Visual Narrative/Essay:  Using Images and Pictures to Write

Preface:  Often time’s students can experience writer’s block, especially when stuck on the tedious task of writing a “traditional essay”.  Students will often be more invested in creating an essay or writing assignment if they know they will be allowed to incorporate their own pictures or images of visuals of their choice.  A visual  narrative or essay will allow them the opportunity to use images, pictures and art to write creatively.  An activity such as this opens the doors for creativity in writing because a visual essay can be about numerous topics including, narratives about specific days, events or trips. 


OBJECTIVE:  In this activity you will have an opportunity to narrate an event of your choice using text and images or pictures of your selection.  Through this assignment you will have be able to tell a story in an unconventional way, instead of simply writing the standard five paragraph essay to narrate a story you will do so using images and pictures.  Though this essay will include writing, the focus will be shifted to see how well you incorporated images into your writing.  The use of images and pictures can work to enhance your writing, and vice versa, your writing can also work to enhance the significance and meaning of each image you select.  Students may present their assignment on Power Point or a Prezi Presentation. 

ACTIVITY:

Possible Approaches

1:  Using Personal Photographs:  Select a photograph or set of photographs that have significant value to you.  These may be from a special moment or event in your life.   Use each of the images to write your narrative and make the photograph come alive for readers or viewers.  The focus of this writing assignment is to make the story or narrative you are telling come alive with each photograph or image.  Include sensory details/ who, when, where, what, why. 

2: Using Images from the Web:  If you don’t have any photographs or images of your own that you would like to use for this writing assignment you may visit the following websites to download images or photos and write your narrative.

http://www.flickr.com/

http://photobucket.com/

http://images.search.yahoo.com/

http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi


3:  Creative Writing:  Select form the following topics and write a piece of your choice (short story, narrative, fiction, poem, etc) After you selected the form of your piece; think about a topic that interests you. 

Some Ideas:  Perhaps you want to write about what the perfect school or community would look like or maybe you would like to write about what the ideal friendship or love story would be.  You may want to narrate a story you are familiar with from a different perspective, for example re- tell the story of the “princess” from the view of the “wicked witch”. 

  Here are some websites with other creative writing prompts:

http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/creative-writing-prompts.html

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/journal-prompts.html

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/creative.html#

 
WRITING:  You may if you wish want to brainstorm your topic, as you get started you may want to decide where you want to create your essay/ narrative.  Some possibilities include regular word document with images or pictures attached, a power point presentation or on Prezi. As you write your essay keep in mind that although this is in some sense not a traditional essay, your writing must have some sort of organizational quality.  For example you may want to use a different image or picture for each paragraph, section or even title of your essay/ narrative.  Remember that the inclusion of pictures or images to your essay is not merely to make this activity more fun, instead think that adding these elements will help create a writing piece that is more meaningful, rich, and engaging. Think about how each image or picture you select can help to add meaning to your words.  Besides showing and not merely telling, the usage of images and pictures will also allow your readers a chance to see what your essay is about. 

 
PUBLISHING/ PRESENTING:  After you have revised your draft and have worked in peer groups to improve content as well as syntax and grammar of your essay, you will have an opportunity to present your final piece.  Each student will be allowed 4 to 5 minutes in which they can choose to read through their favorite sections of the essay or narrative.


 


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