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Studying The Blues: Close Reading, Close Viewing, and Table Discussions

  • Mr. Greene
  • Feb 9, 2017
  • 1 min read

Our journey through the history of blues music in America began with an exploration of the Mississippi delta at the turn of the century (early 1900s), traveled through the Great Migration, and ended in Chicago with the emergence of electric blues in the 1950s and 60s. Students were introduced to the blues through collaborative, close (critical) reading and viewing activities. Notes were taken in class journals during second and third readings/viewings. Table discussions followed, giving students an opportunity to compare their notes, discuss the content, and extend their source material.*

The strategy for our close viewing activity involved critically watching and listening to a video excerpt, absorbing the information presented in the clip without the distraction of taking notes. Guiding questions are provided and reviewed prior to the first viewing. Students are instructed to take notes on the second and third viewings focusing on the guiding questions and any additional information they believe to be important or interesting. The table discussion strategy begins with one student presenting his/her notes with the group while other students review their notes, adding additional information that they may not have recorded during the viewings. The process continues around the table until all students has presented their notes. The ensuing group discussion focuses on responses to the guiding questions and related takeaways from the excerpt. * Source material refers to the final set of notes developed through close readings/viewings and table discussions. This source material is referenced when creating related projects (e.g. poetry, song lyrics) and reviewing for assessments.


 
 
 

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