"Outliers" Documentary PBL

Students were tasked with turning Malcolm Gladwell's nonfiction book about "the story of success" into a full-length documentary film based on modern day outliers who fit his theory of success. This was an individual, research writing task with a whole-class final product. 

After writing and peer-evaluating their individual research essays, students voted on the most interesting research subjects and which essays best supported Gladwell's theory of success. Students then applied for typical film jobs by sprucing up their resumes, submitting a persuasive cover letter, & interviewing with me to earn the job. Once each student had an assigned role, they worked together and in their respective roles to script, storyboard, and film their documentary. They were responsible for creating a filming schedule, scheduling spaces, and all other details of the task.

The final presentation and judges were an audience of their peers at a debut showing of their film during lunches. Below are resources from the assignment.