Visual+Essays

Visual Essays
There's a shift happening in the English curriculum that is reflecting the way we learn, absorb and seek information in this day and age. This shift is the shift towards using more and more technology and visual medium when making meaning. Enter the visual essay.

Examples of visual essays -
I've added a few links to a variety of different visual essays. Have a look and allow your creative brain cells to fizz with excitement as you do...

[|Where do good ideas come from?]

[|The Reader - the movie.] This is a student's essay based on the novel The Reader. This student was in Year 12 and this is Level 2 Excellence.

If you watch this, you should note the fact that he has developed his ideas and discusses these in detail using clips from the film of the novel (starring Kate Winslet) to support what he is describing. Note too that the setting in which he films himself has relevance. Behind him is a bookshelf full of books =strong link to the film where the woman was unable to read and did not possess books. You do not have to film yourself speaking. You could simply add the voice over without appearing but you will need visual material onscreen throughout.

The teacher who posted this you tube clip said the following: //As a class we studied Bernhard Schlink's novel "The Reader" in preparation for the 2.1 exam. This student wanted to re-package and re-vamp an essay we prepared in class but present it visually, drawing evidence from the film rather than the novel. He submitted this visual essay for assessment against 2.6 and he's given me his permission to share it with this community. I've assessed it as an E. The way I see it, the ideas are mature, compelling, persuasive and definitely it has been crafted with control and skill. The use of visual language, especially matching the voice-over with the film clip to exemplify an idea, clearly commands attention. // [|Macbeth - Prezi]

[|Frankenstein - Prezi]

The task -
This task requires that you create a visual presentation based around the literature you have studied this year. You can choose a character to explore or a theme. The task is available below to refresh your memory of what you are required to do. I have also added some links to visual essays of various kinds to help you see the kind of thing you should be trying to create.



Other important things to remember -
It's time now to think about how you will put your essay together. You still need to plan your ideas as you would any other essay.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">But then, take a look at this page. This has a whole heap of information about the elements you need to consider when you begin putting your essay together.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Some Frankenstein thesis/theme statements -
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">(as discussed in class)


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Man is really the monster
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Obsession leads to self desctruction
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Negative consequences of not being supported as a child
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The role of the parent is hugely importand in the shaping of a person
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">A rosy childhood doesn't necessarily have mean a rosey adulthood

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">And here are your visual essays -
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Well done! They look fabulous...

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Deeahn] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Danni] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Shannon] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Shayna] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Rebecca] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Sarah] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Nicole] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|Leah]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Creating a visual essay <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Year 13 <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Back to the Beginning