Module 4 Lesson 1

 

MODULE 4: EXPLORING TOOLS FOR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION

LESSON 1: EVALUATING TEXTS THAT USE WORDS AND IMAGES Learning outcome: 

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to evaluate multimodal texts critically to enhance receptive (listening, reading, viewing) skills. LET’S WARM-

UP!

Think and Answer… 

In evaluating texts with words and images, here are some questions you can ask: 1.  2.  3.  4.  5. 

What is the message? What is the purpose of the message? me ssage? How is the message conveyed by the text and/or image? Who is the target audience of the message? What is the effect of the message being conveyed in this manner to the receiver?

LET’S BEGIN… 

What is a multimodal text?

While the development of multimodal literacy is strongly associated with the growth of digital communication technologies, multimodal is not synonymous with digital. The choice of media for multimodal text creation is therefore always an important consideration. A multimodal text can be paper –   –  such  such as books, comics, posters. A multimodal text can be digital –   –  from  from slide presentations, e-books, blogs, e-posters, web pages, and social media, through to animation, film and video games. A multimodal text can be live  –   –  a  a performance or an event. And, a multimodal text can be transmedia –   where the story is told using ‘multiple delivery channels’ through a combination of media platforms, for example, book, example,  book, comic, magazine, film, web series, and video game mediums all working as part of the same story. Development of multimodal literacy knowledge and skills

To enable you to effectively design and communicate meaning through such rich and potentially complex texts, you need to extend your (and along the way, your own) multimodal literacy knowledge and skills. Skilled multimodal composition requires new literacy design skills and knowledge to enable you to make informed choices within and across the available communication modes to effectively construct meaning.

 

Creating a multimodal text, a digital animation for example, is a complex meaning design process requiring the strategic orchestration of a combination of modes such as image, movement, sound, spatial design, gesture, and language. The process of constructing such texts is also truly a crossdisciplinary literacy process, drawing on digital information technologies and The Arts (media, music, drama, visual arts, and design) to bring meaning to life.

  MULTIMODAL TEXT 1 



 An I nfo nfogr gra aphic   , according to the Oxford Dictionaries, is a “visual representation of information or data, e.g., as chart or diagram.” In addition, an infographic uses words and images to communicate an idea to a specific audience. Example: Infographic A 

Infographic B

 

  MULTIMODAL TEXT 2



 An Ad  A dvertise rtisem ments nts communicate layers of messages to a target audience through the use of words and images. Moreover, it is something (such as a short film or written notice) that is shown or presented to the public to help sell a product or to make an announcement (Merriam dictionary). Possible messages of advertisements: 1.  Literal- a literal message is based on what the text shows. The reader/audience elicits the meaning based on what is conveyed obviously. 2.  Subliminal-it contains an underlying meaning. A text does not express this explicitly. It may be argued that a subliminal message may be understood only by a receiver who is aware of certain meanings that are associated with specific images and words. Example:

 

  Two (2) powerful notions that are communicated c ommunicated literally and subliminally in advertisements: 1.  Racism- discrimination of race. 2.  Sexism-discrimination of sex or gender.

Other forms of discriminations include: ageism, disability, and classicism.

  MULTIMODAL TEXT 3



 An E di to torr i al C ar to too ons are comics with a purpose usually to make comment about current issues. These are opinion based and not objective. Effective Editorial Cartoon

1.  It deals with a single idea.

2.  It is humorous.

 

 

3.  It exerts influence on the reader.

4.  It is realistic.

5.  It entertains the reader.