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Student Resources Teacher Resources
 
Photographers

Research Process

Directions to Students

Scenario

Popular Photography has contacted your instructor for help with an upcoming magazine spread. The editors want to feature students' opinions of important and influential photographers since the beginning of the art in the early 1800s.

Essential Question: Which photographer do you consider to be influential to photography as
an art form and why?

Task and Product

You will select a photographer from this list who interests you; research his or her life, career, and style; and explain why this photographer deserves such recognition. Include examples of two or three photographs of the person's work as supporting evidence. You may choose any of the following for presenting your final project:

  • brochure
  • scrapbook
  • poster
  • bulletin board/display case
  • webpage
  • written report
  • multimedia (PowerPoint) 
  • video

Assessments

 

Your grade will be based on the evaluation of your end product:

Questions

Essential Question: Which photographer do you consider to be influential to photography as an art form and why?

These subsidiary questions are suggested as guide questions; you may use these and/or others:

  • How did your person become interested/involved in photography?
  • What influences may have affected his or her work?
  • What elements characterized this photographer's work?
  • Did this person's style change over the years? If so, in what way?
  • What impact did this photographer have on the photography medium?
  • What impact on society did this person's work have?

Gather and Sort

 Gather information from a variety of sources.

Sort your findings using a graphic organizer, note cards, outline, word document, or other form for recording your research.

As you use your various sources, be sure to take effective, detailed notes. Paraphrase the main ideas to avoid plagiarism. Keep track of your sources, following the MLA bibliographic format.

Organize

Analyze your research notes to determine if you have adequate information to present a convincing argument regarding the influence of your chosen photographer on the art form of photography.

Synthesize your findings by creating a first draft of your product.

  • What new insights have emerged about your topic?
  • Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?

Which facts are unnecessary and/or repetitive and therefore should be left out?

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task and create your final product.

  • Have you gathered sufficient details about your topic?
  • Have you organized your details in a manner that promotes understanding?
  • Is your research reflected in your product?
  • Use the scoring tools for your chosen presentation format and oral report as checklists to ensure that your product meets the criteria.

Conclusion

Presentation: Prepare your final project. Refer to your particular assessment tool to ensure you meet all the criteria.

Reflection: Develop an artist's statement that describes ways in which your research may affect:

  • Your ability to observe and criticize photographic works of art.
  • Your ability to produce personal works of art.

Brief Constructed Response Scoring Tool

Last update: December 2008
Created by Ann B. O'Neill, Library Media Specialist, and Tom Williamson, Art Chairman, Franklin High School, December 2001
BCPS Research Model, Copyright 2001, Baltimore County Public Schools, Copyright information