Group Assignment 2: Making a Mystery

Directive: For this assignment, groups will design and write a mystery. Mysteries may take any form, but should include both an extended narrative (story) and visual components (film, video, photography, graphic images, etc.). Using theories of signification and the social unconscious from class readings, groups will embed within their mysteries hidden “clues” along the way, presented in both narrative and visual modes. This is intended as a creative project, so groups should feel free to experiment with the assignment.

Requirements:

• Mysteries must take place in the “real world” (no science fiction or alternate universes!).
  
• Your mystery must include both extended narrative and visual components. While there is no specific length requirement, we do expect the mysteries to be intricately detailed and complex. You may think of crime stories, journalistic exposés, documentaries, week-by-week podcasts (like Serial) as your model (but, again, your mysteries must include both written and visual components).
  
• All group members should participate in every aspect of this assignment; do not “divide up” different parts and then try to combine them all at the end. It’s OK for you to delegate tasks to individual group members (for example, if you choose a graphic novel format, some group members may be put in charge of executing the drawings); but all aspects must ultimately be collectively designed.
  
• Mysteries must be made openly and fully available online, without passwords.
  
• In addition to the mystery itself, each group member must complete a peer review using the following format: (1) write one sentence about each group member’s work on the assignment (including yourself!); (2) pick one group member who think went above and beyond the call of duty, deserving special recognition; (3) if any group members did not participate fully in the assignment, make that clear. Type and print your peer evaluation, and seal it in an envelope. You will collect all group members’ evaluations and hand them in together.
  

Mysteries are due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the beginning of lecture. As a group, you will hand in (1) the web address for your project, and (2) all group members’ peer evaluations.