ENGL 114L Break It Down Photo Essay

Prompt: SLO 2, 3

In your Weekly Journal Responses, youve practiced analyzing texts (breaking them down by the elements of their genre) and offering up your unique interpretations. For this essay, you are doing the same, but more in-depth, with more elements.

The overall purpose of the assignment is to read your text, break it down by at least four elements, and then explain what you personally interpret as its overall meaning or cultural significance. This essay will be in the medium of an Adobe Spark photo essay web page (well go over this in class).

Overall meaning or cultural significance? This is the texts message–what its really about under the surface, in broad, generalized terms, instead of narrow and wordy. This is referring to the element of theme and abstract ideas of what it means to be human (specifically in American culture). Consider ideas like isolation, loneliness, love, hate, cruelty, being misunderstood, being ignored, loyalty, guilt, equality, equity, freedom, etc.

What you should include: each section should should be a minimum of 100 words.

Introduction section: Identify the title and author of the text youll be discussing, why you chose this text, the elements youll be discussing, and (briefly) what your overall interpretation of the texts meaning or cultural significance.

4 Element section(s): Use the split layout option and add a photo, then identify the element by name, define it in your own words, explain how it functions in the story, and mention how it contributes to your overall interpretation of the texts meaning or cultural significance. Each element section should total 100 words. ** see below for specific elements to mention

Conclusion section: Again mention by name the elements you covered and the main points of your analysis, then emphasize the connections between elements and fully explain your overall interpretation of the texts meaning or cultural significance.

The focus is on your own thoughts and interpretations, but as you break down each element, you may find it useful to support your analysis with direct quotes from the text youre analyzing or direct quotes and ideas from outside sources. In both cases, you must cite to avoid plagiarism; see instructions on how to cite under Assignment Resources below. After any cited material, be sure to explain how it contributes to your analysis.

Although the content of this assignment is similar to your Weekly Journal Responses, remember that this is a major assignment vs. a rough, casual, in-class assignment. Therefore, your analysis here should be more detailed, thought-out, and polished, since you have the benefit of time for both prewriting and revising before submitting. You may submit a rough draft to receive feedback prior to submission.

Parameters:

• Fits the medium: an accessible Adobe Spark site with a title, introduction section, split layout with photo and written portion for each element, and conclusion section.
• Each section is a minimum of 100 words; each element section has a photo.
• One specific text that you are analyzing, from our or from the list below
• A clear explanation (break down) of your interpretation of thetexts overall meaning/message or cultural significance based on analysis of the text
• Accurate to the text (character names, authors gender, etc.) and the four elements you choose to analyze from the texts genre, as covered in the course material (use your notes, google slidedecks in Canvas as well as elements cited below)
• Anything not from your own brain is cited, including direct quotes from the text but also any quotes OR summary, paraphrase or ideas from sources other than yourself or the text

To submit:

1. Go to your Adobe Spark web page. Be sure your photo essay is exactly how you want me to see it when I grade it.
2. At the top of the page, click Share Publish and share link (but if youve generated a link to this site before, youll need to instead click Publish Options Save and Update link in order to include any changes).
3. Copy the shareable link.
4. Go to Canvas Assignments Break It Down Photo Essay Break It Down Photo Essay Submission.
5. Under Assignment Submission click Write Submission.
6. Paste the shareable link into the text box.
7. Click Submit (not Save Draft).

Due date in Canvas.

On late major assignments: You may submit major assignments up to 3 days late, after that I will deduct 10 points per day until submitted. (This acts as forgiveness for any circumstances–broken computer, technological difficulties, personal or family emergencies, illness, etc. Save a late assignment for when you need it.)

Assignment Resources

Adobe Spark Help

(5 min)

My colleagues, Mrs. Mohans example:

Texts to Choose From (choose a text we have already read for class OR you may choose one below).

Fiction: (all, except the first, are flash fiction, because theyre easier to analyze thoroughly in an essay)

1. (12 pg) – second-person, lengthier
2. by Sandra Cisneros (6 pg) – love, heartbreak
3. (2 pg) – more abstract, kind of a giant metaphor
4. (~3 pg) – definitely a more modern-day story; second-person (you)

Creative Nonfiction:

1. (5 pg) – comedy, childhood memoir
2. Vikrami Zutshi, (1 pg) comedy
3. by Amy Tan (3 pag), culture critic on language
4. by Kiese Laymon (3 pg), how place and food intersect

Drama:

1. (4 pg) – absurd, satire
2. (6 pg) – absurd, satire (requires more interpretation)
3. (4 pg) – more traditional

Poetry:

1. (3 min) – spoken word performance
2. (3 min) – spoken word performance
3. (3 min) – spoken word performance
4. (3 12 min) – spoken word performance
5. – more modern
6. – more modern