Jay’s Movie Dictionary
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Today I encourage my students to submit some of their writing to a new classroom website: Jay’s Movie Definition Dictionary. My instructions to our Film History Research Project call for them to explain abstract concepts, but copying definitions out of the dictionary won’t cut it. I tell them to support their ideas on their own…
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In several of my English classes, I’ve asked my students to select a movie based on a historical event, idea, character. I call it a “Film History Research Paper.” We compare what we see on the screen with what we find in the college databases. For example, some of my students are writing about the…
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Today, I’m preparing my Project Marilyn for three classes. We are reading William Inge’s Bus Stop, a play that Marilyn transformed onto the big screen. I’m assigning groups to break down and analyze key components of Marilyn’s life. I think this will be very cool. My students are in to Marilyn! One group will compare…
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This week in English 009 we are creating a website I call “Jay’s Movie Definition Dictionary.” We’re learning to define complex in our own words, using new strategies of negation, enumeration, analogy. What’s this have to do with movies? As a special twist, were developing illustrative examples drawn from our favorite films. On the website, students…
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Later in the semester, I expect my students to define complex terms and ideas in a language their readers can access and understand. To help them develop their skills, I’ve created an activity where students extend their definitions with scenes from their favorite movies. We call it Jay’s Movie Dictionary. They explain true love in…
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This week in my English classes we are developing definition essays. We’re learning to define ideas on our own terms . But instead of using our own knowledge or experience to support our definitions, we are choosing scenes from our favorite movies to illustrate meaning. Students are using Rocky to demonstrate “courage.” They are choosing…
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Currently, my students are working on their definition essays. They are to select terms or ideas to define in their own words, but instead of using readings, personal experience, and/or real-life observations, they are working together to select the best film scenes from their favorite movies to illustrate their points. Here is mine: "Courage" in…
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Can you explain sacrifice? – I mean how far are you willing to go? Ok, we all know sacrifice is the performance of an unselfish act. But, it’s not just about giving; it’s about giving everything. Did you see what Jack did for Rose at the end of the Titanic? How do people completely lose themselves to…
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"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead." I didn't say it. Bukowski did. Check out Teresa Mendoza's definition of insanity. Related articles
