Not your average English class

In Professor Pat Princiotto’s English 202U Critical Writing and Research II class in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, students are expected to be able to produce “a research-driven persuasive essay.” For Princiotti’s students, one aspect of the research-driven assignment took the form of a digital story.

Research and rhetoric, welcome to the 21st century.

Eric Cox, a lieutenant/paramedic assigned to a ladder truck in Waynesboro, was a student in Princiotto’s class during spring 2013. As part of his research assignment, Cox produced a digital story, a public service announcement titled “Do You Have What it Takes to be a Fireman?”

In addition to carefully researching and writing the script for his PSA, Cox learned the importance of connecting with his intended audience—vital to any persuasive effort. And Princiotto found that, while her students “could have read Cox’s fine paper,” the “collective class energy, empathy and resilience” from watching his PSA would have been lost.

“His story endures,” concluded Princiotto. “Eric’s story spreads his writing among more that the few who read the words typed on the page. Without the digital part of this project, you probably would not have seen it or shared in the experience.”

Add yourself to those who shared in the experience.