Signs+and+Symbols

toc =Friday, Jan. 21 - Introduction to Semiotics=

These slides accompany all the lessons for Jan. 21 - Jan. 31 below

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Semiotics: Key Concepts and Vocabulary

 * Sign
 * Signifier
 * Signified

Pairs Activity: The Semiotics of Media
Explore [|The Semiotics of Media] and take the practice quiz at the end

Online Resources for Further Information about Semiotics
[|Semiotics for Beginners] [|Introductory Models and Basic Concepts: Semiotics] [|Semiotics, Structuralism, and Television]

=Monday, Jan. 24 - The Arbitrary Nature of Language=

Whole Class: Rene Magritte - The Treachery of Images (Ceci n'est pas une pipe)
Review the key concepts of semiotics from yesterday View the [|video discussion of this painting at smarthistory]

"What one must paint is the image of resemblance -- if thought is to become visible to the world." ~Rene Magritte

[|Images of resemblance: Magritte's semiotic explorations] It's not a pipe; it's a painting The painting is a sign, a signifier signifying the concept of "pipe" [|This is not a pipe cartoon]

More [|Magritte references in Understanding Comics by Scott McLoud]

Exploring the relationship between signifier and signified
Humpty Dumpty's take on it. ..

What words (and objects) mean according to Scuttle
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//What about onomatopoeia?//
Listen to these recordings of children from around the world making animal sounds - [|Bzzzpeek]

=Tuesday, Jan. 25 - Spectrum of Meaning Experiment=

From The Princess Bride - Inconceivable!
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Small Groups: Synonym Continuum
Given a set of synonyms, place them on a continuum of meanings from one extreme to the other Discuss your reasoning in your small group

=Wednesday, Jan. 26 - Denotation vs. Connotation=

Whole Class: What Does the Spectrum of Meaning Mean?
Survey the results of our synonym experiment Discuss conclusions about. ..
 * how words mean
 * why they mean different things to different people
 * how a connotation can be shared among members of a group

Pairs Activity: Sound Like a Semiotician
Practice discussing a work of art with a partner using the key terms: signifier, signified, denotation, and connotation Exit Slip - Write about another work of art, and incorporate all four key terms

=Thursday, Jan. 27 - Icon, Index, and Symbol=

Semiotics Self-Assessement
Small Groups: Practice using your semiotics vocabulary to talk about an image from [|The Mysteries of Harris Burdick] in a small group
 * Self evaluate your current understanding of semiotics
 * Rate your understanding again

Small Groups: Sign Sorting Activity
Match each signifier with what it signifies (expressed in words) Sort the signs into 3 categories: icon, index, or symbol
 * Rate your understanding again

Sign up to edit the Humanities at ISA wiki

=Friday, Jan. 28 - Signs and Symbols in the Disciplines=

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Individual Task: Create a slideshow of important signs and symbols for your field of study

 * Please use only Creative Commons licensed images
 * Cite your images like this: //"Title of image linked to the page where it's from" CC by username on Flickr [or other site where it's hosted] -// see the slideshow below for examples
 * Cite any other information (definitions, quotes, etc.) the same way
 * Embed your slideshow on your wiki page for your discipline

Different Points of View (HSBC Ads)
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Here are some resources for finding Creative Commons licensed and copyright-friendly images
[|Behold] [|Compfight: A Flickr Search Tool] ([|instructions for using Compfight] ) [|FlickrStorm] (save CC images with a URL) [|FlickrCC]

[|Google Advanced Image Search] (select Usage Rights) [|Flickr's Creative Commons Portal] [|Flickr Creative Commons - Attribution Only Search] [|Library of Congress photostream] on Flickr

=Monday, Jan. 31 - Signs and Symbols in the Disciplines, continued=

Whole Class: Review the 3 different types of signs
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Individual Task: Continue creating your slideshow for your field of study . ..
1. Please share it with Ms. Moorman - hmoorm (at) neisd (dot) net 2. Your slideshow needs to be ready to post on your wiki page tomorrow 3. To earn 100 points, you need at least 10 slides including: 4. Don't forget to cite each of your images!
 * 2 icons
 * 2 indexes
 * 2 symbols
 * 2 quotations

=Tuesday, Feb. 1 - Signs and Symbols in the Disciplines, fin=

See directions from yesterday :)

To embed your slideshow on your wiki page:

 * 1) In Google Docs, click "Share" > "Publish/embed"
 * 2) Make your selections then copy the HTML code from the box
 * 3) Go to your wiki page
 * 4) Click "Edit" then "Widget"
 * 5) Select "Other HTML" and paste the code in the box
 * 6) Click "Save" and you should now see your slides on your page!

=Wednesday, Feb. 2 - Signs and Symbols in Popular Culture=

//Everything is an Argument//, Chapter 15: Visual Arguments
Whole Class: Read pp. 301-311 and study the visual examples closely

Pairs Activity: Use the questions on pp. 312-313 to analyze a TV ad with a partner

 * 1) Choose one of these ads from BestAdsOnTV.com
 * 2) Answer at least 10 questions: choose 2 questions from each section; 4 from the last section
 * 3) Work collaboratively to weave your answers into a coherent paragraph or two describing and analyzing the ad

=Thursday, Feb. 3 - Signs and Symbols in Popular Culture, continued=

//Everything is an Argument//, Chapter 15: Visual Arguments
Read pp. 315-327 and study the visual examples closely

Whole Class: Experiment with the emotional power of color
> What patterns emerged in the responses? > What colors did people associate with certain emotions? > What accounts for the similarities differences in people's responses?
 * 1) Spread the paint samples out on the tables so everyone can reach some
 * 2) Take turns calling out emotion words and have everyone pick the color it reminds them of and show it to the group
 * 3) Pass the list of emotions words around until each of you has had a chance to choose one emotion for the class to respond to with their color choices
 * 4) Discuss the results of the experiment:
 * 1) Choose a color for your writing assignment (below)

Individual Task: Color Personified - Writing Assignment
Based on the examples from [|Ruth Gendler's]//[|The Book of Qualities]//, write a short piece that personifies a color In other words, you will be writing a description of the color as if it were a person

Different colors symbolize different things and make us feel certain feelings. This [|Color Psychology site] shows us some of the different meanings they can have.

=Friday, Feb. 4 - Signs and Symbols in Popular Culture, fin=

Individual Task: Visual Arguments Explained

 * Choose ONE of the options for you to "** RESPOND. **" on pp. 328-330
 * Please type your response and include links to show me what visual text(s) you are responding to.
 * This is an individual assignment.
 * It is also the culminating task for our study of symbols, so please do your best work.
 * Be sure to share it to me in Google Docs.


 * //Once you're finished, please look back at the assignments from this week, and be sure you are caught up!//**

If you're finished with everything, you might want to try this. ..

For Fun: From Symbol to Story
Use [|Scott McCloud's Story Machine] to randomly explore this [|big map of symbols] and create a story

=Monday, Feb. 7=

Catch-up day to finish symbol slideshows and TV ad analysis