70 Exploring Arabic Media and Culture with Grammar
Rania Suliman
Learning Objectives
In this assignment, dual enrollment students will immerse themselves in Arabic media and culture while paying special attention to Arabic grammar and sentence structure. They will choose an Arabic film, TV series, or music album, analyze its linguistic and cultural aspects, and create a multimedia presentation. The aim is to deepen their Arabic language skills, including grammar, cultural awareness, and critical thinking through engagement with authentic Arabic media.
Media Selection: Choose an Arabic film, TV series, or music album that interests you. Ensure it provides opportunities for linguistic and cultural analysis while allowing you to focus on grammar and sentence structure. For films or TV series, select a 10-minute segment that showcases significant dialogue and cultural elements.
Media Analysis: Watch the selected media attentively while taking notes. Analyze the following aspects:
- Language Usage: Identify Arabic words, phrases, or idioms used in the media, paying attention to sentence structure and grammar.
- Cultural References: Note cultural elements, traditions, or references portrayed.
- Themes and Messages: Reflect on the media’s themes, messages, and potential cultural implications.
Grammar and Sentence Analysis: While analyzing language usage, focus on Arabic grammar and sentence structure. Identify different sentence types, verb conjugations, noun-adjective agreements, and other grammatical features.
Digital Presentation: Create a multimedia presentation using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Adobe Spark. Your presentation should cover:
- A brief introduction to the chosen media.
- Analysis of language usage, with a specific focus on grammar and sentence structure, including examples and explanations.
- Discussion of cultural elements and references.
- Reflection on themes, cultural insights, and how grammar enhances understanding.
Narration or Video: Narrate your presentation or create a video where you explain your analysis. Use digital recording tools to ensure clarity and coherence in your narration while demonstrating proper Arabic grammar.
Peer Sharing: Share your multimedia presentation with peers in the class. Encourage constructive feedback and engage in discussions about each other’s chosen Arabic media.
Reflection: Write a reflective essay discussing your experience with this assignment. Reflect on the challenges and discoveries made during your analysis of Arabic media, including grammar and sentence structure, and its impact on your language skills, cultural awareness, and grammar proficiency. Assessment:
Purpose/Rationale
Assignment #3, titled “Linguistic and Cultural Analysis of Arabic Media,” can be designed as a renewable assignment by structuring it to encourage students to engage with various Arabic media segments multiple times throughout the course. How it can be implemented as a renewable assignment:
- Media Selection and Initial Analysis (First Iteration): At the beginning of the course, students are instructed to select an Arabic film, TV series, or music album that interests them. They perform an initial linguistic and cultural analysis of a 10-minute segment from this media.
- Feedback and Improvement (First Iteration): After submitting their analysis, students receive feedback from the instructor. This feedback includes suggestions for improving their linguistic and cultural analysis. Students are encouraged to revisit the same media segment, apply the feedback, and make improvements.
- Second Iteration (Midterm): Midway through the course, students are asked to choose a different 10-minute segment from the same media source or a new one if they prefer. They apply what they’ve learned in the course so far to perform a more in-depth linguistic and cultural analysis. This encourages them to revisit the assignment, apply their growing knowledge, and demonstrate progress.
- Feedback and Improvement (Second Iteration): Again, students receive feedback on their second analysis. This feedback guides them in refining their analysis further, focusing on more advanced linguistic and cultural aspects.
- Final Iteration (End of Course): Towards the end of the course, students select a third 10-minute segment, either from the same media source or a different one. By this point, they have received feedback twice, honed their linguistic and cultural analysis skills, and deepened their understanding. They produce a final analysis that showcases their advanced linguistic and cultural insights.
- Comprehensive Reflection (End of Course): In addition to the final analysis, students are required to write a comprehensive reflection that compares their initial and final analyses. They discuss how their skills and understanding have evolved over the course of multiple iterations.
- Peer Review and Discussion (End of Course): To foster peer interaction and learning, students can engage in peer reviews and discussions of each other’s final analyses and reflections. This promotes collaborative learning and allows students to benefit from diverse perspectives.
Assessment and Grading (End of Course): The instructor assesses the final analysis and reflection, considering the progress demonstrated across multiple iterations. The rubric provided to students reflects the cumulative growth they’ve achieved. This assignment, including all three iterations and the final reflection, contributes to their course grade. By structuring Assignment #3 in this renewable manner, students are encouraged to revisit and build upon their linguistic and cultural analysis skills throughout the course. Each iteration provides an opportunity for improvement, and the final reflection encourages metacognition and awareness of their own progress. This approach promotes a deeper understanding of Arabic language and culture while fostering a growth mindset.
Instructions
The assignment will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Grammar and Sentence Structure Analysis (30%): The depth and quality of the grammatical analysis within the chosen Arabic media.
- Digital Presentation (25%): The quality, organization, and clarity of the multimedia presentation, including grammar explanations.
- Narration or Video (15%): The effectiveness of the narration or video in explaining the media analysis, emphasizing proper grammar.
- Peer Interaction (10%): Active participation in peer discussions and providing constructive feedback.
- Reflection (10%): The depth of reflection in the essay, including insights gained from the analysis.
- Language Proficiency (10%): The use of appropriate Arabic language, including proper grammar, during the presentation and narration.
Impactful Use of Technology: Students will utilize digital tools for various aspects of this assignment, from creating presentations to recording narrations or videos. These tools enhance digital literacy skills and facilitate engaging and immersive learning experiences.
Grading and Weight: Assignment #3 contributes 20% to the overall course grade, with each component carrying a specific weight. The rubric will be provided to students to clarify the assessment criteria.
Additional Notes: You are encouraged to consult with the instructor if you have any questions or need guidance on media selection or creating your project. This assignment is an opportunity for creative exploration and reflection, allowing you to gain deeper insights into Arabic language and culture through engaging with media content. Remember that this assignment encourages experiential learning, as you apply your language skills to real-world media examples.
Format Requirements
Video:
- Length: Videos should be a minimum of 5-7 minutes in duration.
- Format: Preferred formats include MP4 or MOV.
- Submission: Upload your video to the designated folder on Google Drive.
Infographic: Size: Infographics should be in a portrait layout.
- Format: Save your infographic as a high-resolution image in formats like JPEG or PNG.
- Submission: Upload your infographic to the designated folder on Google Drive.
Paper:
- Length: Papers should be a minimum of 2-3 pages, double-spaced.
- Font: Use a legible font such as Times New Roman or Arial, with a font size of 12.
- Citation Style: Follow a specified citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).
- Submission: Upload your paper as a PDF document to the designated folder on Google Drive.
Reflection Component:
- Length: The reflection component should be a minimum of 150-200 words.
Format: Typed in a document format.
Submission: Upload your reflective component as a PDF document to the designated folder on Google Drive. Please ensure that your chosen format effectively communicates your linguistic and cultural analysis of the Arabic media segment, focusing on grammar and sentence structure. Adhere to any specific guidelines or instructions provided by the instructor regarding file naming and submission platforms.
Rubric/Criteria
This assignment will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Linguistic Analysis (40%):
- A (90-100%): Exceptional analysis of Arabic grammar and sentence structure, demonstrating a deep understanding of linguistic concepts.
- B (80-89%): Effective analysis of Arabic grammar and sentence structure with minor errors or omissions.
- C (70-79%): Adequate analysis of Arabic grammar and sentence structure, but with noticeable errors or lack of depth.
- D (60-69%): Limited analysis of Arabic grammar and sentence structure.
- F (0-59%): No submission.
Cultural Appreciation (30%):
- A (90-100%): Exceptional cultural insights and appreciation demonstrated in the assignment.
- B (80-89%): Solid cultural understanding with some nuanced insights.
- C (70-79%): Adequate cultural understanding but with limited depth or insights.
- D (60-69%): Limited cultural understanding.
- F (0-59%): No submission.
Digital Project Quality (20%):
- A (90-100%): The multimedia project is of exceptional quality, demonstrating creativity and clarity.
- B (80-89%): The multimedia project is well-executed with minor room for improvement.
- C (70-79%): The multimedia project is adequate but may lack creativity or clarity.
- D (60-69%): The multimedia project lacks quality and creativity.
- F (0-59%): No submission.
Reflection (10%):
- A (90-100%): The reflection component is insightful, providing a thorough analysis of the media segment and its linguistic and cultural aspects.
- B (80-89%): The reflection is well-structured and provides meaningful insights.
- C (70-79%): The reflection is somewhat superficial and lacks in-depth analysis.
- D (60-69%): The reflection is minimal or absent.
- F (0-59%): No submission.
Impact on Course Grade: This assignment contributes 20% to your overall course grade. Successful completion of this assignment with high grades (A or B) can significantly enhance your course grade, while lower grades (C, D, or F) may have a negative impact. Be sure to consult the rubric provided on the course platform and the course syllabus for a more detailed breakdown of assessment criteria and their respective weights.
