Learn How to Use This Module
Text Version

Narrator: Text-based information is found in print sources, like a book, or digital sources, like a website.

(Visual description: the title “text-based information” appears on top of an open book, followed by a tablet computer and mobile phone.)

Narrator: Visual information is in the form of paintings, photographs, charts, maps or videos.

(Visual description: the title “visual information” appears on top of a painting, followed by a photograph, a chart, a map, and an image of a hand holding a camcorder.)

Narrator: Integration means to combine something to make it part of the greater whole. In this case, the "something" is information.

(Visual description: the following sentence appears on the screen: “Integration means to combine something to make it part of the greater whole.” Then, the word “something” in the sentence is replaced with the word “information.”)

Narrator: Before you can integrate the information from the visual and text sources, you need to analyze the information in both. Let's examine the text information in the passage about manifest destiny.

(Visual description: the word “information” appears on the screen, followed by the following passage: “From 1783 to 1853 the United States expanded from the original thirteen colonies to its current contiguous boundaries of today. Even before the United States became an independent nation, the urge to move westward and find new lands was part of the American spirit. That urge to move westward even played a role in declaring our independence. The British had attempted to stop westward migration after the French and Indian War with the Proclamation of 1763. What do we call this desire to expand ever westward? By 1845, a newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan, coined the phrase “manifest destiny” to describe this mindset for westward expansion. Manifest destiny refers to a 19th century belief that the United States had the God-given right to expand into and possess the whole of the North American continent.”)

Narrator: Your list of facts should include the following: Americans have had the urge to move westward since 1789. By 1853 the United States expanded to its current contiguous boundaries. The term manifest destiny was started by John O'Sullivan, a newspaper editor. The term manifest destiny means the United States has a God-given right to expand westward.

(Visual description: the passage moves to the top of the screen, and a bulleted list appears below the passage, with each item comprising a selected word or term extracted from the passage. First, “1783” is used in the first list item: “Americans have had the urge to move westward since 1783.” Then, “1853” is used in the second list item: “By 1853 the United States expanded to its current contiguous boundaries.” After that, “John O’Sullivan” is used in the third list item: “The term “manifest destiny” was started by John O’Sullivan, a newspaper editor.” Finally, “manifest destiny” is used in the fourth list item: “The term “manifest destiny” means the United States has a God-given right to expand westward.”)

Narrator: Now let's examine a visual source of information. This is a famous painting by John Gast titled American Progress. It was painted in 1872 for a publisher of western travel guides. This picture often appears in social studies textbooks in sections that deal with the topic of manifest destiny.

(Visual description: the screen shows the famous painting by John Gast that portrayed settlers moving west, guided and protected by an angel who is dressed in a Roman toga, and aided by technology in the forms of railways and telegraph.)

Narrator: Look closely at the image. What is the most prominent feature in the painting?

(Visual description: the screen zooms in on the painting.)

Narrator: It is the woman who appears as an angel. What does she have in her hand? It is a telegraph wire.

(Visual description: the screen zooms in on the angel and the telegraph wire she was holding.)

Narrator: What other images appear in the painting? A stage coach. A railroad. Farmers.

(Visual description: the screen focuses on the stage coach in the painting, then moves to focus on the railroad, and finally the farmers in the painting.)

Narrator: Notice the light in the painting. Towards the east it is bright, and towards the west, the colors are darker. The artist is trying to depict the east as civilized and the west as uncivilized.

(Visual description: the screen focuses on the top right corner of the painting that has bright colors, and then moves to focus on the top left corner of the painting that has dark colors.)

Narrator: The movement shows that American farmers, families and technology are bringing civilization to the uncivilized west.

(Visual description: the screen pans from the farmers on the right side of the painting, to the American Indians on the left side of the painting.)

Narrator: In the far left hand corner, the American Indians are in the darker region of the painting and appear to be pushed westward by the Americans moving west.

(Visual description: the screen focuses on the American Indians in the left-side, darker region of the painting.)

Narrator: The woman who appears as an angel conveys the message that this is what God wants to occur.

(Visual description: the screen focuses on the angel in the painting.)

Narrator: What information, apart from the text, did you gain from the painting that helps you understand the concept of manifest destiny? American concept of manifest destiny included: 1 – American technology would help bring civilization to the West; 2 – Americans considered the West as uncivilized; 3 – Americans were bringing civilizations to the West; 4 – American Indians were thought of as uncivilized; 5 – Progress meant moving the American Indians.

(Visual description: the screen shows the painting, first in full color before fading into the background. The following heading then appears at the top of the screen: “American concept of manifest destiny included:” and the following numbered list appears below the heading: “1 – American technology would help bring civilization to the West; 2 – Americans considered the West as uncivilized; 3 – Americans were bringing civilizations to the West; 4 – American Indians were thought of as uncivilized; and 5 – Progress meant moving the American Indians.”)

Narrator: Combining or integrating the two sources of information gives you a fuller understanding of the concept of manifest destiny: Americans have always had the urge to move westward. In 1853, the term manifest destiny was coined by a newspaper editor, John O'Sullivan, to describe this mindset. Manifest destiny means Americans have a God-given right to expand westward. By expanding westward, Americans were doing what God wanted – bringing civilization to the uncivilized west and the people living there.

(Visual description: the passage and the painting appears side-by-side at the top of the screen. The following paragraph then appears below the passage and the painting: “Americans have always had the urge to move westward. In 1853, the term manifest destiny was coined by a newspaper editor, John O'Sullivan, to describe this mindset. Manifest destiny means Americans have a God-given right to expand westward. By expanding westward, Americans were doing what God wanted – bringing civilization to the uncivilized west and the people living there.”)