Month: May 2013

Social Value is defined as:

An attitude towards a discourse that a society holds to be true, important or valuable at a particular place and at a particular time. Social values may remain in a society over a number of years and generally change or evolve slowly.

Discourse is defined as:

An ongoing discussion, framework or idea about a topic held by society.

One way to think about social values is by reflecting on how they have changed over time. In film there have been a number of changes to the way particular genre’s are constructed that reflects changes in what ideas are most valued by society.

For example, the genre of ‘natural disaster movie’ has gained a place in the film landscape – films that focus of the end of the world being brought about by natural disasters – this reflects the new focus society has on environmental issues, climate change, etc.

How can you identify social values in a text?

Once you have deconstructed a media text by looking for the main codes and conventions that have been used, you need to step back and think about how each of the codes work together to tell you something about the value placed on particular ideas or beliefs.

Remember, you can’t touch a social value so you have to try to sense what assumptions are being made about the attitude of the audience. Are there any stereotypes in the text that, although gross generalisations, reveal a commonly held attitude of the time? Are there any statements being made about gender roles? Is there a political reference that is commonly accepted as true but has not always been so?

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the kind of things that should be on your revision sheet:

• Difference between the features of an introduction in a text response vs an expository essay
• Difference between the features of a conclusion in a text response vs an expository essay
• 3 x quotes that relate to the themes of betrayal/deception/power/guilt/supernatural
• Key questions that will help you with writing your SOE
• The process of planning an essay using a Lotus Diagram (especially the ‘yes, but…no, but’ contention)
• How to turn an expository prompt into a relevant question
• Key information about the experiences of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Najaf

Write two practice paragraphs (either an introduction, a main body, or a conclusion) for the following prompt:

People seek fame because they want to make money

Remember:

Introduction

• Establish your topic.
• Present the main points-of-view by briefly stating what they are and why that position is held.
• Introduce a ‘hook’ or ‘attention grabber’.
• Set up a question/issue you think the topic naturally raises and make it clear that this what your essay aims to explore.

Main Body (compare/contrast)

 

1. Think of an issue you will explore
2. Choose two examples of people becoming (or trying to become) famous
3. List similarities and difference
4. Choose connective words that show similarities or difference
5. Write paragraph (provide enough background on each show to make it clear you know what it is about)

 

Conclusion

• In a subtle way, state the most reasonable conclusion based on the ideas presented.
• Identity a dilemma you have come across but reinforce the primary finding of your exposition.
• Give one general reason why the conclusion you have stated is valid; include any important detail you have identified that will make the dilemma less of a dilemma in the future.

[FOR MORE INFO ON INTRODUCTIONS AND CONCLUSION CLICK HERE]

 

Here is the prompt for the practice expository piece I would like you to do:

How individuals respond to conflict reflects their character

You are required to write an introduction, main body paragraph 3 and a conclusion.

This is due by 9am tomorrow.

Good luck.

 

 

 

For information on how to write a good introduction and conclusion for this form of writing, click here.

Information on the compare/contrast structure can be found here.

View the two PowerPoints on Malcolm X and  Marin Luther King below and take note of important events in their lives. Try and identify:

1. The type of conflicts that each experienced (make sure you can describe key events)
2. The way in which each responded/adapted to conflicts they faced
3. The links between life experiences and their drastically different responses to very similar social conflict

For a better understanding of the Civil Rights Movement, view the last PowerPoint; it will give you a good understanding of conditions that gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement in the first place.