Floaters

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Post

Step 1

Say, “Here’s a bit of context behind the screenshot we are about to look at: In June of 2019, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and Angie Valeria Martínez Ávalos, a migrant father and daughter from El Salvador, drowned crossing the Río Grande. Julia de Duc, a journalist at La Jornada, photographed their bodies the following day, reporting the eyewitness account of Tania Vanessa Ávalos, Óscar’s wife and Valería’s mother. The photograph went viral, provoking grief, outrage—and denial. The screenshot is of an anonymous post on the Facebook page of the “I’m 10-15” Border Patrol Facebook group.” Then show the image on the following slide.

*Though the image is blurred out, please be warned that the content is still disturbing.

Step 2

Ask your students, “What makes that Facebook post so upsetting on multiple of levels? And have you seen such insensitivity and/or callousness on other forms of social media?” Then give them 5-10 minutes to discuss.

Step 3

Read the poem “Floaters” by Martin Espada, a poem written in response to this Facebook post. When you’re done, briefly discuss the speaker’s attitude toward the post. What does the speaker reveal about society on a broader scale through this poem?

Step 4

Say, “Think of some times in which you’ve seen or heard of something particularly callous/insensitive on social media. What did it say? Why was it so upsetting? Does that post or content reveal something about society on a broader scale? Write down as much as you can.” Give your students 5-10 minutes to brainstorm.

Step 5

Ask your students to compose a poem similar in sentiment to “Floaters” in which they express their disdain toward a social media post that was particularly insensitive, offensive, and/or callous.

Step 6

When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Various

Step 1

This lesson allows students to analyze various concepts and skills, so it is recommended that you have covered several of the “standalone” lessons before assigning this one.

Step 2

Start by providing a bit of context to the screenshot you will be showing your students. The story behind the screenshot is as follows: In June of 2019, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and Angie Valeria Martínez Ávalos, a migrant father and daughter from El Salvador, drowned crossing the Río Grande. Julia de Duc, a journalist at La Jornada, photographed their bodies the following day, reporting the eyewitness account of Tania Vanessa Ávalos, Óscar’s wife and Valería’s mother. The photograph went viral, provoking grief, outrage—and denial. The screenshot is of an anonymous post on the Facebook page of the “I’m 10-15” Border Patrol Facebook group.

Step 3

Show your students the screenshot and read the anonymous post. Then simply ask your students what about the post makes it so offensive on multiple levels. Field several responses.

*Though the photograph of the bodies have been blurred out, the content or subject matter is still upsetting/disturbing.

Step 4

Read the poem “Floaters” by Martin Espada, a piece that was written in response to that Facebook post. When you’re done, have your students briefly discuss the speaker’s feelings and attitude about that post and the larger situation at hand.

Step 5

Have your students open the following document and go over the introduction and instructions with them. In this assignment, your students are going to work on strengthening their analytical and articulative skills by eliminating the tired, vague phrase “This shows” from their analysis. The evidence they need to use from the poem is already provided for them. Then give your students time to work on the assignment.

Step 6

When the students are done, go through each of the provided pieces of evidence and have your students share their responses aloud.