Introducing Story+, a New Summer Research Opportunity

February 8, 2017

Story+

How do we tell compelling stories about complex historical, cultural and social realities? What goes into creating great stories that stay with the audience, and even change minds?

Story+ is a new six-week summer research experience for undergraduate and graduate students interested in bringing academic research to life through dynamic storytelling.

Undergraduates will work in small teams with graduate student mentors, in a collaborative and creative research environment. Each project will have a client. Students will learn to conduct qualitative, humanities-based research (e.g., archival research, narrative analysis, visual analysis, ethnography) and to communicate their research through effective storytelling techniques.

Final projects may take the form of writing, websites, exhibits, short films or other genres, depending on the project's goals.

Story+ is offered through the Franklin Humanities Institute and Bass Connections, in partnership with Versatile Humanists at Duke.

Story+ Project Teams for Summer 2017

Participation Details

Story+ will take place during Summer Term 1 (May 17-June 28). Undergraduate participants will receive a stipend of $3,000, out of which they must arrange their own housing and travel (residence halls are open for the summer term). This is a full-time program: undergraduate participants may not accept employment or take classes during the program.

Each project team will be led by at least one graduate student mentor, who will receive $2,500 in research funds. The weekly time commitment for graduate student mentors is approximately 12-15 hours.

Project teams will work in collaborative work space at the Franklin Humanities Institute, as well as at offsite locations to collect data. Students will also participate in regular learning lunches related to effective storytelling techniques.

Eligibility

Story+ is open to:

  • All undergraduates, except graduating seniors
  • All graduate students, with preference given to doctoral students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.

How to Apply

Students may apply to one or more of five projects. The application consists of two short essays, a resume, a writing sample, an unofficial transcript and contact information for two references. Graduate students interested in a mentoring role on a Story+ team should follow the same application process.

Deadline

The deadline for priority consideration of applications is Friday, March 3, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. Applicants will be notified by the end of March.