Like I said once before, this blogger is now for a class. This entire post will be my written responses to a series of questions given to me for the pre-production of my documentary.
1. Personal:
a. What inspired your topic or subject matter?
My topic was inspired by myself mostly. Throughout high school I was told that my classes were preparing me for the real-world and for college. But, when I actually graduated and became a part of this "real-world" I didn't and still do not, know many things that I should know. High school taught me math problem solving skills for calculus problems and math equations I'll never use in real life. What about balancing a check book, being able to make change quickly and so on. I didn't know how to write a check until my mother taught me.
b. (How) does it reflect a personal interest, belief, concern, or question?
I believe that high school isn't teaching students real life skills they need. Schools are too focused on standardized testing scores and budgets than teaching skills we need to function in everyday life.
c. What is your relationship to this subject?
I feel that i was not prepared, i feel like there was so much more i needed to learn. I wish high school could have taught me how to balance a check book, write a check, do my own taxes and be able to understand how to do them, and cook more than just a TV dinner.
2. Working statement/hypothesis:
a. what is your personal persuasion about your topic?
I feel that high schools are not doing enough for students now a days. They are focused on higher learning, but that learning revolves around mathematics, science and reading books that some students don't even care to read. I felt that i could have been properly prepared for the world instead of learning things i can barely remember now.
b. Is there a statement you wish to make?
I want high schools to give a well-rounded education to students. I want students to be able to have higher thinking and learning skills but also be able to take care of themselves in the real world.
c. Try writing a hypothesis statement that uses the wording such as, "In my life I believe... my video will show this action by...the main conflict is between____and _____...ultimately I want the audience to feel (or understand)..."
In my life I believe that high school does not really prepare you for the "real-world". My video will show this action by interviewing high schoolers, teachers, college freshmen/college students and parents their personal opinion if students are really capable of handling themselves in this "real-world". The main conflict is between high school students and the "real world", ultimately I want the audience to understand what high school students are really learning today. I want the audience to think and care about their children or future children and how they can handle their own selves.
3. Research
a. What do you already know about this subject?
When I had gone to high school almost four years ago we were allowed to have the choice of classes we wished to take. Most classes available were art, music, business, technology and the basic classes available in math, science, English and history. We had to take required elective classes such as Life Skills, that were to teach us about necessary skills we would need to function in the real world. Most important topics were skimmed over or hardly discussed. After the class was over for the semester that was it. Most business classes were available but many students who were not in DECA or going into a business field didn't bother to take one of the business electives. I know I was one of the students who didn't want to go near a business course, I felt that I wouldn't need it.
b. What don't you know?
I don't know if anything has changed over the past couple of years. Do students feel more prepared? Are there classes that teach these necessary life skills?
c. What kinds of additional research do you need to engage in?
I think i should research other cultures schools in various parts of the country and how they prepare students.
d. What primary research sources are available that you might actually use in your video (i.e. people to interview, shooting locations, etc.)?
My old high school is available for both students to interview and teachers to interview as well as the location. I am observing for another class and I can use many different teachers and students opinions in my documentary.
e. Are there secondary sources of possible value?
the Internet.
f. Where do you need to go to learn more (library, websites, locations, people)?
I need to go into the high school and possibly talk to the principal, guidance counselors and ask what courses are available and possibly the teachers of those classes about what their course curriculum is.
g. Can you write out a research plan?
I would like to first research online schools from around the country and the globe and how they prepare students by the courses they offer and what education they focus on. Then I would like to talk to various educators from my old high school and interview high schoolers and college students about their opinions of high school and how they feel being in the real world or preparing for the real world.
h. After conducting your research, what have you learned about the subject?
I am unable to answer that question at the moment.
i. What new questions have arisen?
How will I be able to talk to administration? Who will I need to contact? How do I contact those individuals?
j. What do you still want or need to know?
4. Anxieties
a. What are your hesitations and anxieties about this project?
I'm afraid that I will meet a brick wall with the school. I'm afraid they will not give me the opportunity to conduct my research. I'm also quite afraid to talk to individuals whom I am not that familiar with.
b. What are the challenges?
I have to first get permission to come into the school and interview students, teachers, so on.. I also have the challenge of time, when am I going to be available to do everything that I need to do.
c. Potential Obstacles?
not being able to do what i need to.
d. Is your idea realistic or doable?
I believe so. I think a high school would like to try and advocate their school in a better light and promote themselves.
e. Can you complete this in the allotted time?
Hopefully.
5. Topic
a. Can you write a concise paragraph about the subject of your video?
It's the great debate. Are students really ready to handle themselves in the real-world now-a-days, or do schools need to change available curriculum so that we can prepare students? Are schools thinking that they can release their graduates knowing they are capable while students have a different view? I want to explore the views of both the school, students, teachers, parents and how they are all similar or differ from each other.
b. If you had to write a press release, an abstract for a grant proposal, or a newspaper review for your piece, what would be a clear but brief description?
This documentary focuses on the high school and how well it prepares their students for the real world. It focuses on students, teachers, parents and administrations opinions and beliefs and what is available or needs to be available to students.
6. Background
a. What background information will your audience need in order to understand and be interested in this piece?
They will have to have knowledge of schooling by either being a teacher, being a student or a past student, knowledge of the real world and skills needed to function in it.
b. Is there a particular context for your topic that your audience needs to understand?
They need to understand skills needed to "survive" in the real world.
c. How well will this information be inserted in the video, how will it emerge?
It will be inserted throughout the video as it is the main subject.
7. Characters
a. Who are the main characters in your narrative?
the high school students.
b. For each character, can you outline their place or role in the piece, their place in the overall narrative, their relationship to other characters, what makes them interesting and/or significant?
The students opinions in the piece are ultimately the driving force of the piece. I will put them in real life scenarios and see how they can deal or handle those situations without help from a parent or another individual. Their answers will be either counter acted or supported by the views of teachers, parents and college students. What makes them important is that these students are our future, can they handle their own future?
8. Conflict:
a. What will be the central conflict or issue?
Are students prepared for the real world and what are schools teaching children so they can be prepared?
b. Who wants what from whom?
I want to know if students feel they are ready to go out into the real world.
I want to know what classes are available and what is being taught to our future.
Are students getting what they really need?
c. What aspects of this conflict do your characters represent?
the entire conflict.
d. Will your piece put different principles in opposition (different opinions, points of view, visions, solutions)?
Yes, I want point of views and opinions from every one.
e. Is there a culminating 'confrontation'?
Directly, everyone is involved in this. We have all experienced high school at some point of our lives and at one point in time we were thrust upon this "real-world". Did we feel prepared for it? Were we confident enough that we could become the adults we had to be? Students today are in an ever evolving environment and are our future, are we confident that they know how to handle our future also?
f. How will you communicate/present that in your piece?
I feel the answer has been stated before.
9. Structure
a. What are the action sequences?
b. can you describe the structure?
c. How will it begin, what is the opening sequence?
d. Will there be a culminating moment?
e. How will you handle the progression of time, can you describe how the piece will unfold?
-these questions cannot be properly answered at this time.
10. Content
a. Is there key symbolic imagery you want the audience to encounter?
I haven't determined that yet at this time.
b. Are there key facts you want your audience to gather along the way?
of course, I want the audience to know what is going on inside of schools and how we are preparing the youth for adulthood.
c. At what point will this information appear?
At this time I have no concrete answer.
11. Style
a. What are your thoughts about specific locations, camera angles, or lighting?
I don't feel a large concern for them at the moment but I feel that will change as I begin filming.
b. Do you want the piece to create a particular mood or feel?
I want the piece to make you think, I may want you to feel upset or angry but also understanding. Its undetermined.
c. How will you accomplish this?
I have no answer for this at this time.
12. Audience
a. Who is your audience?
Everyone.
b. What are their views and/or biases on this topic?
I do not know at the time.
c. Will your piece support or challenge their views?
It could possibly be either.
13. Resolution
a. How will your piece end, and what would you like the ending to accomplish for your audience?
I don't know how it will end but I want the audience to really think and care about their children's future and their own future and hopefully do something.
b. What effect or impact do you want your video to have on your audience?
I want thought and maybe change
c. Do you want to alter their views?
If i could, yes.
d. Do you want them to take a particular action?
It depends.
e. How will your video accomplish this?
f. What evidence to you need to present, and how will you organize and sequence it?
I will have situations given to the student and see how well they handle them.
14. Logistics
a. What is your production?
b. Can you write it down?
c. Can you break down the project into smaller components and/or a logical sequence?
d. Do you need to reserve equipment?
yes.
e. Can you generate a schedule/timeline for completion?
yes.
f. Schedule meetings and/or interviews?
yes.
g. What is your list of things to do?
I need to contact the school and set up meetings with teachers and ask if i can use their students in my documentary. I need to research other schools, and set up real life scenarios for students to complete. I need to write a script and create questions that every person i interview will answer.
