ACADEMIC ENGLISH 4
Language Institute
VAN LANG UNIVERSITY
A MANUAL FOR
STORYTELLING
PROJECT
Table of Contents




!"#
$#
%&
'(&
()*++&
+&
,-&
,.'
,/00+
102+
34
,-56
7%0.6
0)084*#
'9.&
&
I. Description
0:9;0;
900
The objectives of the project are stated as follows:
Storytelling Project
Objectives 499<
%=00
%90.0 %
.)%0.;%;%9;%*
000
Tasks 1.':6
>0400059.
>0994
04044
0=0
II. Process
1. Overall Timeline and Penalty/Bonus
09Lesson 10Lesson 1249
90(
Phase Activities Submission Penalty/Bonus
Phase 1: Introduction and
Planning
(Lessons 1-4)
:(0
;9
"
:;
9;

:/0
0Roles
Template
:0
0

:
004

:%0Brainstorming
Guidelines Worksheet0
90
)
9*
:90Roles
Presentation Draft
4.00
90(
Penalty for late submission
of the portfolio
:940
0):?6*
:(940
0):?6*
:(940
0):?&6*
:@9):*
Phase 2:
Development and Practice
(Lessons 5-9)
:%0



:%440
"
40
:%
9.
Phase 3: Finalization and
Submission
(Lessons 10-12)
:$A
:70Project Checklist
0
"
:/00
.
9all  Penalty for Late Submission
of Products
::940
<:?6
:(940
<:?&6
'

:(940
<:
Collaboration Penalties
(individual)
: @9)?B
9*):*
:C9)D'?B
9*):?&6*
:(9)D6?B
9*):?6*
Bonus:
::9<
E400
)E*
E400
)E?&6*
E(400
)E?6*
E(400
)E?6*
2. Suggested Topics for Project Brainstorming
Textbook Unit Topic Suggested Problem
Reading & Writing 7# $( .9
0
7& 30 .0
00
7F C40C 40

7G -0 C4.
A
7? 04 $..
9040
Listening & Speaking 7# 30$ C0
0
7& 3)30* @09
00
7F ((- -.;
40

7G !040@ %H00.
7? 341% -09

6
III. Product Requirements
% 
1. Format
:7;)0*;

:55)*
.
Video Presentation (GROUP WORK) :7Microsoft PowerPoint0
0
:0camera400

:,(0: 13-16 minutes (at
least 2 minutes per speaker).
 (4-5 minutes):
00
0:
0
0)Story of Self*
%00
H00
)Story of Us*
=5400
409
)Story of Now*
00
900
)9490
0*
(5-6 minutes):
.
70

4
0000
%(4-5 minutes)
A0
0I0

=40
=509H);
;*
!)*
#
2. Content
Story %09

=000
5
4:0;
;
0
3. Language
:??B=0
:7
:9
0
4. List of references (optional)
+
:0;
0--
++
++
<
0<4444@1%:
5(9--:%:
3+
IV. Assessment
090group and individual components
9<
Group Grade (4 points)J=0product";0
.;0)8*;. -9
0
Individual Grade (6 points)J-0Ivideo presentation;
;;;9%9;0;
throughout the processA9
&
1. Group Grade (Video & story – 4 Points)
Product (4 points) – Group grade=+
+ 1 0.75 0.5 0.25
Format
-40'
;
9;
,06:#
40.

%;
5000

-
40)0
;9;
*
,0: 
40
.6:G

C5
00
940

-
404
,0G:
40
.: 

,5
40

40

9?6
Introduction
%0

=040
)*;
0I
)7*;
0000I
)@4*
%0
0
90
0
0
;9.
-0
40
;90
0I
0I
4.
00
;9
.
90
0;90
.
$
0

040
;0

0I
0I
00
0


0
0
40

9?6
F
Body
,0
;
.

0
;4:A
0;
0

,;
0;
949

.
0
0
;
0
34;0
.0
A
,;
0;

;

0
90
;

0
40

9?6
Conclusion KA
;00
0


0I0
000
040
;
00
400
=09I0
5;
00009

K
A9.

0I
099
004:

040
;9
9
=09I
5;90
9
9000
K
A
0I
09.0

0
404.

=09I
;90
59

A
40

9?6
G
9 
2. Individual Grade (Video Presentation - 6 Points)
Language (4 points)- Individual
2 1.5 1 0.5
Grammar &
Cohesion
Shows a mixture of
grammatical
structures with a few
mistakes that do not
significantly affect
comprehension
Links ideas with a
range of cohesive
devices and discourse
markers but not
always appropriately
Performance shares
features of Bands 2
and 1
Performance shares
features of Bands 2
and 1
Shows a mixture of
grammatical
structures with some
mistakes that may
affect comprehension
Links ideas with a
limited range of
cohesive devices and
discourse markers
with significant errors
Shows only limited
control of a few
grammatical forms
with a lot of mistakes
that may affect
Comprehension
Does not link ideas
with cohesive devices
and discourse markers
.
Vocabulary Uses a wide range of
vocabulary and
shows some eorts
of avoiding lexical
repeon.
Has generally high
lexical accuracy
despite some
confusion and
incorrect word
choices.
Uses a basic range of
vocabulary and oen
repeats words.
Has basic lexical
accuracy with
frequent confusion
and incorrect word
choices.
Uses a very limited
range of vocabulary
and struggles to avoid
repeon.
Has low lexical
accuracy with many
incorrect word
choices and
confusion.
?
Content Delivery (1 point)- Individual
1 0.75 0.5 0.25
Pronuncia'on &
Voice projec'on
Pronounces
individual sounds
clearly and
accurately.
Places word stress
correctly and uses
sentence stress
effectively.
Enhances meaning
with accurate
intonation patterns.
Speaks clearly and
confidently, using
appropriate volume
and variation in voice
to engage listeners
effectively.
Arculates
individual sounds
clearly with
occasional errors.
Places word stress
mostly accurately
and makes eorts
with sentence
stress.
Uses intonaon to
enhance meaning
but may lack
consistency.
Speaks clearly but
may somemes be
too quiet or lack
variaon in voice,
making it harder to
maintain listener
engagement.
Makes frequent
errors with individual
sounds but is
generally
understandable.
Misplaces word stress
occasionally, leading
to some
mispronunciaons.
A&empts intonaon
but may not always
enhance meaning.
Speaks too quietly or
boringly, making it
hard for listeners to
stay engaged and
understand the
message.
Struggles with
individual sounds,
leading to frequent
mispronunciaons.
Places word stress
incorrectly oen,
making speech hard
to understand.
Uses intonaon
rarely and
ineecvely.
Speaks too quietly or
in a boring manner,
making it very
di'cult for listeners
to stay engaged and
understand the
message.
Body language (1 point)- Individual
1
0.75
0.5
0.25
Body Language Sits up/stands up
straight and looks
calm and con)dent.
Sits up/stands up
straight but seems
not very con)dent.
Oen leans down or
doesn’t sit/stand
straight.
Almost never looks at
the camera.
Face shows no feeling

Oen looks at the
camera.
Face shows feelings
that match the
message of the
presentaon.
Somemes looks at
the camera.
Face shows some
feelings.
Rarely looks at the
camera.
Face shows li&le
feeling.
or does not match
the message of the
presentaon.

V. Backup Plan
09409military trainingother
valid reasons (such as illness)(490prior contributions and
additional tasks
Phase & Lessons Situations & Possible Solutions
Phase 1: Introduction
and Planning (Lessons
1-4)
90
After returning, students will be assigned additional
tasks to compensate for their absence.
Suggested additional tasks:
-A90
0
-A0
Phase 2: Development
and Practice (Lessons 5-
9)
90
After returning, students will be assigned additional
tasks to compensate for their absence.
=0
40000

Phase 3: Finalization
and Submission
(Lessons 10-12)
90
:If the students cannot participate in recording the video with
their group, 09
0
v -.9909
99
v %9949

v Group Note:If a group member is absent and cannot
participate in the recording, the group will present the
entire prepared content, including the absent member's
section.
v Individual Note< To ensure individual accountability, the
absent student must record a video answering the
reflection questions for individual grading. The group
'
grade will still be assessed collectively with the other
members.
0940
94
1. Presentation Format
7Microsoft PowerPoint0
00
7Microsoft Teams/Stream0
90.0
04
0camera400

0minimum1 - 2 minutes(Depending
on the minimum presentation time requirement applied
to each specific project. Please refer to the rubric and
inform the students accordingly.)
2. Submission Deadline
90.00
no later than 3 days after the 12th class session
0
VI. Guide to using the attached portfolio+
1. What is a Portfolio?+
-;;040;.;
0<
L300400
L.;;
L9I; ;

2. How to use
Online Portfolio<000400
0490
34;  0  0       
9.90
0)40*4990

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VII. Appendix
1. Project Understanding Checklist
(For Lecturers: This is an optional activity that can be used to assess students' understanding of
the project from Lesson 1. It provides valuable insights into their learning progress.*
Choose the best answer for each question
1. What to submit
100"902
-

%-

2. Implementation
How will your group (3-5 students) complete the project?
-=090
.99
%(00
3. Timeline
100904.0)!8*2
-(:
(6:G
%(?:+
10092
-(
(G
%(
6
In this part, lecturers and students can find:
1. Project Understanding Checklist for Lesson 1
2. Story Ideas for the project
3. Suggested ideas to give feedback for Phase 1
4. Samples for
- Brainstorming Guidelines .
- Presentation Draft
- Script
- Video group presentation and teacher’s grade.
- Self-Reflection
2. Some suggested ideas for the stories (Photos & Interviews)
(For Lecturers: ideas can be used to instruct students to brainstorm the topic.)+
Topics in the BooksforReading -Writing and Listening-Speaking
Unit Topics
(Reading-
Writing)
Problem Picture Idea Interview Question
7#<$
(
.
9

0

0
.;9
;0
.40
90
2
7&<
30

.0
00
-

0:
.
102
9;;
02
7F<C
40C
40



-

40

%0
0.210
2
7G<-
0
C4

.A
-

04
0.A
92102
7?<0
4
$.
.
90
-0
-:

39.
04210
02
Unit Topics
(Listening-
Speaking)
Problem Picture Idea Interview Question
7#<3
0$
C
0

0
-0
0
5
9
100.
00;0
2
7&<3

)30*
@
09
00
-
4:

3402
0
2
7F<(
(-
-.
;
4
0

--:

9

0.-
021040
2
7G<
!040
@
%H
00
.
-4
40
.
4004
.2102
#

7?<341
%
-
09



-09

4.

10.
-2
102
3. Suggested ideas to give feedback
(For Lecturers: Teachers can use the checklist to give Feedback for students after they complete
Phase 1)
1/ Is the Brainstorming Guidelines Template well completed?==
== Yes = No=
2/ Is the idea feasible? =
Yes = No=
3/ Are the roles and responsibilities of each group member clearly defined?=
Yes = No=
4/ Is there a clear plan for how the information will be collected and analyzed?=
Yes = No=
5/ Are there some drafted interview questions? =
Yes = No=
6/ Do the drafted interview questions match the purpose of the project? =
Yes No==
7/ Did the group submit all of the following worksheets?=
Roles=
= Yes= = No=
Narrative and Presentation Draft=
Yes= = No=
If not, which worksheet(s) wasn’t/weren’t submitted?
4. Samples
Brainstorming Guidelines
Storytelling Project
a. Project Topic
💡In groups of 3-5;40choose ONE0494M
Option 1: Choose a
given topic
00-5)C*
N0<(Unit 6) - The Decline of Face-to-Face
Communication in the Digital Age
b. Information collection
&
💡In your group;which form of information you will collect: real
pictures OR/ AND interview videos.
9090094440<
Form of
Information
Collection
Tools
Needed
Ideas
!
ü
0;
090
)*<
We take photos in public spaces (cafeterias,
libraries) to see how students communicate with
each other
4
ü
04;
OPEN–ENDED "0
9"94
Question 1:
How often do you use your smartphones?
Question 2:
Do you prefer texting or talking in person? Why?
Question 3:
What do you think about some advantages of digital
communication?
Question 4:
What are some disadvantages when you chat with
others via apps?
Narrative and Video Presentation draft
💡 In your group, discuss the questions below and plan your project accordingly
Product Requirements
Section
Activities Key Points / Notes
(Do not use full sentences)
INTRODUCTION (4-5 minutes)
F
Opening & Team
introduction
0
0
We are Group [X] from [Class Name].
Introduce the members’ names [Name]
Our important topic: The Decline of Face-
to-Face Communication in the Digital Age.
Story of Self 0
:
0
0
Last week, lunch with friends à Everyone
focused on phones à losing real
conversation???
Story of Us %0
0H
0
0
similar experiences: students sit together
but don’t talk => a widespread issue
Story of Now =5400
40
9
a major social shift - affect relationships,
mental well-being, and communication skills
à investigate the causes and impacts of this
change
Purpose of the
Project
0
0

To find why face-to-face communication
is declining and how it affects people
socially and emotionally
To explore ways to maintain real human
connections
Research Methods 90
0
)9
490
0*
Observations –in public spaces
(cafeterias, libraries) à to see how students
communicate
Interviews –ask about students’
preferences and experiences with face-to-
face vs. digital communication
(Insert a short clip of students sitting
together but using their phones instead of
talking.)
BODY (5-6 minutes)
Findings ':6
9
490
4
)70
0
(1) Observations – Photos & Videos
some real images from our university:
(Show images of students in groups using
phones instead of talking)
=> in social settings, students often prefer
G