ELA 9: Visuals and Multi-Media
Mr. Steel
As mandated by Alberta Learning, all students are
responsible for the interpretation of visual media and "multi-media."
In my English classes, we will focus primarily on the interpretation of art and
photography, since these are the sorts of "media" that appear on the
provincial examinations. However, time permitting, we will also interpret
non-verbal musical compositions (jazz, classical, world music, etc.); other
forms of "multi-media" will have been encountered throughout our
coursework (ex.: internet, magazines, film, audio, etc).
WORK AND ASSESSMENT
Minor Assignments
Every student will write a
short (at least one page, double spaced) reflection on the message transmitted
by 5 images (either art or photography) available in the classroom. As with
other reflective responses, student writing ought not to be simply descriptive
("I see this, and this, and this"); rather, responses must be
interpretative and demonstrate some depth of engagement with the artistic message(s)
portrayed in each chosen piece.
Major Assignment
Students will write an
in-class Personal Response to an
image supplied by the teacher. This exercise is meant to model the experience
of writing the Personal Response that all students must write during their
provincial examinations.