Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Specific Strategies for ELA Strands

This entry will discuss sample strategies for incorporating the six ELA strands (reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing) into short-non fiction units and lesson plans. It will focus on the unit of Advertising and list specific examples and activities that relate to the strands.

Reading: There are a variety of texts to choose from when analyzing and studying non-fiction. Students are assigned an article from a magazine such as Adbusters or a chapter from Naomi Kline's book No Logo that discusses advertising techniques and strategies that appeal to youth.

Writing: Non-fiction units are a great opportunity for teachers to get students to focus on writing both personal and critical responses to the different forms of texts that are being introduced. An instructor can ask students to write a personal response to the viewing of an advertisment. Students may also be required to write a critical response to an advertisment, discussing who and why the advertisment was created and whether or not it would be effective for its target audience.

Viewing: Students can view a number of advertisments both in print and on the television. Students are expected to be able to observe details and cues that suggest hidden messages and meanings behind advertisements.

Representing: Students can create their own satirical advertisement using video, webpage, or poster format.

Listening: Students can listen to radio commercials and compare and contrast that medium of advertising with the television commercial.

Speaking: Students can present an advertisment that they have found to be controversial, and explain why in front of the class.