Activity 1.2

Activity 1.2: In-Class Assignment

Purpose

Although students may feel comfortable with the assignment and think they understand it, the majority do so only superficially. While still in their groups, students should attempt an in-class journal assignment. Group members will help each other and the instructor can respond to questions immediately, using individual examples as lessons for the class.

Process

Instead of a written text, it might be easier and more effective to start with an image.

Step One

Choose an image that has a lot of details and, if possible, may have more than one interpretation.
Choose a photo, advertisement, cartoon or piece of art work from the reading text you use in the course, or bring in a poster large enough for all to see or make copies of a visual image for each student and distribute them.
Have students individually analyze and reflect on the details of the image and its meaning.
Discuss the image in class in as much detail as possible: words on a t-shirt or a newspaper, hierarchy in a cluster of people, differences in clothing, the symbolic possibilities in clothing or objects, facial expressions, emotional impression, what doesn’t make sense, etc.
Debate the image’s possible meanings.

Step Two

Have students individually look at the twenty suggested approaches by Andrea J. Kaston.
Each must reflect on which approaches would be the most effective for a response to the image.
Have students choose three.
Insist they look at a model of past student work for all three approaches, then have them read them and reflect on them.
Ask students to narrow the choice down to one.
Allow them to use their groups for support.
Ask them to write their first journal entry.
Respond to questions as they arise.
Go around to each student and see if he or she is progressing. A couple students may be lost. Guide them through the choices.
Have students finish their entries at home.
Require that they bring their finished journal entry—typed and with the proper heading—to the next class.

Step Three

Have students share finished journal entries with their groups and discuss their experience with the chosen approach.
Have them discuss heading questions, requirement questions, difficulties, etc.
Ask each group to list four questions and presents them to the class.
Discuss the questions.
Alternative: have students turn in journal entries to instructor; give four papers randomly to each group of four; have them choose the best and present it to the class telling why they liked it. Discuss lingering issues.

At the end of this exercise, students will now feel much more comfortable with the assignment and they will know what to do. Any problems should now be minor ones that can be quickly addressed.