Create an Advertisement

Today, I handed back the work you did with the magazines you analyzed last week.  These worksheets are to be filed in your work portfolio, under "Formative Assessment."

I then distributed an "Ad Planning Page," and gave each student a specific target audience.  Every student was then asked to create an advertisement to sell a WHITE TOWEL to the target audience he/she was given.  As you work through the planning page, consider which persuasive techniques would likely work best, given your target audience, and also which visuals/headline/concept will most appeal to your audience.

Plans were due today, and completed ads are due on Wednesday.

Catch up class!

Because more than half our class was away today on a field trip, we used today's class as an opportunity to catch up on all missed work.  Here is what you should have already submitted to me:

• Letter essay on your Literature Circle book
• Character web for a character from your L.C. book
• Poetry test
• "Dead Poets' Society" Questions
• "Little Mermaid" gender representation summary

If you have not submitted all of these, then you are currently in danger of not completing the course.  Please ensure that you have turned in all these assignments!

Gender Roles in "The Little Mermaid"

We finished watching "The Little Mermaid" today, continuing to analyze the gender roles as they are represented in this film.  Students were challenged to consider the appearance, behaviour, mannerisms, goals and dreams of the male and female characters, and to decide what one might learn about each gender, were this film used as evidence of how to be male/female.

After we concluded the film, students wrote a paragraph about each gender and how it was represented in the film.  If you were away and are able to finish the movie at home this weekend, you can access the paragraph form on the side, here.

Stereotypes in Movies and TV

We read two pieces of informational text today, one on the "other" in TV and movies, and one on the portrayal of Arabs in TV and movies.  What we discovered is that there is heavy reliance on stereotypes in TV and movies, particularly with ethnic minorities.  We talked about the number of action/suspense movies we've seen where the villian is an immigrant.  This perpetuates (continues) the notion that immigrants are bad people, or people to be feared.

I had students fill out a post-it note before leaving, either stating something they had learned this class, or posing a question that came out of today's lesson.  We will consider these questions next day.  Students were asked to pick a TV show that claims to represent real life, to study for homework.  Choose three or four of the main characters, and note appearances and behaviours.  We will talk next day about whether those characters fall into stereotypical categories.

We will also begin watching a Disney movie next class, to study the genders as they are represented in a film for children.

Introduction to Media Literacy

I handed back poetry quizzes to start today's class.  If you would like to take a re-test, you need to set up an appointment with me for a poetry tutorial.

Then, we began our media literacy unit.  I shared the "ABC's of Brands," an alphabet constructed out of logos from companies.  Students tried to figure out which letters belonged to which companies.  Most students were able to identify almost all of them!  We then discussed what it meant that so many of them were familiar with these brands.  If you were away, or you want to test your friends, you can access the ABCs of Brands sheet from the link at the side, here.

Then, we began learning some new language for speaking about media.  I shared some key terms and concepts, and we made it through the first five before the bell.  We will continue learning the language of media next class.

Dead Poets Society

We finished watching the movie, "Dead Poets' Society" today, and we spent a little bit of time debriefing once it was over.  We talked about the pressures Neil felt to do what his father wanted, and how realistic we found this scenario.  We also discussed the significance of the final scene, when all the students stand on their desks and say, "O Captain, My Captain" to Mr. Keating.  We thought it was their way of showing their respect and letting him know they were sorry for signing that letter.

Please complete the questions for Monday's class.  If you have lost them, you can access a copy at the side, here.

Poetry Quiz

Most of today's class was dedicated to the writing of our poetry quiz.  I will try to have these marked and back to you by next class.  I will return them on Monday at the latest.  If you missed class today, please see me to find out when you should write your quiz.

We then watched the next twenty minutes of "Dead Poets' Society."  We will finish the film next class.