What is media literacy?
"Media literacy refers to composing, comprehending, interpreting,
analyzing, and appreciating the language and texts of...both print
and nonprint. The use of media presupposes an expanded definition
of 'text'...print media texts include books, magazines, and newspapers.
Nonprint media include photography, recordings, radio, film, television,
videotape, video games, computers, the performing arts, and
virtual reality...constantly interact...(and) all (are) to be experienced,
appreciated, and analyzed and created by students.
Flipping the Script: Critical Thinking in a Hip Hop World , is designed to help educators teach media literacy concepts and media production skills around the exciting and engaging theme of Hip-Hop culture and music.
Interactive Writer's Models
Analyze the elements of good writing with these interactive writer's models. Each model includes annotations and tips to help you be a good writer yourself.
Middle School
Grade 6 Grade 8
* Comparison-Contrast Essay
* Descriptive Essay
* How-to Explanation
* Informative Report
* Literary Comparison-Contrast Essay
* Personal Narrative
* Problem-Solution Essay
* Short Story
* Supporting a Position
Grade 7
* Business Letter
* Comparison-Contrast Essay
* Complex Process Essay with Word Processing Features
* Descriptive Essay
* Informative Report
* Literary Comparison-Contrast Essay
* Personal Narrative
* Persuasive Essay
* Problem-Solution Essay
* Short Story
* Supporting an Interpretation
* Business Letter
* Character Analysis
* Comparison-Contrast Essay
* Informative Report
* Instructions for Operating a Tool
* Literary Comparison-Contrast Essay
* Personal Narrative
* Problem-Solution Essay
* Review of a Novel
* Short Story
* Supporting a Position
High School
Grade 9 Grade 11
* Analysis of a Poem
* Analysis of a Short Story
* Autobiographical Narrative
* Comparison of a Play and a Film
* Comparison of Media Coverage
* Description of a Place
* Nonfiction Analysis
* Persuasive Cause-and-Effect Essay
* Persuasive Essay
* Research Paper
* Short Story
Grade 10
* Analysis of a Short Story
* Autobiographical Narrative
* Biographical Narrative
* Comparison of a Play and a Film
* Comparison of Media Genres
* Description of a Person
* Persuasive Essay
* Problem-Solution Analysis
* Research Paper
* Short Story
* Analysis of a Novel
* Editorial
* Historical Research Report
* Reflective Essay
* Short Story
Grade 12
* Analysis of Literature
* Comparison-Contrast of Literature
* Descriptive Essay
The 'Grammar' of Television and Film
Television and film use certain common conventions often referred to as the 'grammar' of these audiovisual media. This list includes some of the most important conventions for conveying meaning through particular camera and editing techniques (as well as some of the specialised vocabulary of film production).
Conventions aren't rules: expert practitioners break them for deliberate effect, which is one of the rare occasions that we become aware of what the convention is.
"These 34 animated films were created by students working with docUWM, a documentary media center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the University's creative writing program, in association with the Poetry Foundation"
Learning and Working in the Collaborative Age: A New Model for the Workplace
Pixar University's Randy Nelson explains what schools must do to prepare students for jobs in new media.
"Meet the Author
Introduce teens to the creators of their favorite books with our exclusive interviews with top young adult authors. Our interviews explore each author's life, writing process, and the back stories behind their most popular books. Meet the characters behind the characters!"
Before students can begin to study film, they must be provided with a focus.
There are many ways to look at a film. Posted below is a suggestion for teachers. Throughout this teacher guide for To Kill A Mockingbird, you will find numerous resources which touch on many of the characteristics listed below.
HOME > Today's Front Pages > Monday, August 24, 2009: 755 front pages from 73 countries.
The Newseum displays these daily newspaper front pages in their original, unedited form. Some front pages may contain material that is objectionable to some visitors. Viewer discretion is advised.
"Poets.org has partnered with TextTelevision to offer TextFlows, an alternative approach to reading and experiencing poetry. By converting text dynamically into Flash animation, poems are revealed phrase by phrase through motion and light, and at a pace controlled by the reader. The simplified words and crisp motion fixes one's attention on the subtleties of language, increasing involvement, engagement, and understanding"