode 6 (Wed, 2/24)
Episode 3 (Mon, 2/15) Episode 7 (Fri, 2/26)
Episode 1 Classwork - 2/8
Episode 1 Classwork - 2/8
Detective's Journal: Make notes on the evidence in both the original case AND evidence for re-investigation, on the history of the time, and the journalists. Have conversations with classmates. What's the most compelling evidence? What initial thoughts do you have about the re-opening of the case? What do you find most intriguing going forward?
Fact to Fiction: If you (like M. Atwood did with Grace Marks) decided to write a short story, novel, play, or screenplay based on this crime, what image/scene from this episode would you OPEN with? Atwood begins with Grace Marks in the penitentiary, with some flashback/memory sequences. Where would YOU start with Minnie Reid? Why?
Episode 2 Classwork - 2/10
Episode 2 Classwork - 2/10
Detective's Journal: Make notes on the evidence in both the original case AND evidence for re-investigation, on the history of the time. What is the 'bombshell' information that turns the entire investigation? Share your thoughts with your classmates about this new evidence and whether the witnesses are credible.
Fact to Fiction: Make connections between the episode and Alias Grace.
Episodes 3-4 Classwork (at home!) - 2/15 & 2/17
Episodes 3-4 Classwork (at home!) - 2/15 & 2/17
Detective's Journal: Make notes on the evidence in both the original case AND evidence for re-investigation, on the history of the time, and the journalists and their process.
Fact to Fiction: Imagine the journalists going through the files & interviews with an artist's eye: how might you describe it? Visualize it- how would it look in a movie or tv scene? What do they discover that would make "good fiction"? Minnie's letters would make for a compelling fictionalization. How might this be interpreted in a novel, short story, poem, or play?
Episode 5 Classwork - 2/22
Episode 5 Classwork - 2/22
Detective's Journal: Make notes on the evidence in both the original case AND evidence for re-investigation, on the history of the time, and the journalists. Today, you'll focus your notes on the details about the children who discovered the body. Listen closely. Look at the newspaper photo. Make a list of descriptive words and phrases to capture what you see & hear, along with evidence and facts about them.
Fact to Fiction: "The Children Who Discovered the Body" Creative Writing Exercise. Read Alice Walker's "The Flowers". In your annotation, mark how she creates the initial atmosphere, shifts that atmosphere, and then reveals the theme in the closing line. Using "The Flowers" as a model, write a 'flash fiction' story that is inspired by Episode 5.
Episode 6 Classwork - 2/24
Episode 6 Classwork - 2/24
Detective's Journal: Make notes on the evidence in both the original case AND evidence for re-investigation, on the history of the time, and the journalists- including our NEW investigator. What does the investigation shift to in this episode? Have conversations with classmates. What's the most compelling evidence?
Fact to Fiction: "Some days are diamonds, and some days are stones." - John Denver
This episode has several "scenes" - some diamonds, and some stones- that would make compelling 'fiction'. Which would you choose if you were dramatizing the story and why?
Episode 7 Classwork - 2/26
Episode 7 Classwork - 2/26
Detective's Journal: Make notes on the evidence in both the original case AND evidence for re-investigation, on the history of the time, and the journalists. Twisty til the end, we have a NEW witness. Focus notes on his story and new historical context. Have conversations about this with classmates. Do we believe him? And finally... DID THE RIGHT MAN HANG?
Fact to Fiction: The big ending! Based on the details of the episode, how would you 'end' a novel, play, film of this story? Would you answer the big question or leave it ambiguous? WHY?
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