UNIT 2

Communication in the Digital Age

21st Century Theme: Civic Literacy
 Lesson 1
Understanding and
Evaluating Multimodal Texts
 Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Understand the different modes of communication and that combining
these modes can enhance meaning of any message; and
2. critically analyze and evaluate multimodal texts to determine factuality
of a certain piece of information.
 Multimodal Text
• Multimodal is the dynamic convergence of two or more communication
modes within the same text and where all modes are attended to as part of
meaning-making.
• Five communication modes includes linguistic, visual, audio, gestural, and
spatial.
a. Linguistic- linguistic mode refers to written or spoken words. The mode
includes word choice, the delivery of written or spoken text, the organization
of words into sentences and paragraphs, and the development and coherence
of words and ideas.
 b. Visual- Visual mode refers to the images and characters that people see. The
mode includes color, layout and style, size, and perspective.
Example:
 c. Audio- Audio or aural mode is focused on sound including, but not limited to,
music, sound effects, ambient noises, silence, tone of voice in spoken language,
volume of sound, emphasis, and accent.
Example: recording of a public speech that was delivered orally to a live audience

d. Gestural- Gestural mode refers to the way movement is interpreted. Facial

expressions, hand gestures, body language, and interaction between people are all
gestural modes.
 e. Spatial- The spatial mode , as the name implies, refers to the arrangement of
elements in space. It involves the organization of items in space and the physical
closeness between people and objects.
A good example of the spatial mode might be the different ways in which chairs and
desks are arranged in a classroom.
 How multimodal texts can be deliver?
Multimodal text can be delivered via different media or technologies.
They may be live, paper, or digital electronic (Anstey & Bull, 2006).

• Multimodal text can be printed which includes picture books, texture

books, graphics novel, comics, and posters, where meaning is conveyed to
the reader through varying combinations of visual (still image) written
language, and spatial mode.
• Digital multimodal texts such as film, animation, slide shows, e-posters,
digital stories, and web pages, convey meaning through combination of
written language, visual (still and moving image), audio, gestural, and
spatial modes.
• Live multimodal texts, for example, dance, performance, and oral
storytelling, convey meaning through combinations of modes such as
gestural, spatial, spoken language, and audio.
 Activity We’ll Figure It Out
In this activity, you will be challenged to analyze different multimodal text.
In analyzing each text, try answering the questions listed below. The goal
this time is not simply to analyze the elements of a multimodal text but to
determine misleading information subtly embedded in the text.
1. What is the message? What is the purpose?
2. Who is the target audience of the message?
3. What modes were used in presenting the message? Did it help build the
credibility of the story?
4. Do you think the story is true? Why do you say so?
5. Is the URL legitimate?
6. Does the “news story” seem one-sided or biased towards a particular point of
view?
FACTUAL INFORMATION:___________________
MISLEADING INFORMATION: ________________