| Multimodal discourse in the 21St century is significant because so much reading and writing takes place outside of the classroom in an electronically-oriented environment, yet such methods of communication are seldom used in an academic setting. For this project, I explore the theoretical principals that apply to multimodal discourse and explain how the theories apply to my practices as a secondary English instructor. To illustrate the significance of multimodal discourse, I asked my twelfth grade students to address an Advanced Placement Literature and Composition prompt, but in lieu of writing an academic essay, I asked them to construct a digital narrative reflective of digital narratives commonly used in the 21St century. Then, using what I discovered in my research as a tool, I analyzed the work of my students. My findings suggest that multimodal discourse is an important tool to use in the classroom because it reflects the innovative nature of modern technology and language trends. |
