We started researching for our documentary film today. I’ve been looking forward to this since I took the EVC workshop at the NCTE convention in NYC last November. The experience was amazing.

I know that Global Warming is not what all of my students wanted to study, but I think we spent a long time evaluating our possible topics. I am particularly proud of the way my students used the criteria we established to evaluate what would make the best documentary film. When C– said that it sounded like two of the topics (Teen Suicide and Gas Prices) could inform but not necessarily effect change or persuade I wished I had the cameras rolling then.

From 40-something original topic ideas, the class winnowed them down to the final two: Religious Intolerance and Global Warming. After pitching, arguing, evaluating, and playing with possible questions and angles, the class–in a very close vote–chose Global Warming.

We start our research today! Mr. Landow and I found some cool resources from our library database that the students may access from home. These sites have already been vetted, so the kids won’t have to do as much deep evaluation, but they will still need to look for agendas and angles.

There is so much information out there and I am looking forward to see what aspects of this HUGE issue the kids are going to focus on.