Photo Essay



Worth a Thousand Words

A Photo Essay

• Choose a subject matter (appropriate for school) based on a theme. The subject matter should hold some kind of political, societal, or cultural significance.

• Decide on a unique angle or perspective for your subject matter. If your subject matter is cars, you must choose an original argument or outlook on cars other than “cars are cool.” Write a thesis statement that conveys this perspective.

• Write an introductory paragraph for 5-8 sentences. You do not need a photo with this paragraph; it is optional. Start with an image with showing details, as we have been working on all year. End this paragraph with your thesis statement. In this class, the thesis sentence is the last sentence of the first paragraph.

• Collect 5-6 photographs that represent your theme and subject matter. You may take the photographs yourself or find them on the web. Choose photographs that are visually interesting.

• Now, write your body paragraphs to accompany these photos. Write concise, sharp, meaningful text for each photo. Analyze the photo and how it develops your thesis. Look at “Analyzing Photographs” handout for questions to consider in your analysis. Each body paragraph should be between 5 – 8 sentences.

• Write a conclusion paragraph of 5-8 sentences to end your essay. A conclusion paragraph should offer the reader some hope for the problem. Offer solutions, and challenge the reader to change his or her behavior or thoughts. You do not need a photograph for this paragraph; it is optional.

• The main focus of your essay should be to use both your writing and your photos to communicate your thesis to your audience.

• Organize your photos and text with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The text will take the reader on a journey through your photos; make certain that journey is worth taking.

• The final product may take the form of a PowerPoint presentation, booklet, or any other creative format. Carefully consider the appearance of your final product; be sure that it reflects your creativity, thought, and planning.

• Create an original and captivating title for your essay.

• You may turn in a paper copy of your essay or you may submit it digitally. If you submit it digitally, you will save it on my flash drive. See me if you wish to do this.

Some Ideas…

A Cultural or Ethnic group – beyond the stereotypes

September 11th

Homelessness and Poverty

Iraq War (or any war) – Good or Bad?

Advertising

Fast food – Delicious or Destructive?

Influential musicians

Hip Hop culture – Harmful Influence or Accurate Depiction of Reality?

Dying to be Thin – The Obsession with Weight in America

Celebrity Culture

Celebrity Role Models

Animal Rights

Climate Change/Environmental Policies

Death Penalty

Gun Control

Facebook – Stalker Central or Valuable Social Network?

Social Class at PFHS

Success

Project Proposal

Thesis Statement: One sentence that clearly defines your unique perspective on your subject matter. Write the first draft of your thesis statement below:

Example: Hollywood promotes negative body images among women.

Rationale: Explain why you chose this subject matter. What do you hope to convey to your reader?

Example: I chose this because I see so many women struggling with their weight and hating their bodies because of the unrealistic expectations. Hollywood continues to promote negative body images through photographs, interviews, diet products, and extreme exercise plans.

Photos: Where will you get your photographs? Will you take them yourself or find them on the web?

Outline: Plan your paper below. How will you break your topic into subtopics? What will each paragraph be about?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Due Dates: You must meet all due dates below even if you are absent.

|Assignment |Due Date 3rd Period |Due Date 7th Period |

|Project Proposal |Monday, December 7 |Tuesday, December 8 |

|5-6 Photos saved |Wednesday, December 9 |Monday, December 14 |

|Intro Paragraph |Tuesday, December 15 |Wednesday, December 16 |

|Rough Draft |Monday, December 21 |Tuesday, December 22 |

|(5-6 photos with a paragraph for each, plus intro and | | |

|conclusion paragraphs) | | |

|Final Draft |Wednesday, January 6 |Thursday, January 7 |

Sample Opening Paragraph

Photo is optional with your

opening paragraph.

Sample Body Paragraph

Opening

Paragraph

First Body

Paragraph 1

Body Paragraphs

2 – 5 (or 2-6)

Conclusion

Paragraph

Also include a title page with your name, class period, and a creative title (see handout for this).

Photo Essay Name __________________________

Grading Rubric Period _____

_______/5 Title

• Clearly states both subject and argument

(Example – Dying to be Thin: The Obsession with Weight in America)

_______/15 Introduction Paragraph & Thesis Statement

• Paragraph begins by catching the reader’s attention.

• Paragraph ends with thesis statement.

• Thesis statement clearly presents a unique argument.

• Intro paragraph is free of grammatical errors.

_______/40 Photos

• 5-6 photos are included.

• Each photo clearly relates to thesis.

• Photos are visually interesting and engaging.

_______/60 Text (Body paragraphs)

• One body paragraph for each photo (5-6)

• Each photo contains persuasive, meaningful text to accompany it.

• Paragraphs “flow” from one to another.

• Each paragraph mentions the photograph that accompanies it.

• Each paragraph clearly relates to thesis and works to prove the argument made in thesis.

• Each paragraph is between 5-8 sentences.

• Each paragraph is free of grammatical errors.

_______/10 Conclusion Paragraph

• Concludes the essay by demonstrating the importance of your ideas and propelling the reader to further examination.

• Paragraph includes one of the following:

- Specific actions that the reader should take in light of your discovery.

- Speculation on the future implications of your thesis.

• Conclusion paragraph is free of grammatical errors.

_______/20 Layout and Design

• The appearance of the project reflects your creativity, thought, and planning.

Photo Essay

Peer Revision Worksheet

Who wrote the paper? __________________________

Who is editing the paper? _______________________

Yes/No

_______ Title - Clearly states both subject and argument

(Example – Dying to be Thin: The Obsession with Weight in America)

Introduction Paragraph & Thesis Statement

_______ Paragraph begins by catching the reader’s attention.

_______ Paragraph ends with thesis statement.

_______ Thesis statement clearly presents a unique argument. Someone could argue with this statement

_______ Intro paragraph is free of grammatical errors (especially fragments and run-ons!)

Photos

_______ 5-6 photos are included.

_______ Each photo clearly relates to thesis.

_______ Photos are visually interesting and engaging.

Text (Body paragraphs)

_______ Each photo contains persuasive, meaningful text to accompany it.

_______ Paragraphs “flow” from one to another.

_______ Each paragraph mentions the photo that goes with it.

_______ Each paragraph clearly relates to thesis and works to prove the argument made in thesis.

_______ Each paragraph is between 5-8 sentences.

_______ Each paragraph is free of grammatical errors (especially fragments and run-ons!)

Conclusion Paragraph

_______ Concludes the essay by demonstrating the importance of your ideas and propelling the

reader to further examination.

_______ Paragraph ends with:

Suggestions for how to improve this situation.

Challenges for the reader to act or think differently about the topic

_______ Conclusion paragraph is free of grammatical errors (especially fragments and run-ons!)

_______ Layout and Design - The appearance of the project reflects your creativity, thought,

and planning. Does the project “look good”?

-----------------------

Due: (See Due Dates)

Points: 150

When we see celebrities in movies and photographs, they often look flawless. Their skin is tan and blemish-free, their hair is long and flowing, and their body is toned and ultra-thin. All of this seems effortless, but in fact much effort is put into looking this way. In the photo, 46 year-old Demi Moore flaunts her “bikini bod,” which is likely the result of hundreds of thousands of dollars in plastic surgery. This sets unrealistic expectations for women because, regrettably, celebrities with bodies altered by plastic surgery set the standard for beauty in our society.

Example:

1. Diet fads

2. Workout to the extreme

3. Plastic Surgery

4. Expensive Products

5. Celebrities with a healthy body image

Waiting in line at the grocery store, I was scanning the magazines and trying to decide which one to purchase. I glanced at the cover blurbs; I saw “Jessica Alba loses all baby weight in 6 weeks,” “Jennifer Lopez competes in half marathon two months after giving birth,” and “New Hollywood diet-lose 20 pounds in a month.” I immediately suck in my stomach. As a fairly new mother and woman in her thirties, I feel bombarded by the intense desire, among women, to be thin, and Hollywood surely does nothing to abate that desire to lose weight. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to define what a “normal” body is in our society. Because many of us feel tempted to give in to the images we see, women from small towns to big cities feel the pressure to look like the females they see on television, magazine covers, and in movies.

• Begin with a story. Use SHOWING details.

• Transition into your thesis.

• The last sentence of this paragraph will be your thesis statement.

• This paragraph should be between 5-8 sentences.

Photo is optional for this paragraph

• Use your first point to prove your argument.

• Make sure you mention/discuss the photo.

• This paragraph should be between 5-8 sentences.

[pic]Include an interesting photo.

• These paragraphs should follow the same format as body paragraph 1.

• Make sure these paragraphs flow from one to another.

• Make sure you do not repeat information you have already covered.

[pic]Include an interesting photo for each body paragraph. .

• Conclude your paper by offering hope to the reader. Offer suggestions for how to improve this situation.

• Challenge the reader to act or think differently about your topic.

• This paragraph should be between 5-8 sentences.

Photo is optional for this paragraph.

_______/150 Final Grade

Points will be deducted for each day your final draft is late.

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