Understanding Argument through Cartoon and Film, Grades 7-8
The Secret and Serious Lessons behind Fiction and Fun
8 class sessions over 4 weeks, 1.5 hours per class (12 hours of instruction)
July 8 - July 30
Tuesdays/Wednesdays, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. PST
Course Description:
The “kids’ movies” that we enjoy for their entertainment, fantasy, animated art, and suspense are loaded with serious matters that contain significant arguments. In these delightful movies, several scenes/scenarios can help young writers who are preparing for high school study and recognize the tactics of argument, persuasion, manipulation, and coercion. Understanding the thought processes (or thoughtless ones) in decisions, actions, dialogues, and sometimes silence of characters can yield insight that carries over into writers’ abilities to prepare debates, explanations, interpretations, and analyses. These skills can support students’ maturing reasoning, critical thinking, different perspectives, and developing eye for the phooey foul-ups that make a mess out of situations. . .and learn to articulate ways to remedy them!
Clips for study include those from The Addam’s Family, Despicable Me, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Encanto, The Incredibles, The Croods, Jumanji, 9, Boxtrolls, Inside Out, Toy Story, Frozen, and Wicked
Course Objectives:
Students will:
Instructor Biography:
Ilona Missakian has taught both high school AP courses and college English classes in Southern California, specializing in composition and rhetoric. Missakian infuses all courses with the strategies from the UCI Writing Project that promote students’ skills in reading and writing. Her recent activity in projects like i3 (Invention and Inclusive Innovation)--which embraces technology--and the Puente Project from U.C. Berkeley--which embraces culturally relevant content--have informed her approach to helping students shape their voices and craft effective communication. She enjoys working with all grade levels and individual learners to maximize their academic preparation. She has Master’s degrees in English and in Education, and a Ph.D. degree in Education, specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology.
The “kids’ movies” that we enjoy for their entertainment, fantasy, animated art, and suspense are loaded with serious matters that contain significant arguments. In these delightful movies, several scenes/scenarios can help young writers who are preparing for high school study and recognize the tactics of argument, persuasion, manipulation, and coercion. Understanding the thought processes (or thoughtless ones) in decisions, actions, dialogues, and sometimes silence of characters can yield insight that carries over into writers’ abilities to prepare debates, explanations, interpretations, and analyses. These skills can support students’ maturing reasoning, critical thinking, different perspectives, and developing eye for the phooey foul-ups that make a mess out of situations. . .and learn to articulate ways to remedy them!
Clips for study include those from The Addam’s Family, Despicable Me, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Encanto, The Incredibles, The Croods, Jumanji, 9, Boxtrolls, Inside Out, Toy Story, Frozen, and Wicked
Course Objectives:
Students will:
- Learn about argument patterns and the role of components like logic, emotions, and ethics through the movie clips.
- Recognize common argument shortfalls like appeals to stereotypes, bandwagon assertions, ignorance, fear-factor intimidation, irrationality, and simplification in the character’s performances.
- Practice role-play scenarios, writing about hypothetical situations for deeper exploration of the characters’ situations and alternatives.
- Be introduced to some ways to use AI in the brainstorming stage of the writing process to engage argumentative investigation.
- Create a character mash-up quiz-show at the end of the sessions.
Instructor Biography:
Ilona Missakian has taught both high school AP courses and college English classes in Southern California, specializing in composition and rhetoric. Missakian infuses all courses with the strategies from the UCI Writing Project that promote students’ skills in reading and writing. Her recent activity in projects like i3 (Invention and Inclusive Innovation)--which embraces technology--and the Puente Project from U.C. Berkeley--which embraces culturally relevant content--have informed her approach to helping students shape their voices and craft effective communication. She enjoys working with all grade levels and individual learners to maximize their academic preparation. She has Master’s degrees in English and in Education, and a Ph.D. degree in Education, specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology.