Pop Culture Project & Research Techniques
After listening to the essays "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and "Jesus Shaves" we will retire to the computer lab where you will get together in your research groups and decide on a pop cultural topic for your research. Please take note of research techniques and familiarize yourself with the requirements of this project.
In groups of 2-3, please identify an area in which to study, research, and prepare a presentation to the class:
In groups of 2-3, please identify an area in which to study, research, and prepare a presentation to the class:
- Pop or Media Icons
- Fads
- Technology
- Sports/Leisure Activities
- Music
- Fashion
- Food or lifestyle
Your project has a research requirement as well as a class presentation requirement.
1). a creative non-fiction essay/reflection (which will count for your portfolio; every group member needs to complete this part individually), and
2). a presentation you will present to the class (this is a group grade).
What can you present? Anything pertaining to your topic. Effectively, you want to explain to us what the topic is, where is it found in our culture, what is the effect on our culture, and why is this topic part of our culture (what is its significance). So in other words: what is it? where does it come from or fit into our history/culture? and why is it important?
Good presentations will be informative, thoughtful, show effort and/or creativity, and be thought provoking. They should include some sort of visual aide. A newsletter, a magazine, an ad, a zine, a comic strip or book, a short film, a film clip, a music clip, powerpoint, prezi, etc. The visual is up to you, but it should not simply be your notes copied from various resources from which you read to us. A good visual adds to your presentation by providing information that can be shown. It should enhance your presentation; it is not a substitute for the presentation.
This visual or audio can be a film clip, a newsletter that you create, a brochure with relevant information, a Prezi that incorporates video, visuals, and information, a song clip, a tray of brownies (or any appropriate food), a poster, a painting, a Powerpoint presentation, a flyer, a 3D object, a pet snake, a game, a physical object, a picture, a zine you created yourself, a comic book, a swatch of fabric, or anything else you can think of that would help your audience understand what you're talking about.
In class, you should work with your group and divide tasks (as you do not have the time to hand hold your partner). Try breaking down a topic into parts that make up the whole. Or give each member of the group a question to answer (what is the effect of this popular cultural topic, for example? or why is it important?) Before the end of class come back together with your partnership and discuss further action that must be taken.
How do I set up a works cited page for:
MLA Format & Chicago Style Formatting
HOMEWORK: Complete Me Talk Pretty One Day. Prepare for additional research. Bring materials you research or need to our next class.
1). a creative non-fiction essay/reflection (which will count for your portfolio; every group member needs to complete this part individually), and
2). a presentation you will present to the class (this is a group grade).
What can you present? Anything pertaining to your topic. Effectively, you want to explain to us what the topic is, where is it found in our culture, what is the effect on our culture, and why is this topic part of our culture (what is its significance). So in other words: what is it? where does it come from or fit into our history/culture? and why is it important?
Good presentations will be informative, thoughtful, show effort and/or creativity, and be thought provoking. They should include some sort of visual aide. A newsletter, a magazine, an ad, a zine, a comic strip or book, a short film, a film clip, a music clip, powerpoint, prezi, etc. The visual is up to you, but it should not simply be your notes copied from various resources from which you read to us. A good visual adds to your presentation by providing information that can be shown. It should enhance your presentation; it is not a substitute for the presentation.
This visual or audio can be a film clip, a newsletter that you create, a brochure with relevant information, a Prezi that incorporates video, visuals, and information, a song clip, a tray of brownies (or any appropriate food), a poster, a painting, a Powerpoint presentation, a flyer, a 3D object, a pet snake, a game, a physical object, a picture, a zine you created yourself, a comic book, a swatch of fabric, or anything else you can think of that would help your audience understand what you're talking about.
In class, you should work with your group and divide tasks (as you do not have the time to hand hold your partner). Try breaking down a topic into parts that make up the whole. Or give each member of the group a question to answer (what is the effect of this popular cultural topic, for example? or why is it important?) Before the end of class come back together with your partnership and discuss further action that must be taken.
Q: How much time do I have to present?ANY REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE/LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT COMMON KNOWLEDGE MUST BE CITED OR GIVEN CREDIT.
A: Please keep your presentations to 5-15 minutes. As long as you've explained what it is and why it's important, we get the idea. Realize that very, very short presentations may not be thorough enough. I want to see 12th grade work. Remember to time video and visuals or activities included in your presentation. Any project that goes beyond 15 minutes will be cut off and given a penalty to its grade. Any presentation that is not at least 5 minutes in length will have the same penalty.
Q: When is the presentation due?
A: The week of Oct. 2 & Oct. 4. The reflective essay is due with your portfolio (Oct. 12)
Q: How am I going to be graded?
A: Your presentation will be graded on how informative the project is, what it communicates, how involved or creative it is (particularly the visual aide), how prepared you are in presenting it, and how well done the research was. Remember that along with the presentation, you are required to turn in a works-cited page (in MLA format), and put a 3+ page reflective essay on your topic in your portfolio. These grades will go to average your final score for the marking period.
Q: So what is research? Isn't that just copying someone else's work and passing it off as mine?
A: No. Please record any sources that you use for your presentation/project. Write down website addresses and authors of these sources to include them in your works cited page. In your reflective essay or during your presentation, it is important for you to cite the sources you use. If you borrowed an idea from someone, give them credit for it. For example: According to..., or _____ writes/states...., or In a comment posted by..., or writer/critic/author/artist/musician/reporter/etc. suggests/writes/states/mentions/posits/argues/believes, etc.
How do I set up a works cited page for:
MLA Format & Chicago Style Formatting
- Books/texts
- Video/films
- Internet sources
- Paintings
- Interviews
- Magazines
- T.V. Programs/Radio
- Musical Sources/Album
HOMEWORK: Complete Me Talk Pretty One Day. Prepare for additional research. Bring materials you research or need to our next class.
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