Spring 2015/Pasadena
CO522
Fong
CO522: NARRATIVE-COMMUNICATION IN A VISUAL AGE (4 Units: 160 Hours). Ken U. Fong.
DESCRIPTION: This course explores why narrative (story) moves people in ways that lecturing or preaching didactically often does not. It will equip students to create and deliver narrative lessons and sermons that aim to capture imaginations with who God is and what God is up to, utilizing beautifully-designed digital slides to enhance the narrative.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will demonstrate the ability to (1) identify and define the essential elements of compelling stories, including the 4 Dimensional Narrative Framework; (2) apply these elements and the 4DNF in crafting and delivering narrative lessons and sermons; (3) design visually impactful computer-slides to enhance the narrative they are telling; and (4) confidently deliver narrative lessons and sermons using the visuals they’ve designed to enhance and amplify their content.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-and-a-half-hour sessions for a total of 35 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 5 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Classes will involve lectures and demonstrations, online forums, technical instruction seminars, and student-presentations.
REQUIRED READING AND VIEWING: 1,524 pp. of required reading
Buster, Bobbette. Do Story: How to Tell Your Story So the World Listens. The Do Book Company, 2013. ISBN: 978-1907974052, Pub. Price $14.95 [112 pp. assigned].
Duarte, Nancy. slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations. O’Reilly Media, 2008. ISBN: 978-0596522346, Pub. Price $34.99 [296 pp. assigned].
Gallo, Carmine. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. St. Martin’s Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1250041128, Pub. Price $24.99 [288 pp assigned].
Gottschall, Jonathan. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. Mariner Books, 2013. ISBN: 978-0544002340, Pub. Price $14.95 [272 pp. assigned].
Graves, Mike & Schlafer, David, eds. What’s the Shape of Narrative Preaching? Chalice Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0827242555, $24.99 [244 pp. assigned].
Reynolds, Garr. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. 2nd ed. New Riders, 2011. ISBN: 978-0321811981, Pub. Price $34.99 [312 pp. assigned].
REQUIRED VIEWING: (Links will all be on Moodle in assigned weeks)
Cuddy, Amy. Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are. (www.ted.com)
Christian, David. The History of Our World in 18 Minutes. (www.ted.com)
Godin, Seth. How to Get Your Ideas to Spread. (www.ted.com)
Kay, Sarah. If I Should Have a Daughter. (www.ted.com)
Gore, Al. New Thinking on the Climate Crisis. (www.ted.com)
Sandberg, Sheryl. Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders. (www.ted.com)
Stevenson, Bryan. We Need to Talk About an Injustice. (www.ted.com)
Sweeney, Julia. Letting Go of God. (www.ted.com)
RECOMMENDED READING:
Duarte, Nancy. Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences. Wiley, 2010. ISBN: 978-0470632017, Pub. Price $29.95 [272 pp.].
Lowry, Eugene. Doing Time in the Pulpit: The Relationship Between Narrative and Preaching. Abingdon Press, 1985. ISBN: 978-0687110346, Pub. Price not available. ***OUT OF PRINT [112 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1,524 pp. of required reading [86 hours].
View 8 TED talks and use online Forum to discuss specific questions (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome#1] [5 hours].
Preparation of three 2-3 page comparison/reflection papers on the following texts: (a) Buster & Gottschall; (2) Duarte & Reynolds; (3) Gallo & Graves. Via Moodle (30%) (This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-3) [6 hours].
Prepare and deliver a 15-min class-presentation of how they are planning the flow of their narrative project (with feedback for improvement) as well as the drafts of their five critical Powerpoint or Keynote slides to accompany presentation (with feedback) (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [8 hours].
Prepare and deliver an 18-min narrative talk or sermon with self-designed slides (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [20 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the Communications requirement (COMM) in MA programs; the CO5 (CO500 + CO503) requirement of various degrees; and the Media and Ministry requirement for MA in Worship, Theology, and the Arts and the MDiv Concentration in Worship, Theology, and the Arts.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.