Story Study

 

Beginning a story study journey:

From your first reading and study of a story, you will form some initial impressions and personal views about the text. To begin a close reading of the text, one where you think carefully about the narrative and what it means to you, you are going to write a #reflective essay that explains your first impressions of the story. (Approximately 300 words).

#Reflective writing is personal and often uses first person ‘I’. It presents the writer’s thoughts and ideas. It is a less formal style of essay than a text essay. It has a sense of ‘looking back’ on an experience and often details a ‘what have I learnt’ or ‘how I have grown’ from this experience aspect to it.

In your written response consider ideas such as:

·         What was your reaction to the story?

·         What was it about? What thoughts do you have about the plot? The themes?

·         Who were the main characters? How did you feel about them? What impact did they have on you? How did you relate to them?

·         Where and when was the story set? What do you know about the time the story is set in? How did you imagine the places in the story? Describe the settings in two key scenes.

·         Discuss what you believe the messages/morals of the text are. What ideas do you believe the author/director wants readers to take away from the text. How do you think the author/director wants the text to influence others . Consider the ideas and issues that arise in the text.

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Story Study Focus: The Butler and Straight Outta Compton:

   

The Butler and Straight Outta Compton are two unique stories that share a lot of themes and ideas. The Butler tells a story of African-American history that spans many generations and eras, while Straight Outta Compton focuses on the history of music group NWA and the challenges they faced in their efforts to succeed in life.

LEARNING INTENTION: Develop a broad historical knowledge of African-American experiences to help us understand the stories we are studying and how this history influences the world today. To do this we will -

• Complete an active viewing of each story - Consider the viewing thinking prompters below before watching the film and take notes about the characters and key events in the text on the handout provided.

• Complete a reflective essay following the viewing of The Butler text. Type it up to present in your folio. (You will do the same for Straight Outta Compton when we get to viewing it)

 

• Develop a timeline of political history in America based upon Cecil's experience of life and the Presidents he worked for at The White House. You will need to do some research and use images/video to enhance the presentation. (Have a go at using the capzles or RWT timeline sites to make your good copy timeline)

Before and after viewing thinking prompters: (to help us view a text with purpose and discuss it for meaning during the study of the text)

• Why do the characters in our focus stories feel the way they do?

• Why do the characters do the things they do?

• Where do significant life events take place for the characters?

• How do the characters' life experiences influence who they are at different times in their lives?

• What moral messages and lessons do the stories share to their audiences?

• Who is right in the decisions they make and the actions they take? Who is wrong?

• How is society impacted/changed by the events that occur in the stories? Are the changes for the better or for the worse?

  

Access your The Butler and Straight Outta Compton learning wikispace from this link.

Story Study Focus: Choose your own text:

Having the freedom to choose your own story to read is one of the great joys of life. At school, as is necessary, we read and study a lot of stories that are set for us. This unit is your opportunity to set a text for yourself. Relish the freedom and enjoy.

 

Click 'To Be Continued' to access this story study unit.

Story Study Focus - 

My Loud featuring:

Triple J Hottest 100 and Step Up

This learning task is about expression of passions and ideas. Part of your study will be on you and how you are your loud in your life. Your relationship with mediums of performance and protest will be the focus for the work you produce. Music, songs, images, videos, physical performance, speaking and writing can all be powerful forms of storytelling. We encounter these things daily in our lives. They have the power to make us feel strongly and consider different perspectives of the world in just minutes.

Importantly, performance and art is about bringing people together. E.g., music is often used as a way for people to voice their ideas and even protest for change in our world. It is one way people can get loud in a good way.

In this unit:

• you will learn about protest art and how music and other forms of art have the power to send strong messages and actuate change in the world. 
• you will share some of your insights on music and the musical artists that inspire you. 
• you will deliver your point of view in a response to an issue that you see as important. 
• you will create a presentation in your chosen form of loud to express an idea on a topic of your choice.

Access your My Loud unit from this link!