2008 4+ hrs 1-932869-24-7 This film has subtitles English

Writing About Media with Peter Elbow

DVD Compilation & Curriculum Kit
Developed by Peter Elbow

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Synopsis

This unique program was created to help teachers across a range of disciplines integrate MEF videos more seamlessly into their classrooms. Geared to college and upper-level high school writing and composition teachers, it includes a double-DVD set with more than four hours of clips selected from contemporary media and a range of MEF films, and a downloadable writing curriculum developed in consultation with the composition theorist Peter Elbow, acclaimed author of Writing with Power. The curriculum features exercises, assignment sequences, and handouts designed explicitly to help students respond to the DVDs and in the process refine their critical thinking and writing skills. But the clips can also be used on their own in a range of classes that look at media and social issues.

Release Date:2008
Duration:4+ hrs
ISBN:1-932869-24-7
Subtitles:English

Filmmaker Biographies

Peter Elbow View Peter Elbow's Filmmaker Page
Creator
Peter Elbow is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst--where he directed the Writing Program. Elbow has had a longstanding interest in voice as it relates to writing, identity, and power, and his revolutionary book Writing without Teachers has influenced a whole generation of writers with its democratizing emphasis on helping people work on writing on their own and with others outside of educational institutions. His other books include Oppositions in Chaucer, Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process, Embracing Contraries: Explorations in Learning and Teaching, What is English?, and most recently, Everyone Can Write: Essays Toward a Hopeful Theory of Writing and Teaching Writing. Elbow is the author of numerous essays and has given talks and workshops at many colleges and universities. He has served on the Executive Council of the Modern Language Association and the Executive Committee of the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Elbow holds degrees from Williams College, Oxford University, and Brandeis University.

Resources: Downloads and Related Links

Downloads:

  • Teaching Writing, Teaching Media: A Curriculum by Peter Elbow

Praise

"Students will see their world and themselves through these clips and will have the opportunity to 'talk back' to what they have so often just absorbed passively and uncritically. I can't think of a better project for a writing class or a better way to launch a liberal arts education in a democratic society."
Marjorie Roemer
Director of Writing, Rhode Island College
"... the DVD provides a wealth of segments from educational films produced by the Media Education Foundation, as well as clips from mainstream cinema and television (both programs and commercials) that can be used as a foundation for lesson plans (a detailed PDF curriculum containing classroom strategies and several writing exercises is also included). The idea here is to use popular culture to motivate students towards an analytic approach to media, developing a sense of critical interpretation that would -- in turn -- lead to better academic writing skills. ...Writing About Media offers an intriguing supplement to general writing and composition studies. Recommended."
Video Librarian
"A wonderful DVD! The rich and complete background material by Elbow is both rigorous and fun."
Irene Papoulis
Senior Lecture of Writing and Rhetoric, Trinity College
"In line with its goal "to inspire critical reflection on the social, political and cultural impact of American mass media," the Media Education Foundation has compiled excerpts from several of its longer productions about the cultural impact of popular media and advertising, and invited University of Massachusetts Professor Emeritus and author Peter Elbow to create a writing curriculum based on this material... The organization of, and accompanying descriptions of media clips are helpful and clear. MEF's production values are consistently high; excerpts from MEF-produced programs are entertaining and visually attractive. Although the basic format is similar in each clip -- incorporating expert commentary with vintage and contemporary footage -- each has its own look and pace, and the curriculum should sustain student interest over viewing of multiple clips. The use of popular high-end programs, music videos, and advertising dating from the late 2000's increases its appeal, while the curriculum text will be useful for teachers, especially those comfortable with Elbow's informal style. For its organization and wealth of teaching ideas, this program is highly recommended for high school and college-level teachers, including those wishing to incorporate more writing into area studies."
Educational Media Reviews Online
"The rich variety of topics covered makes this a useful tool for professors teaching composition, media studies, sociology, or political science. Recommended for academic and high school libraries."
Library Journal

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