This section of English 177: Literature and Popular Culture, The Graphic Novel was designed to teach students to "make compelling arguments about and in various media" and to produce a "professional-like final product that represents their work to the world at large." While twice weekly lectures by Professor Robin Valenza…

Courses: Communication and civic participation course; rhetorical theory, political communication, leadership. Objective: Students will explore citizenship through role models and story-telling. (Contains 1 table.)

Thousands of African Americans were banished from their communities by violent mobs in the late nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth. The banishments happened quickly, sometimes overnight. Mobs would often lynch one or more men and then go through town burning down homes and churches and shooting at individuals. The African…

This study guide has been developed to accompany the film "Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh." The guide is organized in two sections: Preview and Postview. In the Preview, students are introduced to Hannah Senesh. They learn the historical context of her story, and they begin to consider some of the main themes…

This article consists of two parts. The first part provides an overview of Muslim Americans and the role of Islam in their lives. The second part of the article includes a classroom exercise about how to teach Islam and Muslim Americans. The main vehicle for this exercise is a PBS documentary titled "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet." The exercise…

A television documentary series on information technology was used as core material for a general sociology elective. College students viewed programs at home and completed written assignments from an instructor-prepared study guide oriented to understanding sociological perspectives and concepts and applying them to issues related to information…

Discusses the need for a bridge between the literatures of contemporary media studies and critical pedagogy. Argues that the theorization of pedagogy offers significant contributions in both the classroom and in the literatures of contemporary media and cultural studies. Describes a course on the theory and practice of the video documentary, and…

Describes the production of an hour-long television documentary on the quality of education in a community as an important learning experience for students of broadcast journalism. (PD)

The documentary is an excellent vehicle for providing to students an inclass experience of a trial and can be used effectively for the purpose of simulating the problems and challenges of trial reporting. (HOD)

Describes how the documentary, "The Eye of the Storm," can be used to sensitize students to the dynamics of discrimination and prejudice. Argues that while the video focuses on racial discrimination, it unintentionally documents experiences of subtle gender prejudice that can be valuable to classroom discussions of gender interaction and…

Reviews the content of 19 films on remote sensing published between 1973 and 1980. Concludes that they are overly simplistic, notably outdated, and generally too optimistic about the potential of remote sensing from space for resource exploration and environmental problem-solving. Provides names and addresses of more current remote sensing…

Three components seem central to the definition of a documentary film: (1) the filmmaker should seek to provide as valid a record as possible of the facts, (2) the filmmaker must not neglect artistry in the portrayal of reality, and (3) a persuasive purpose is inherent to the form. Thus, documentary film provides for the artistic portrayal of…

Developed by classroom teachers during the development phase of Minnesota's Graduation Standards, this performance package is made up of locally designed assignments that, taken together, show whether a student has learned and can apply the knowledge and skills related to creating a "video portrait" (a 13- to 15-minute persuasive…

This document is intended to improve the critical viewing skills and increase the understanding and appreciation of what is viewed. Included are the chapters: (1) "Critical Thinking: The Parts of an Argument," intended to develop a process to help a person judge arguments in what is read, seen, and heard; (2) "Critical Viewing:…