I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – The Final Portfolio

For this portfolio, I read a novel titled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings written by Maya Angelou. The novel encompassed various topics that allowed me to greaten my understanding of history and reality. This portfolio is based around one statement which I thought best represented the novel.

Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an excellent portrayal of Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” by demonstrating the journey plot, archetypal characters, and archetypal symbolism.

The four different types of media I will be providing to support my thesis statement will be a concept map, blog, podcast, and persuasive essay.

I chose the concept map to be able to organize my points in an artistic but factual manner. It includes images and short phrases to demonstrate my points. It will give the reader a brief introduction to my ideas in a way that is not too overwhelming for them. It is a toned-down, aesthetically pleasing version of my persuasive essay.

The blog post is effective because it is informal. It encourages discussion and allows me to voice my ideas with opinions. It allows me to use details that are not able to be conveyed in a concept map. The first person nature of a blog enables me to establish a connection with the reader.

The podcast is useful because it is an entirely different media form. All of the other media are written, while this one is spoken. A podcast is more informative but still has an informal tone. The tone which I communicate my information with can influence a reader’s interpretations.

The persuasive essay is beneficial as I can communicate my ideas in long paragraphs. This will allow me to provide immense detail in my analysis. On top of this, I can bolster my argument by using logos, ethos, and pathos in my writing. The unbalanced form of a persuasive essay allows me to focus more on specific topics as it lacks a concrete structure.

Throughout this course, I learned how to do a variety of things. I learned how to incorporate my voice into an essay, bolster my arguments, and create new media forms. It was certainly challenging at the beginning, but in hindsight, it is quite rewarding. I have learned the structure of various media forms, such as a podcast or blog while improving my writing skills and styles for each one. This portfolio may be challenging, but with the knowledge I have acquired throughout this course, I should be able to tackle it effectively.