On Photography
In this activity, students will compose an essay or speech that proposes an original theory “On Photography.”
PHOTOGRAPHY LESSON 2:
ESSAY / SPEECH
1 class period (45-60 min) + written assignment or speech (optional 1-2 class periods)
HANDOUTS:
Handout 1 (as needed)
Handout 2A (as needed)
Handout 2B (as needed)
Handout 3 (as needed)
WORKSHEET:
TEACHING PLAN:
- Art and Culture
Medium > Visual Arts
Subject Matter > Art History
Subject Matter > Philosophy
- History and Social Studies
Themes > Culture
- Literature and Language Arts
Genre > Essay
- Analysis
- Critical thinking
- Cultural analysis
- Expository writing
- Discussion
- Evaluating arguments
- Literary analysis
- Media analysis
- Making inferences and drawing conclusions
- Oral presentation skills
- Persuasive writing and speaking
- Representing ideas and information orally, graphically and in writing
- Synthesis
- Technology
- Textual analysis
- Visual analysis
- Visual art analysis
- Writing skills
- ELA Reading: 5-7
- ELA Writing: 1, 4-6, 9-10
- ELA Speaking & Listening: 1-2, 4-6
- HSS Reading: 7-9
- HSS Writing: 2, 4-6, 10
LESSON 2 HANDOUTS
- Allow additional time for peer-review, editing, and revision of work, or for students to evaluate the use of perspective, structure, style and tone in their finished pieces.
- Add a visual requirement, such as the use of images (for essays) or digital media (for speeches).
- Increase the minimum length requirement for the essays or speeches, asking students to compare their own photographic theory to the work of historical theorists (see Photography Unit Research handout for related texts and resources).
- Publish class excerpts in the school newspaper or literary/art journal, or encourage students to submit their final pieces independently.