Notice to Portfolio Viewers

I use activities such as the one provided here to help students critically engage with analytical thought in a low-stakes context. I have used variants of this activity as part of teaching rhetorical analysis in freshman composition (ENG 1100). This specific iteration was designed with my proposed persuasive writing course in mind. I advocate for activities such as these, because they provide students with entertaining ways to demonstrate what they are learning without the intimidation factor that often accompanies academic writing. This activity mocks the popular (albeit somewhat dated) television program The Apprentice.

Griffin

The Apprentice Activity

(Insert Date) 

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Overview

For this activity, you will be working in groups of 4-5. Each group will select one of their members to be the project manager, and the remaining group members will be the design team. Groups will have 30 minutes to complete this activity, and the remaining class time (approx. 20 minutes) will be used to analytically discuss what they have created. Paper and colored pencils have been provided for you to use for this activity.

Instructions

Each group is working to create an advertisement for FizzPop, a new soft-drink sensation that is quickly gaining popularity around the world. The design team members are to come up with ideas as to what market (audience) they wish to appeal to and how they want to approach the promotion of the product (message). Project managers will oversee the design of the advertisement; they have the final say over what ideas make the cut, and are responsible for presenting their group’s advertisement at the end of the activity.

Once each group has finished, we will come together as a class and discuss what each group has created. The project managers will each present their group’s advertisement to the class, who are encouraged to offer feedback and ask questions. Members of the design team are more than encouraged to join in the conversation. Questions to consider could include “Why did you choose market X?” “How did you choose what images/colors to include?” etcetera. The class will collectively decide as to which group has produced the most effective advertisement.