Storyboard/Outline Assignment (100 points) - Outline your future's body in
storyboard or written form!
Q1 (10 points) Give two examples of leads you might use for your piece, based on
the content and facts of your piece.
Note: You do not need to write a lede, rather describe the ledes you could use.
For example, you might describe a particular anecdote you want to use, and why
it would be a good way to start your piece.
You will be evaluated on whether the proposed ledes make sense given the topic and
main point of your piece.
Q2 (10 points) What will be the central idea/statement of your piece?
You will be evaluated on whether the central idea/statement is a worthwhile and novel
idea/statement/question.
Q3 (50 points) Describe the sections, points, and ideas you will build the body
around. Think of the sections as broader themes in your piece, and the
points/ideas as the building block for that theme.
Typically, you focus on one point/idea in each paragraph, but sometimes you may
use another paragraph or two. For each point/idea, you must describe the
examples, facts, quotations, research-based evidence, and scenes you will use to
support it.
● For your 1500-2000 word pieces, this would mean about 3-4 main sections
for the body of your piece, and 1-3 points/paragraphs per section. Remember,
you want to make sure your story is clear, concise, and gets right to the point
to make sure it is digestible to your readers!
● For example, in my Black in the Ivory piece I have:
○ A section on the experiences of isolation that Black academics
face.
- Point: Isolation was my personal experience. Supported by a
personal example.
- Point: Isolation is a common experience: Supported by an
example from Maydianne Andrade (A UTSC professor!), and
a survey from a recent townhall.
○ A section on how racism interferes with your work.
- Point: Racism serves to distract, supported by a quote from
Toni Morrison.
- Point: Racism makes it hard to do the work you really want
to do, supported by survey from the townhall, personal
experience, and research from a 2003 faculty report.
■ Point: Racism adds additional labour, supported by a
quote from Alissa Trotz (U of T Professor) and an
anecdote from Maydianne Andrade.
■ Point: Racism took some of the joy out of academia and
led me to leave the academy, supported by a personal
story.
○ A section on what racism costs us all
■ Point: Racism has an impact on innovation, supported by
a research study on innovation and researchers from
underrepresented groups.
You will be evaluated on whether the body breakdown you have makes sense, if the
points flow logically from one to the next, if you have the proper support/reporting done
or planned, and if you have covered sufficient sections/points to address your focus
statement and main question.
Q4 (10 points) Explain how you have structured your piece/main points (i.e.,
Chronologically? Narratively? By level of importance) and why.
You will be evaluated on whether the structural choice you have made makes sense,
and the persuasiveness of your argument for the structure.
Q5 (20 points) Give an assessment of what reporting gaps remain and how they
might be filled
You will be evaluated on whether you have accurately identified the gaps in your
reporting, and whether you have a sound plan for filling these gaps.