A presentation that I created to use in introducing students to the Illluminated Text concept during their studies of Renaissance Poetry.  Though the poem is modern (and American), it is taught in conjunction with a poem by Sidney. After viewing the presentation, I ask that  you either comment on the presentation (below) or leave a message on the Guest Book (above).  There is also a Flash Version of this same poem that I created a few years after I made this Power Point version.

The reading log is a method I learned at Northwestern from Dr. Dagny Bloland and have observed in practice from Ms. Jenni Higgs.  The goal is to honor the close-reading process by giving class time and to offer individual instruction.  The question range from fairly obvious to higher level analysis, which both challenges and breeds confidence in their reading skills.  Student must do all work in class; the logs are collected after each class time.  This eliminates cheating, and spark notes, while providing a self-paced experience for all students.  

Concept: Teach about rhetorical effect and the use of persuasive techniques through "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards.  Also, examine the imagery presented throughout the sermon.
General Goals: Students will learn about the rhetorical effects of occasion, audience, ethos, and pathos.  Students will also examine the persuasive techniques of repetition and emotional appeal through the literary work.  Students will examine the concept of imagery and create visual representations of various images presented throughout "Sinners."

This is the second Illuminated Text that I have created using this poem.  As my students transition from Power Point to Adobe Flash -- I wanted to go through the process and acquaint myself with what they were going through for myself.  I chose this poem because I love it dearly- and, to me, it is an ideal candidate for a text-based animation -- the words are rich, beautiful, and multi-layered.   When I was writing this Illuminated Text - it occurred to me how much these presentations are like essays or writing in general - you need to have some kind of overriding idea or thesis and each piece must support and play off of the other.

 Click Here to Play "i carry your heart"

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A thoughtful and complex treatment of Ernest Hemingway's short story, "The End of Something," as presented by Alex Nuttal.  Alex uses both pictures, words, and graphic shapes to represent and to explicate the sadness and the resolution of the story about the end of a lumber town and the end of a relationship.  [We now have a Flash Video version of this text - click on that if you have trouble hearing or viewing the Power Point version]

A brilliant and insightful examination of Grendel's choices (or lack thereof) in an animated Power Point video created by Sima Cunningham.  Once again, this Illuminated Text shows the power that the words from the text have (and that the pictures -- or lack thereof) in Illuminated Texts are secondary. [You can also choose to view a Flash Video version of this presentation]. 

This Illluminated Text by David Cordova and Sid Menon tackles one idea from one chapter in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street.  That idea is really a character - the woman who comes from Mexico and cries because she doesn't want to see her children becoming culturally assimilated. [There is now a Flash Video version of this presentation as well.]  It is one of the most moving moments in the book -- and it is handled with sensitivity and creativity by the students.