Serial: Season One

What is a podcast? iPod + broadcast = podcast a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically. We are going to be listening to the Serial podcast.

Background Baltimore, Maryland January 13th, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a bright teenager, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed is arrested for her murder. He says he's innocent — though he can't remember what he was doing that afternoon. But someone can. A classmate at Woodlawn High School claims to know exactly where Adnan was. Trouble is, she’s nowhere to be found.

People to Know Sarah Koenig – staff producer at This American Life. She is the “investigator” and narrator for the podcast. Adnan Syed – (protagonist) Former student at Woodlawn High School. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, when he was 17. Jay – (antagonist) the state’s key witness against Adnan. He was a drug dealer who claims to know how Adnan killed Hae.

People to Know Rabia – friend of Adnan’s family and an attorney. Also the sister of Adnan’s good friend, Saad. Asia McClain – classmate of Adnan at Woodlawn. She claims to have an alibi for Adnan. Cristina Gutierrez- Adnan’s defense attorney. She had a great reputation as an attorney but was disbarred a year after she defended Adnan. Detectives Ritz and MacGillivary – lead homicide detectives on Hae’s case. They interview Jay multiple times.

Yearbook photos of Hae and Adnan

Vocabulary Episodes 1-3 Adjudicated – v. to make a formal judgment or decision. Affidavit – n. a written declaration made under oath. Besmirched – v. to damage the reputation in the opinion of others; to make dirty

Vocabulary Episodes 1-3 Chastise – v. to severely scold or lecture Duplicitous – adj. deceitfulness in speech or conduct by acting in two different ways Elation – n. a feeling of joy and/or pride Foliage - n. a collective unit of plants

Vocabulary Episodes 1-3 Heinous – adj. very evil or wicked Staunch – adj. characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty in character Tangible – adj. capable of being touched

Journal #2 In this story, a teenager is accused of murder and is asked to provide a detailed account of one particular afternoon in his past. How difficult is this? Try to provide a detailed account of everything you did in this class (English) last Tuesday. Then, try to give a detailed account of what you did for lunch that day. Now, think back to six weeks ago. Provide a detailed account of what you did on Monday, March 20th. You need to explain your whereabouts for each hour of the day. What made this difficult or easy?

How has this compared to the other things we have read? Journal #3 List at least 4 things you have liked or disliked about the Serial podcast. How has this compared to the other things we have read?