The Tapestry...

Between Modes:  Assessing Student New Media Compositions by Madeleine Sorapure

Yancy noted that "Digital compositions weave words and context and images:  They are exercises in ordered complexity--and complex in some different ways than print precisely because they include more kinds of threads." 

This statement by Kathleen Yancy helped me to see the new media compositions as the weaving of a tapestry that when finished portrays a beautiful image that reflects the meaning contained within the craftsmanship.  The concept itself is quite metaphoric in nature.  Teachers are used to assessing their students' writing and print assignments. However, it is not that easy to assess new media texts and composition involving various forms of multimedia such as film, video, audio, etc.  I envision the different modes as threads and the cohesiveness with which they are put together forming the tapestry where we clearly see the woven pattern and image created reflective of the meaning of the composition.  We don't want to see a haphazard collection of cloth pieces sown together to make a quilt devoid of meaning or attachment.  

I have not been teaching for many years now, but plan to return to the classroom this fall part-time and possibly full-time in the future. So consequently, I have not had an opportunity to have students create a multi-media text nor create one myself.  I have been the director of a local non-profit agency (Family Resource Network/FRN) here in Upshur County for the past nine years working with agencies that provide services for children and families.  I create and distribute a monthly newsletter to several hundred individuals and agencies which highlights what is going on to meet the needs of children and families in our community and region.  Also, I write a new poem for each new edition of the monthly newsletter.  The use of the metaphor and metonymy is this reading is designed to enhance and expand meaning and cohesiveness of a multimodal text.  Metaphor and metonymy are both poetic forms which are very useful in bridging verbal and visual concepts ultimately providing a contextual relationship.  I am hopeful that many of my poems and context create a holistic image that is meaningful to many.  I have on many occasions referred to FRN as a beautiful tapestry woven by the threads of our many agency partners.  I try to be the common thread throughout this great tapestry by bringing us altogether once a month, circulating a monthly newsletter with common themes and shared goals, and providing meaningful and substantive information. 

The newsletters I create are simplistic forms of multimodal text.  Many of the poems I write, such as an acrostic, concrete or imagery, or Haiku poems are also simplistic forms of multimodal text.  The newsletter takes on a monthly theme depending on the awareness month, i.e. Child Abuse Wareness Month, Children's Mental Health Month, etc. 

LIFE’S PORTRAIT OF COLORS

The

canvas bare

without a care.

Black and blue

I flee from you.

When you see red

Slow down, stop ahead.

Orange and yellow, hide

the sparrow.  A monster with

green eyes will cut you down to size.

Pink ribbons adorn your heart, a life in

review or a brand new start. Tan or brown

upon your skin; hard to win. Streets of gold

bought by a price, never sold. Toll the bell

your story

to tell.

Assessment of Multimodal Text Poem "Lifes Portrait of Colors" by Joyce Harris-Thacker

The design of this poem with the words in the shape of a bell is very powerful.  It pulls the reader in.  The reader wants to know what the words say and how it relates to the picture the words have created.  There is just enough color in the clip art of the bells on top that also helps to solidify that the text of the poem is indeed a bell.  Colored text would be too much and would distract from the words and the meaning contained in the text.  I really like the comparisons of the colors to life situations and the message for the reader.  I love this poem.   My message would be for students and others that it is alright to be your own fan.  You should be, especially since we are our own worst critic most of the time.  That’s alright too.  My writing is always better because of that balance.  I think this is a very creative way to promote reading and better writing.  I believe all the elements (pictorial, textual and symbolic) come together nicely in order for the reader to grasp the concept along with evoking an emotional response.

Assessment of Multimodal "Recycling" Powerpoint by Joyce Harris-Thacker

I felt the typeface was attractive and readable with slide titles being larger, caps and more bold drawing attention to what information you would expect to see in the body.  Since we were to use more pictures and less words, I thought the pictures did a good job representing the answers evoked from the title questions. Certainly, since the topic was ecological, the color green was appropriate.  There was a clear focus on the topic presenting good information on how, when, when and where to recycle in Buckhannon and Upshur County.  

Example of a Metaphor 

This picture is a very good example of the "money tree" metaphor.  

Example of a Metonymy

This image is a good example of a metonymy where something closely associated is substituted for the other.