Collaborative Media Literacy Presentation

The premise of this assignment is to deliver a 15- 30 minute presentation outlining a lesson on media literacy based on David Buckingham’s assertion, “the best way to analyze media is with media”. In the book, Media Education Buckingham suggests educators should adopt a more pragmatic approach in their classrooms, more interested in the students’ everyday experience with media in which they can employ in their everyday lives. He illustrates such notions stating “…the argument for media education is essentially an argument for making the curriculum relevant to children's lives outside school, and to the wider society” (5).

In keeping with Buckingham’s assertion, my group decided to focus on planning a lesson inculcating the importance of a proper works cited list. The primary objective of our assignment would not only have students familiarize themselves with using secondary sources from the internet (such as YouTube, JSTOR, etc.) the assignment would be beneficial in developing skills to create a flawless works cited page. Additionally, our assignment helps students discern the differences between credible and unreliable sources on the internet. As group, we felt this information is invaluable for high school seniors who are planning to further their education with college and/or (as Buckingham puts it) to the “wider society”.

Unfortunately, I was unable to physically be there in person for our presentation, but was responsible for the preparing the guidelines for our class discussion. I made sure to inform my group members in advance I would not be in class for our presentation, which did not prove to be problematic because I was still able to make some sort of contribution. Addtionally, I created a handout illustrating the assignment we would be assigning to our students. My group members informed me our presentation was a success, and were quite happy with the handout I created.

This is the following assignment I created:

English Senior Assignment

Properly Documenting Sources with Various Means of Media using MLA Format


This assignment will help to prepare you for future assignments in college. In college, you are expected to write various papers and essays that require outside sources in addition to the primary text that will further support your thesis. It is imperative to make sure your secondary sources are credible. We will be conducting our research via internet on our assigned reading Of Mice and Men. Additionally, please refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers to properly cite your sources.
1). Find a website on Salinas California. In 250 words answer the following questions:
• Write a summary about what you found, and how this furthers your understanding of the primary text, Of Mice and Men.
• Is the website you chose to conduct your research credible? Why do you think it is a reliable source?
• Make a works cited page following the MLA guidelines documenting your secondary source.
2). Find an interview with John Steinbeck and/or with a leading scholar or critic relative to Steinbeck’s writing.
• Write a summary on what you found in the interview that helps you come to better understanding of Steinbeck. Why is this relevant, and how can this be applied to Of Mice and Men?
• Is the website you chose to conduct your research credible? Why do you think it is a reliable source?
• Make a works cited page following the MLA guidelines documenting your secondary source.
3). Find a YouTube clip or scene in the movie adaptation that applies to Of Mice and Men. If you decide to use a scene from the movie version, please conduct your research by means of the internet.
• Compare and contrast your initial impression Of Mice and Men to your findings on YouTube or movie version.
• Summarize the scene you chose in the YouTube clip or scene from the movie adaptation. Be sure you are able to locate it in the book.
• Make a works cited page following the MLA guidelines documenting your secondary source.
4). Find a scholarly journal with an article that applies to Of Mice and Men. Please use the following website: JSTOR. This is an excellent source that has credible journal articles.
• In 250 words, summarize the article. How can it be applied to a research paper you are conducting?
• Make a works cited page following the MLA guidelines documenting your secondary source.
5). Write a short reflection on conducting research on the internet. Please include the following:
• In conducting your research, did you come across any unreliable sources? If so, how do you know they are not credible?
• What did you find interesting about this assignment?
• Do you feel comfortable using technology to conduct research?

One Final Note: I feel it is necessary to further expound on why I selected the above work of art to correspond with this blog posting. I chose this particular painting because I believe it personifies what the so-called “information superhighway” would look like if one could actually observe the frenetic energy materializing off the wires of the internet, as it travels through time and space. The painting is by Jackson Pollock entitled Blue Poles: Number 11, 1952. Pollock is otherwise known as the father of Abstract Expressionism, developed the innovative “drip” technique, which ultimately adds dramatically new dimensions to the canvas. The “drip” technique in which Pollock employs, consists of splattering paint dripping off the paintbrush, which never makes actual contact with the canvas. This technique permits Pollock to apply paint from all directions versus the more conventional approach which is more restricted. Comparatively, Pollock’s “drip” technique is similar to the ways in which students utilize the internet for conducting research for essay assignments. Like Pollock’s painting technique, the internet allows students to approach writing assignments from various different angles with the vast amount of information that is readily available at their fingertips without having to make any direct contact with their medium; the library.


Works Cited

Buckingham, David. Media Education: Literacy, Learning, and Contemporary Culture.
Cambridge, UK: Polity, 2003. Print.