Reading Reel Nonfiction

This article discusses possible uses for documentaries in the classroom. There are not many specific examples of which documentaries to use in the classroom and how to use those certain ones because the article focuses on the ways in which the nonfiction films may be shown and used in the classroom. However, there is a list at the end of the article about some of the documentaries that the authors mention throughout the article or suggest. The article points out that many people think of nonfiction work as boring or dull, however many students find them intriguing and very informative. The difference between these two opinions boils down to the documentaries that are shown. One example pointed out by the authors is the story of Emmitt Till. This documentary is very interesting and contains many twists. The story of Emmitt Till will likely hold students' attention and keep them interested. As a teacher, one must be careful in selecting nonfictional material to be shown in the classroom, so that it is appropriate yet interesting.
The major point that the authors make in the article is how to use documentaries in the classroom. One tactic that is used by one of the authors in his own classroom is to show the class a quote from Richard Schickel that says “A documentary is an arrangement (or, if it includes historical footage, a rearrangement) of nonfictional film, structured to support the pre-existing
ideas of the filmmaker. Only the terminally stupid or the childishly innocent imagine that anyone making a documentary film aspires to objective truth." The author goes on to explain that he uses this quote to explain that there are almost no documentaries that are made to tell the whole truth of the story. They are all created to make a point that the author wants to make. Documentaries are often a good way for teachers to help students learn about persuasive writing. Documentaries use many techniques including pictures, words, music, and interviews to prove a point.
One of the most important aspects of teaching documentaries is helping students understand and interpret what they actually see. It has often been said that a picture is worth a thousand words and this statement is proven often in documentaries. As a teacher, one must help students look for facial expressions and body language that helps them understand exactly what point the author or producer is trying to make.
There are also several things that teachers can do during or after the viewing of the documentary to help students understand better. It is often helpful to stop the documentary occassionally throughout the viewing to talk about especially meaningful passages or scenes. It is also important to debrief students after watching the film. One technique that I believe to be especially helpful is to allow students to write a couple of paragraphs about what they believe to be important in the film. The teacher should have them include images and phrases and once they have finished this, have a class discussion about what the entire class believes to be the most important things and compile a class list.