Question of the Week (5/11/12)

For this week's post you need to accomplish two things:

1) Write about the ways that you currently use technology to help and improve your learning. For example, you may use google docs to keep all of your written work easily accessible, or you may use google calendar to remind you of important events and appointments.

2) Uncover some new technological tools to help your learning. For example, if you are disorganized, find a tech tool to help you become more organized. Discuss how you would implement this tool into your learning life.

The goal here is to think about the ways technology helps you in an educational setting. Be sure to respond to a classmates' response and to post by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Have a great weekend.

Question of the Week (5/4/12)

Choose one of the articles posted on the Media Literacy class website (see links below as well) and respond in writing. Briefly summarize the article in a couple of sentences. Take notes as you read the article and ask yourself questions. These questions will stimulate your thinking. Then tackle the questions in your post. When writing a reaction piece, your writing will be more opinionated, but you need to be sure to back up that opinion with fact from the article.  Your post should be around 250-300 words and include a response to another classmates' posting. Post by 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Read these articles in preparation for Friday's(May 4, 2012) blog post:

Insulin Pumps, Monitors, Vulnerable to Hacking

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=8289545

Why Johnny Can’t Program

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/douglas-rushkoff/programming-literacy_b_745126.html

The Flight from Conversation

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html?_r=4&pagewanted=3&ref=general&src=me&pagewanted=all

Question of the Week (4/27/12)

"Caught up in the entertainment, we sometimes don't 'see' the camera work, composition, editing, lighting, and sound. Nor do we 'see' the production struggles that accompany every film -- including the script's many rewrites..." (From Writing about Film the packet handed out in class).

Formal Analysis
A formal analysis of a film or films requires that the viewer breaks the film down into its component parts and discusses how those parts contribute to the whole. Formal analysis can be understood as taking apart a tractor in a field; you lay out the parts, try to understand the function and purpose of each one, and then put the parts back together.

In order to do a convincing formal analysis of your scene you'll need to use the terminology provided to you in the Writing about Film packet. Keep in mind that the more proper terms you use, the more you convince your audience that you are an authority of your topic.

PART I
Click on the link below, choose one scene from North by Northwest and begin by conducting an annotated shot sequence -- a shot-by-shot analysis (see your packet and class notes for additional information). Count the number of shots and identify each one in the scene. List them on your shot sequence worksheet provided, noting the type of shot and who or what is inside the frame. After you have completed the annotated shot sequence, identify the other production aspects of this scene by reviewing the scene again -- the costumes, lighting, set decoration, music etc. List them on your worksheet as well. What are they telling you, the audience, about the scene and the characters in the scene. Turn in your shot sequence and production analysis on MONDAY. This is worth 40 points.

PART II
Then, using what you know about the film's plot summary, analyze in depth in 750 words or less what is happening in the scene. What do the characters' facial expressions communicate to us? If there is dialogue, what does that communicate to the viewer? Conduct a formal and very in depth analysis of your selected shot. This short analysis is the ONLY thing you will post on the blog. This is due by 3 p.m. on Tuesday and you MUST respond to another classmates' response. Your analysis is also worth 40 points. Enjoy!

Click this link for film clips to analyze for this assignment: North by Northwest Clips

Question of the Week (4/6/12)

This week we will be watching numerous film clips and you will be expected to write several analytical paragraphs based on the clips you watch. Any time you are going to write a film analysis or critique, one of the best places to start is with your first reaction to the film, which is where this blog question begins. 
Click on the link and watch this clip from the movie Benny and Joon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxTiMb32_FE


Did you like this film clip? Why or why not? Did seeing this film clip make you want to possibly see the rest of the film? Why or why not? 


Post your response by the end of the day on Tuesday at 3 p.m. For this post you do NOT have to respond to a classmate's response. Enjoy your weekend. 

Question of the Week (3/30/12)

As we finish quarter 3, how has the class progressed for you? What have you really enjoyed? What have you really not enjoyed?
Then, looking ahead to quarter 4, what projects/topics would you like to do or study? Post your responses by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. There will be no late credit given for this week's post. If you don't post by 3 p.m., it will count as a zero. Keep in mind this is one of your last grades for quarter 3.
For this post only, you do NOT have to respond to another post. Enjoy your weekend.

Question of the Week (3/8/12)

In thinking about our topic this week of digital manipulation: When is digital manipulation acceptable? When is digital manipulation unacceptable? Under what conditions should viewers or readers be notified that an image has been digitally altered? Answer these questions thoroughly by 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Check out the Media Literacy website for more information on digital manipulation. Don't forget to respond critically to a classmates' response as well. Happy posting!

Question of the Week (3/2/12)

Find an advertisement that you really DISLIKE (It could be either a print ad or a TV ad). Describe the ad AND put a link to the ad or the image itself on the blog. What is it about the ad that makes you dislike it? How would you change it to make it into something that you would agree with/buy? Post by 3 p.m. on Tuesday and don't forget to respond to a classmates' response.