Claims and Evidence in
Photography
Monday, September 28, 2015
Objective(s): You will practice with recently acquired knowledge of visual elements to
analyze how those elements are used as evidence to support a claim.
Agenda:
1.
2.
3.
Warm Up: Effectiveness of Visual Arguments – Ted Talk
Review notes on visual elements
Modeling, Group, and Independent Practice in Analyzing Photos for how visual
elements are used as evidence to support a claim.
Homework: NONE
Objective
• Now that we’ve spent a couple of days learning the vocab and terminology
to actually analyze a photo and the way it is composed, we are going to look
at how we can use those elements as evidence to support a claim.
Griffen Ted Talk: How Photography Connects Us
Claims
• Remember: The vast majority of the time, any claims we can find in
photographs are IMPLIED!
• Implied means that we, as the viewers of the photo, are the one that must
draw conclusions as to what the claim is.
• So how is meaning implied?
• Through the methods we talked about last week.
Example
• Context: This photo is of a mall
that has been abandoned since
the late 1970’s.
• What elements do we see here?
• How do those elements create
meaning?
Example
• Symmetry, leading line, background
(see the forest?),
viewpoint/perspective, contrasting
colors, rule of thirds.
• All of these create the focus of the
photo (this is your evidence!)
• Once we decide the focus, we can
use that as evidence to support a
claim. So what is the claim?
Example Two
• Context: Mayor Ras Baraka of
Newark speaking at Occupy
the City, an anti-violence rally
and march. His target audience
was young, at-risk, AfricanAmerican males.
• Jot down some of the elements
that you see in this photo.
• This is your evidence.
• Once you’ve got your evidence,
try to create a claim that is
supported by your evidence.
• Thoughts?
On Your Own
• You will have 5 minutes to view each of the following photos. Write down
your evidence in your notes individually.
• Once you have written your evidence, write down what you think the claim
is.
• We will share our thoughts at the end of the 5 minutes.
Group Activity
• With your Southeast partner, use your devices to find a photograph focusing
on an issue that interests you.
• Once you have found a picture, e-mail me the link (so I can pull it up on the
big screen).
• Once you have sent me the link, write down the evidence and claims.
• We will present these to the class tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
• Objective: To improve your ability to analyze how visual elements are used
as evidence to support a claim.
• Agenda:
1. Review Notes from yesterday/ Address Questions
2. Student partnerships will share the photo they found and emailed to me
yesterday along with their analysis of the photo.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
• Objective(s): Students will expand their ability to analyze photos in an analysis of a photo argument essay.
• Agenda:
1. Warm up
2. Analysis of Past Student’s Photo Essays (using organizer) for:
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
Claim (Implied or Explicit)
Evidence (Including use of visual elements)
Various Perspectives
Use of Appeals
Develop thesis (claim) for individual photo argumentative essay using the perspective web you created last
week.
• Homework: Develop claim for essay if you did not finish today and submit for teacher approval.
Create an argumentative photo essay
Create and present an argumentative photo essay that reveals your position (perspective)
about an issue or topic of.
Requirements:
• The essay must include at least ten (10) images that you create or select from other
sources.
• Each image should be captioned to convey its connection to your argument.
• The essay could be presented in a variety of digital forms (movie maker, iMovie, Vimeo,
etc.)
• The photo essay must be accompanied by a written rationale (e.g., artist statement, book
preface or introduction, back cover) that expresses your intended thesis or conclusion,
explains the importance or significance to the group, and situates your argument in
context or in a larger conversation.
• You must cite and acknowledge any sources written or created by others.
Photo Essay Analysis
•
•
•
•
Bullying
Use of time
Helping others
The power of love
Developing an Argumentative Thesis
• An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin
with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis
must be something that people could reasonably have
differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is
generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no
reason to try to persuade people.
• Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:
Pollution is bad for the environment.
• This thesis statement is not debatable.
First, the word pollution means that
something is bad or negative in some
way. Further, all studies agree that
pollution is a problem; they simply
disagree on the impact it will have or
the scope of the problem. No one
could reasonably argue that pollution is
good.
• Example of a debatable thesis statement:
• At least 25 percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting
pollution.
• This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could
disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend
the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more
money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the
government, should be paying to limit pollution.
Another example of a debatable thesis statement:
• America's anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately
owned cars.
• In this example there is also room for disagreement between
rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on
recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the
most effective strategy.
http://www.slideshare.net/natytronic/photo-essayassignment-28324970
• Creating the Photo Essay
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
• Objective: Today you will apply your knowledge of the use of visual elements as evidence to support a
claim in a summative assessment.
• Agenda:
1. Binder Checks
2. Address questions
3. Complete the section of the district created Unit 1 Assessment requiring students to analyze a photo for
the use of visual elements as evidence to support an implied claim.
4.
We will be going to the LAB on Monday for Photo Essay Research
• Homework: NONE – Enjoy your weekend!