Ideas in Practice: Theoretical Bases for Using Movies in

Developmental Coursework

Presenter: Connie Chung 鐘丹旎Instructor: Dr. Pi-Ying Teresa Hsu

October 20, 2008.1

Sweeney, L.(2006). Ideas in Practice: Theoretical

Bases for Using Movies in Developmental

Coursework. Journal of Developmental Education,

29(3), 28-34.

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Content

I. Introduction

II. Application

III. Conclusion

IV. Teaching application in my teaching plan

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Introduction

• Many developmental educators have shown

movies in reading or writing classes, but most

developmental educators cannot support their use

of movies using literacy theory.

(Sweeney, 2006)

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Introduction

• Based upon writer’s own years of experience as a

reading specialist and put forth theoretical reasons

for using movies in developmental coursework.

(Sweeney, 2006)

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Application

• Movies are diverting and part of popular culture,

surely a good means by which to help outsiders

feel more at ease in the academic environment.

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Principles I

Recontextualization

• A movie viewer identifies with characters and

empathizes with situations.

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Principles I

Recontextualization

• Writing about movie characters or favorite stars

can be helpful in a developmental assignment

such as writing a narrative.

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Examplechoose a topic of a moviechoose a topic of a movie

research information about the movie

research information about the movie

find that character has same background with student

find that character has same background with student

allow the student to make a deep personal association

allow the student to make a deep personal association

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Principles II

Structure

• Structure refers to specific organizational

patterns. Developmental reading should

emphasize text structure as one method of

helping readers understand texts.

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Principles II

Structure

• Some students have no concept of text structure,

those students will facing a major struggle when

they write a compare report. However, students

often have innate sense of a movie’s structure.

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Example

respond to a movierespond to a movie

write a draft reviewwrite a draft review

look up other reviews on Internet

look up other reviews on Internet

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Write final argumentative paper

Write final argumentative paper

compare their own ideas with other critics

compare their own ideas with other critics

construct plot to aid comprehension

construct plot to aid comprehension

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Principles III

Intertextuality

• This term is related to reader-response theory and

concerns the connection readers and writers make

between their own experiences.

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Principles III

Intertextuality

• Intertexuality in developmental classrooms need

not end with books and movies.

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Example

read the author’s comments, articlesread the author’s comments, articles

teach student cite sentences from reviewsteach student cite sentences from reviews

realize books can be connected to other subject area

realize books can be connected to other subject area

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Principles IV

Critical literacy

• Critical literacy refers to the purposes of literacy

beyond literal reading and writing.

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Principles IV

Critical literacy

• The idea of critical literacy is important for

developmental students, they should be aware of the

social, political coming from popular culture,

reflections of the forces, and more.

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compare the changes in society compare the changes in society

Example

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watch the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey

Conclusion

• Integrating movies with books and other print

materials provides a wonderful way to help

students play on their other intelligences.

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Teaching applicationin my teaching plan

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Teaching application in my teaching plan

• Age: Junior high school students

• Time: 80 minutes/per week

• Material: P.S. I Love You

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Teaching application in my teaching plan

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Activities TimeWarm up 10 minutesMovie Part I 60 minutesDiscussion I 10 minutes

Activities TimeMovie Part II 60 minutesDiscussion II 10 minutesHomework 10 minutes

First week:

Second week:

Teaching application in my teaching plan

Homework

• Write a letter to one person in your mind.

• Please describe your feelings about him/her.

• Please tell him/her how he/she influences on you.

• Write down your wonderful memory about him/her .

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