Standard Support Document
for Nonprint Sources (texts) REVISED 7/25/08
authored by Frank Baker, media ed consultant,
fbaker1346@aol.com
(Note: this document was prepared for the South Carolina State Department of
Education English Language Arts team,
in support of the newly revised ELA Standards. The document may appear on the
SCDE website in a modified form.)
IRA/NCTE Standards for The English Arts
http://www.readwritethink.org/standards/
6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions
(e.g., spelling and punctuation),
media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and
discuss print and nonprint texts.
8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g.,
libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize
information and to create and communicate knowledge.
SCDE ELA Standards: Guiding Principle 8
An effective English language arts curriculum provides for literacy in all forms
of media to prepare
students to live in an information-rich society.
SCDE ELA
Standards: Guiding
Principle 9
An effective English language arts curriculum emphasizes informational text that is relevant to our increasingly complex and technological world.
.
SCDE definition of nonprint sources: Sources of information that are not
primarily in written form (for example, pictures and photographs, television and
radio productions, the Internet, films, movies, videotapes, and live
performances). Some nonprint sources (for example, the Internet) may also
contain print information.
Asking questions: One of most effective ways of approaching nonprint
sources is by having students ask questions. It starts at the earliest of ages:
“Kindergarten
students generate
how
and
why
questions about topics of
interest. They understand how to use print and nonprint sources of information.
They classify information by constructing categories.” This is the start of
critical thinking and critical viewing, both of which are part of what is now
known as “media literacy.”
From Guiding Principle 8: “The skills of critical inquiry—the ability to
question and analyze a message, whether it be textual, visual, auditory, or a
combination of these—are a crucial element in literacy instruction. The
production of visual media is also a crucial element enabling students to
acquire and demonstrate an understanding of advertising, aesthetic techniques,
audience, bias, propaganda, and intellectual purpose. Integrating into the ELA
curriculum the vocabulary and skills associated with media presentations helps
students develop lifelong habits of critical thinking.”
Recommendation: to help students understand how nonprint sources work, it may be
helpful to start by first teaching students about photographs/images; then move
to print advertisements which incorporate images; lastly on to moving images
(commercials, TV, film) (Since visual literacy is a large part of the arts
curriculum, you may wish to collaborate with an art teacher on helping students
understand this concept.)
PHOTOGRAPH & PICTURES (VISUAL LITERACY)
Photographs, pictures and other images exist everywhere in the world of our
students. From books, to magazines, newspapers and billboards, images are a big
part of their world. What do we want students to know and understand about
visual images? How do students derive meaning from what they view? Students
should recognize that photos/images are texts too, non-print texts. And like
all texts, they need to be studied and understood for how they are created to
make meanings. This can start in elementary school with picture books and
helping students understand how images can be “read.” Photographers/image makers
use a number of techniques to create pictures. Those techniques include color,
framing, focusing, depth-of-field, perspective (point-of-view) and more. Viewers
of photos/images bring prior knowledge, experience and more to these texts.
Since photos can also be digitally alerted, it is important for students to be
able to question images, much the same way as they do traditional texts.
Additionally, photos and
other images can be catalysts to help motivate students’ writing.
Standards
Grade 3 Researching
Applying the Skills Inquiry & Oral Communications
3-6.2 Use print sources (for example, books, magazines, charts, graphs,
diagrams, dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and thesauri) and nonprint
sources (for example, pictures, photographs, video, and television) to access
information.
|
SC Textbook Correlations |
Websites (Grades 3-8) |
Teacher Texts (Grades 4-12) |
Reference Articles |
|
|
Visual Literacy & Picture Books: An explanation of how
visual Literacy
can be used to enhance classroom literacy programs
|
Reading Images (Chapter 7), from Illuminating Texts: How To Teach
Students to Read the World, by Jim Burke, Heinemann
|
Literacy
Inquiry and Pedagogy through a Photographic Lens |
Media Literacy: Introduction and Brief Background
|
Teachers may wish
to start by familiarizing older students with the general 5 Core
Concepts of media literacy:
1. what do I need
to know in order to best understand how this was created and what it
might mean?
|
Standards
7.6 The student will access and use information from a variety of sources.
7-6.6 Select appropriate graphics, in print or electronic form, to support
written works, oral presentations, and visual presentations.
7-6.7 Use a variety of
print and electronic reference materials.
Grade 8 Reading
Understanding and Using Informational Texts
Standard 8. 2 The student will read and comprehend a variety of
informational
texts in print
and nonprint formats.
8-2.4 Create responses to informational texts through a variety of methods
(for example, drawings, written works, oral and auditory presentations, discussions, and media productions).
8-2.5 Analyze the impact that text elements (for example, print styles and chapter headings) have on the meaning of a given informational text.
8-2.6 Analyze information
from graphic features (for example, charts and graphs) in informational texts.
|
SC Textbook Correlation |
Websites (6-12) |
Texts (6-12) |
Videos (6-12) |
|
Visuals &
Graphics, Interpreting
(Chapter 10) |
Teaching
Strategies: Photography Project
Reading Photographs
|
Reading Images (Chapter 7), from Illuminating Texts: How To Teach
Students to Read the World, by Jim Burke, Heinemann
|
ETV Streamline:
|
EDITORIAL CARTOONS
Editorial
cartoons, in newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet, are another rich source
of visual material that students should be exposed to and understand. Like
photographs, they can be “read” as visual texts in order to be better
understood. Not only should students analyze (read) editorial cartoons, they
should also be given opportunities to create (produce) them as well. Author
bias, prior knowledge, symbolism, parody, humor, irony can come into play and
students can begin to identify these concepts via cartoons.
Standard
Grade 8 Reading
Understanding and Using Informational Texts
Standard 8. 2 The student will read and comprehend a variety of
informational texts in print and nonprint formats.
From the standards: Students in grade eight read informational
(expository/persuasive/argumentative) texts of the following types:
essays, historical documents, research reports, contracts, position papers (for
example, persuasive brochures, campaign literature), editorials, letters to the
editor, informational trade books, textbooks, news and feature articles,
magazine articles, advertisements, encyclopedia entries, reviews (for example,
book, movie, product), journals, and speeches. They also read directions,
schedules, and recipes embedded in informational texts. In addition, they
examine commercials, documentaries, and other forms of nonprint informational
texts.
8-2.4 Create responses to informational texts through a variety of methods
(for example, drawings, written works, oral and auditory presentations, discussions, and media productions).
8-2.5 Analyze the impact that text elements (for example, print styles and chapter headings) have on the meaning of a given informational text.
8-2.6 Analyze information from graphic features (for example, charts and graphs) in informational texts.
8-2.7 Identify the use of
propaganda techniques (including card stacking, plain folks, and transfer) in
informational texts.
| SC Textbook Correlation (6-12) | Recommended Websites (6-12) | Other Text Recommendations (6-12) |
|
Interpreting Political Cartoons, (many scattered throughout the text) Magruder's American Government (2005 Prentice Hall) Editorial Cartoons, pp. 683;797 in World History: Connections To Today (2005 Prentice Hall) Interpreting Political Cartoons (various scattered through the text) US Government: Democracy In Action (2006, Glencoe) Up for adoption: 2008 Media Smart Strategies for Analyzing Media (DVD Chapter: Editorial Cartoons) McDougal-Littell |
Daryl Cagle's
Editorial Cartoons (see also Teacher's Guide)
Cartoon Analysis
Worksheet
|
Analyzing
Political Cartoons Chapter 8, pp. 179-183, from Building Literacy in Social Studies (ASCD, 2007) The Best Political Cartoons of the Year, 2008 Edition http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/BookPromo/ (earlier editions also available)
|
ADVERTISING: COMMERCIALS
Moving images,
such as televised/streamed commercials, offer rich material for young people to
study. They contain “techniques of persuasion/propaganda” which are also found
in everyday life, not just advertising. Every day, we are exposed to literally
thousands of messages, many of which are advertising and marketing. From toy ads
to political candidate messages, to car and food ads: all are easily accessible
via television and the web. These ads can be analyzed (read) and created
(produced) by students. Like print advertisements, commercials offer teachers a
chance to help young people better understand “media literacy” as well as the
“techniques of persuasion/propaganda” and the “language of television ads.” If
you have the equipment and know how, students can also be encouraged to create
actual commercials. If you don’t have it, your students can still create their
own scripts and storyboards.
Elementary Standards
Reading: Understanding and Using Informational Texts
Grade 5
Standard 5-2 The
student will read and comprehend a variety of informational texts in print and
nonprint formats.
|
Students in grade five read informational (expository/persuasive/argumentative) texts of the following types: essays, historical documents, informational trade books, textbooks, news and feature articles, magazine articles, advertisements, encyclopedia entries, reviews (for example, book, movie, product), journals, and speeches. They also read directions, maps, time lines, graphs, tables, charts, schedules, recipes, and photos embedded in informational texts. In addition, they examine commercials, documentaries, and other forms of nonprint informational texts. |
|
SC Textbook Correlation |
Texts (grades 3-5) |
Websites (grades 3-5) |
Videos (Grades 3-5) |
|
NA |
The Berenstain
Bears and the Trouble with Commercials (HarperCollinsChildrens) |
Buy Me That: How
TV Toy Commercials Hook Kids (SDE Lesson Plan) http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/cso/ standards/ela/Grades3-5ToyCommercials.doc Food Ad Deconstruction (learn how to read, analyze, deconstruct print ads from magazines) http://www.frankwbaker.com/ foodaddeconstructions.htm Lesson Plan: Food Ad Tricks (how food stylists make food look good for TV) http://www.frankwbaker.com/ food_ad_tricks.htm Don’t Buy It (PBS Kids) http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit |
Streamline videos: |
Standards
Grade 6 Writing
Producing Written Communication In A Variety of Forms
6-5.4 Create persuasive writings (for example: print advertisements and
commercial scripts) that develop a central idea with supporting evidence and use
language appropriate for the specific audience.
Grade 6 Reading
Standard 6.2 The
student will read and comprehend a variety of informational texts in print and
nonprint formats.
6- 2.9 Identify
propaganda techniques (including testimonials and bandwagon) in informational
texts.
7-2.7 Identify the
use of propaganda techniques (including glittering
generalities and
name calling) in informational texts.
8-2.7 Identify the
use of propaganda techniques (including card stacking, plain folks, and
transfer) in informational texts.
E12.7 Analyze propaganda techniques in informational texts.
Note: items in red added after SCDE document
was published
|
SC Textbook |
Videos |
Websites |
Texts/Periodicals |
|
Up for Adoption
2008: |
ETV Streamline:
Ad-Libbing It is
an irreverent look at how advertisers try to hook young people on
cigarettes and alcohol. Understand how different media affect the way we feel about ourselves and influence the health choices we make.
|
Scriptwriting In
The Classroom (PSAs, Commercials, News, Film)
|
Texts:
|
Motion Pictures: Understanding the Language of Film
Students love the movies and for the most part can talk intelligently about
them. But many students don’t fully understand that films are also texts, which
need to be read too. Films are rich texts with many layers to study and
appreciate. Even elementary students should be asked: how are films made? Film
makers have at their disposal a number of technical/production tools that
comprise the languages of film: cameras, lights, sound/music, editing, set
design, etc. Students should be encouraged not only to analyze (deconstruct)
films, but also to create and produce their own PSAs, videos, or films (provided
your school has video production and editing capability.) Photo Story 3
(Windows) is free, user-friendly software that allows students to create their
own productions by adding narration or sound to their images—thus making a
“movie.” iMac computers come fully loaded with easy-to-use movie creating
software. If you don’t have access to software, students can still create
scripts, screenplays and storyboards for visual productions. Students can also
learn how to write film reviews.
Elementary Standards
Grade 3 Research
Applying the Skills of Inquiry & Oral Communication
3-6.2 Use print sources (for example, books, magazines, charts, graphs,
diagrams, dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and thesauri) and nonprint
sources (for example, pictures, photographs, video, and television) to access
information.
5.1 The student will read and comprehend a variety of literary texts in print
and nonprint formats.
|
SC Textbook Correlation |
Websites (3-5) |
Texts/Periodicals (3-5) |
Video (3-5) |
|
NA |
Teacher’s Guide to
Making Student Movies (Scholastic)
(Knowitall)
|
Texts: |
Available for
purchase
Making Grimm
Movies (companion to From The Brothers Grimm series by Davenport Films)
sixty-minute video divided into three parts |
Standard
Grade 6 Reading
Standard 6. 2
The student will read and comprehend a variety of informational
texts in print and
nonprint formats.
Understanding and Using Informational Texts
6-2.4 Create responses to informational texts through a variety of methods
(for example, drawings,
written works, oral and auditory presentations, discussions, and media
productions).
Grade 8 Reading
Understanding and Using Informational Texts
Standard 8. 2 The student will read and comprehend a variety of
informational texts in print and nonprint formats.
From the standards: Students in grade eight read informational
(expository/persuasive/argumentative) texts of the following types: essays,
historical documents, research reports, contracts, position papers (for example,
persuasive brochures, campaign literature), editorials, letters to the editor,
informational trade books, textbooks, news and feature articles, magazine
articles, advertisements, encyclopedia entries, reviews (for example, book,
movie, product), journals, and speeches. They also read directions,
schedules, and recipes embedded in informational texts. In addition, they
examine commercials, documentaries, and other forms of nonprint
informational texts.
SC Textbook Correlation
|
Video Resources (6-12) |
|
|
Motion Picture Photography (Chapter 13)
|
ETV Streamline |
FILM: Media Wise,
American Cinematographer
http://www.theasc.com/
|
Teacher’s Guide:
Academy Award Series
|
Note: the author maintains the Media Literacy Clearinghouse web site, www.frankwbaker.com at which teachers can locate additional resources/lesson plans/activities/books related to all of the above topics.