It is crazy to believe that one month of college is already done; the time has gone by so quickly. This week in English 105i we addressed different options on how to present our video essay by watching examples on YouTube and by meeting with a member of the Media and Design Center here at UNC. We also received valuable feedback on our Feeder 1.2 to help us prepare to complete the final stages of the video essay project. Although I was mildly concerned about my writing not being sufficient enough for the college-level, I do feel as if my skills have improved even in the short amount of time we have been in this class. With hardwork and determination, I can see myself flourishing into a better analytical thinker and writer by the end of the semester.
On Tuesday during class, each group watched a different video essay about various healthcare topics. My group watched a video on the similarities and differences between Smoking and Juuling. Seeing that this is such a prevalent topic in our generation, the information provided in the message reinforced the negative effects of both smoking and juuling on the lungs. Although Juuling has been promoted by the company as a positive alternative to smoking actual cigarettes, scientists have proven that 20-40 cigarettes are equivalent to one JUUL pod. Aside from statistical facts, the video essay was an excellent illustration of different ideas to include in our projects. For example, using animation style drawings added a level of simplicity to a very serious topic, and the bright colors across the screen quickly captured the audience’s attention. The authors of the video essay also explained the harmful chemicals and constituents that are used to produce both cigarettes and JUUL’s in a less complex manner. Although my group did not have the opportunity to watch the other health video essays, our class discussion provided us with other examples of what to include when creating our video. For instance, the Ebola video used subtle jokes and enthusiasm to get a serious message across and capture the audience’s attention, whereas the U.S Syphilis Experiment video kept a dull and serious tone all throughout. My major takeaway from the activity is that as long as you capture your audience’s attention and provide all of the necessary information, there is not one correct way to present your topic.
On Thursday, we met with a gentleman from the Media and Design Center at UNC to learn about different ways to construct our project for our health video message. Seeing that my project is centered around young athletes and the effects of concussions on their brain, I found it very fascinating to learn how I would be able to incorporate different brain images and video clips into my project. The step-by-step run through of the program was very informative for students who may have never used the program before, it allowed us to practice using the voice-over and editing tool. In the upcoming week, each student will be producing a rough draft of their video essay, and I am excited to see the work others have done. I am extremely grateful that we had the ability to learn the ins and outs of Adobe Premiere Pro so early on because this knowledge will be vital in higher level classes.
Lisner, A. 2018 October 2017. Experts, students weigh in on the effects of Juuling [illustration]. The Daily Orange. http://dailyorange.com/2018/10/experts-studies-weigh-in-on-effects-juuling/.