The following lesson is part of a unit focused around a reading of The Laramie Project. Students engage in an online free-writing exercise, exchange feedback, and use their online writing as a springboard to write a reflective response essay. Digital technology is used consistently to extend the boundaries of the classroom and give students greater exposure to subject matter and opportunity to use language and concepts in dynamic, interactive ways.
This ESR 099 course is part of a cluster with two other courses: Introduction to Sociology and Information Strategies. In this learning community, all three faculty members reinforce the discipline concepts and language skills that the shared cohort of students are learning. The work on The Laramie Project integrates sociological concepts and reinforces the research skills taught in the Information Strategies class. The learning community encourages students to reformulate, recycle and synthesize concepts learned in all three classes. Throughout the course, students in my ESL class post their projects and reflective writings in their own electronic portfolios.
Large units like this develop over time. My advice is to start small with several activities and continue to add and refine over several semesters. I have found that all the college's common readings, thus far, have proven to be effective and accessible for second language learners. All the supplementary materials, both digital and non-digital give them greater exposure to various perspectives and rich language environments.
Activity Overview
After reading The Laramie Project, students use Blackboard to post their online freewriting assignment. The Discussion Board prompt asks students to go to an external link to read a statement from Matthew Shepard's father. Afterwards, the students are asked to respond to each other's posts. Later in the class period, drawing upon the class posts, a group discussion is initiated to extrapolate key themes, questions, and responses. For homework, students are asked to use the class online posts, their own response, and the class discussion to write a reflective writing piece responding to the reading.
Students have the option to select and deposit their reader response papers in the ePortfolio system throughout the semester. They collect all of their learning artifacts and select those they wish to showcase in their ePortfolios. In that work, they are using digital imagery, web linking and posting Word documents.
Students are evaluated on their weekly reader response papers and their participation in the reader response discussions. Students use these reader response papers to inform their in-class essay writing as well. Multiple essay drafts receive feedback and a final grade. Discussion Board responses are required and given feedback, but not graded. ePortfolios are evaluated through a written narrative, but do not receive a letter grade. Students showcase their ePortfolios with the entire class at an end of semester event. Students work intensively and extensively on the subject matter, and the most valuable assessment for me is their growth in language and intellectual fluency as well as their enthusiasm for learning and being able to express themselves by integrating new concepts.
Materials and Resources
Sample Discussion Board Prompt
Read the statement by Matthew's father at the trial for those who killed him. After reading it thoroughly, write what you understood to have happened to Matthew and why it happened. Pick a point (and there are many that were addressed in his speech) to explore further. Reflect upon one issue that Mr. Shepard raised in his speech that day in court. Do you agree with his sentiments? Why or why not? Support your opinion with specific reasons.
Website on Blackboard External Links
In Memory of Matthew Wayne Shepard, 1976-1998: A Tribute from a Father to His Son http://www.pflagdetroit.org/matthew_sheppard_tribute_page.htm. Here you will find the statement that Matthew's father made in court at the end of the trial for the murder of his son. This is one page of a personal website dedicated to the story of Matthew Shepard.
Sample Discussion Board Responses by Students
1. I totally agree with you. You are right. It takes a lot of guts to stand and defend your own dead son. It takes a lot of courage to send a message so powerful and so forgiving when you know that your son had been murdered not for a crime that he committed but because of people's ignorance, people's stupid beliefs and people's discrimination. It is very sad to see people on 20th century, being murdered for sexual discrimination. And it's even sadder to see very nice people, so thoughtful and kind to be murdered just because they are gay.
2. Matthew was killed by two guys, this was a hate crime. The reason of the crime was in some way discrimination to the gay community. I agree with Matthew's father is not fear to destroys any life just for the sex orientation, race or ethnicity. It's really hard to loss a son. Matthew was a very young boy who wants to create a better world, for me is really cruel because i know a lot gay people who are really nice. Gay people have the same right like any regular citizens. Especially in United States that you have more freedom and more open minds.
3. I agree with you because I think the sexual condition of a person shouldn't have any influence in his or her rights as a person. Everybody must be respected and considered as human being, which includes the same opportunities for everybody and the same treat and develop in society. I also agree with you about the point of freedom in The United States. This country is well known for many aspects, but mostly for the land of opportunities and freedom, therefore people should be more open to the reality of their society, accepting its members as they are, no matter race, language or sexual orientations and there shouldn't be violent acts against "different" people.
Sample Essay Topic: Prejudice, Hate and Discrimination
As we saw in the tragic case of Matthew Shepard, people's deep feelings of prejudice can lead to hate and violence. Matthew was a very unfortunate victim of ignorance and prejudice. The only good that his death has caused is that once again the nation is engaged in a national discussion of prejudice and discrimination and hate crimes.
Many of us, to a much lesser degree than Matthew, have felt some of the effects of prejudice. Either people don't like us because we are immigrants, or Jewish, or gay, or poor, or white or disabled or one of many other things. Write about an experience that you have had (or witnessed) where you (or someone) was the victim of prejudice and/or discrimination. What happened? Who was involved? What lessons were learned through this experience?
Note: This activity was first used in class in 2001, before The Laramie Project was being used as the college's common reading.