Welcome

Extension Task Directions

Now that you have explored narrative voice and its effect on readers, you will evaluate perspective in real-world situations. You will determine the reliability of sources and become critical readers and viewers of media who can discern fact from fiction. As you evaluate media, you will explore the question: How do I know whether information is reliable?

  1. Select a specific topic to research. Consider the various ways that media attempts to persuade readers and viewers.

*Teen/school issues:

      Dress code issues: Do dress codes help or harm students?

     Homework: Is homework beneficial? If so, when?

      Anti-bullying policies: Do they protect students or do they “criminalize” or unfairly punish friendly joking?

*Facebook: Helpful or harmful to teens?

*Beauty standards:

      What is deemed beautiful?

      Are beauty standards realistic?

*Health & Fitness

        What is the healthiest diet?

        Should people adopt a plant-based diet?

*Sports-related issues:

       Should football be banned for younger players? Adults?

        Does tackle football lead to life-threatening brain injuries?

 

  1. Research your topic- look for multiple sources (at least 2) that convey conflicting information about the same topic 

For example, if I were researching tackle football and life-threatening brain injuries, I may find the information  on Inside Science may be a neutral source, and a Timesarticle may claim that yes, tackle football may lead to life-threating injuries.

 

As you come across two or more texts that provide conflicting information on the same topic, identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation. Possible places of research include:

•social media postings

•online hoaxes and urban legends

•television commercials

•print/online advertisements

•campaigns

•television talk shows

•newspaper articles

 

  1. Then create and deliver a multimedia report that explains how the topic is explored through both sources. 

 

In other words, create a PowerPoint.

  • Slide 1- Topic, names of group members, class, date
  • Slide2- create a chart/ table that compares your group's two sources
  • Slide 3- explain source 1's argument.  Use direct quotes and paraphrases.  Use the most signifcant points the artical makes
  • Slide 4- using the snipping tool, add parts of source 1 to your slide show.  Be sure to catch the title, date, author - if there is one- and website, plus any images you find persuasive
  • Slide 5 -explain source 2's argument.  Use direct quotes and paraphrases.  Use the most signifcant points the artical makes
  • Slide 6-using the snipping tool, add parts of source 2 to your slide show.  Be sure to catch the title, date, author - if there is one- and website, plus any images you find persuasiveSlide 6-
  • Slide 7-explain which article is more compelling (remember to disreguard your own opinions as a group and explain which site is more persuasive)- about one paragraph.

 

Keep your slides easy to read.  This means that your color scheme of your background and your text should be contrasting.  In other words, yellow on white is a bad idea and so is blue on black.  Too much text make the screen impossible for your audeince to read and makes presenting turn into reading instead of explaining.  Finally, check your spelling and grammar!  

 

The attached articles/ websites may be helpful to you to begin

 

• “Episode 5: Power of Persuasion” from Brain Games, National Geographic Channel- (you may stop when the weird guy in the bowler hat comes on)

 

 •Reference Source for Media Literacy ” from Center for Teaching, The University of Iowa

 

• “Dove: Evolution,” DoveGlobal (this may be blocked still- sorry)

 

• “News Bias Explored: The Art of Reading the News” 

  

• “Evaluating Internet Resources ” from Teacher Tap- 

 

• “Advertisements—What psychological tricks do they use? ”  

 

Presentation rubric- click here to see how you will be graded for this assignment