Argument Infomercials
Making an argument is an essential rhetorical skill, but one that can seem intimidating to students. Until they realize arguments are all around them, especially in commercials and infomercials. This assignment pairs to a written argument to solve a local problem and allows students to mimic querky, but effective, infomercial techniques as they create their own persuasive infomercial. By encouraging students to focus on arguing a solution to a problem they are facing, we are engaging students in the act of meaningful change, amplifying their voice, and helping them invest in their own community. This allows students to bring their whole selves to the project and see activism as a communal act, no matter what the problem is. After watching some examples of infomercials and discussing the techniques of color and lighting, sound and acting, students can shoot, edit, compile, and produce their infomercials on their smartphone of tablet using a variety of free apps. The essay and infomercial assignment descriptions are below, followed by a three-minute showcase about the assignment, and several student examples.
The Assignment
Essay: The ability to make sound, persuasive arguments is a necessary skill beyond English 051 and is an attempt to convince someone to accept an idea, policy, or take some action. This assignment, therefore, asks you to develop and argument on a problem that you face in one of your communities. Think about some issues that are currently taking place in your communities (school, work, church, city, state, country). A discussion of communities and local problems take place in the corresponding lesson. Your essay should take a position on an arguable topic, target a specific audience, develop reasons that appeal to this audience, support those reasons with evidence (research and anecdotal), and acknowledge the opposition.
Informercial: If you've ever stayed up too late watching TV, or gone down a questionable YouTube rabbit hole, you've encountered an infomercial. These extended commercials are querky, weird, funny, awkward, and everyone in them is a bit too dramatic. But they are fantastic tools to help us understand how to make an argument. In fact, infomercials are visual versions of argument essays. Your task is to create your own infomercial (in all its odd, bizarre glory) to bring your argument essay to life!
Showcase.MOVI shared my Argument Infomercial assignment at the 2017 Apple Distinguished Educators Academy in Houston, Texas. Click to watch the three-minute showcase.
Are You Working too Much.mov"Are You Working too Much?"
Sidewalks Keep Us Safe.mov"Sidewalks Keep Us Safe"
Do Something You Love.mov