Comparing Animated Film and Newspaper Portfolio Writing Assignments

Writing assignments involving newspaper portfolios or analyzing the content of a film (animated or live action) are interesting because they help students become involved with course content and improve students' critical thinking. A study examined writing assignments of these types from 21 students taking two sections of a course on child development offered at a mid-sized school in western New York. Students wrote two term papers during the semester course. One term paper required students to identify and explain 10 aspects of child development depicted in an animated film. The second term paper required students to develop 20-item newspaper portfolios. Both assignments required using theory and research from the course. Results indicated that students perceived the animated film assignment to be more useful as a critical thinking exercise than the newspaper portfolio assignment. (NKA)