Unit 4: Media and Persuasion in the Present

Media, Persuasion, and the Present

Essential Questions

1. Social Issues

1. 1. What are social issues? What is social action? Why are these things important or worth considering?

1. 1. What are important social issues in the world today? How do social issues influence the world at large?

1. 1. How does media influence our perceptions of social issues?

i. What is media? (include a definition of media)

ii. What are some positive ways in which media influences people?

iii. What are some negative ways in which media influences people?

iv. What type of information (stories) makes it "big" (to be shown to the public)? Why?

v. What type of information (stories) is "concealed" from the public? Why?

vi. What are different types of media?

1. 1. How does your identity influence your perspective? In what ways does your background (such as gender, age, ethnicity, religion/beliefs, family, etc.) change your opinions?

1. 1. What issues are interesting to you? Why is this important for people to know about or understand? In what ways is the media accessible - or not accessible - to youth? How could media be changed in order to give youth a voice?

1. 1. What makes news effective? Why is certain news more effective than other news? What is the goal of news in the media? Do you agree or disagree with this goal? Why?

1. 1. How can the open sharing of information influence others' ideas? How can individual reporter's opinions influence what is shared?

1. 1. What is persuasive writing? What makes persuasive writing strong? (or more persuasive)?

1. 1. Objective v. subjective: what's the difference?

1. 1. Persuasive podcasts:

i. Give solid background information about an issue. The best idea is to present both sides of an issue (to validate your argument to others)

ii. Define your argument: what is your opinion or standpoint about this issue? What's the benefit of others knowing about or understanding it?

iii. What do you know about this issue? What to you want to know more about? (After: What have you learned?)

iv. Gather information: What are valuable sources of information? What are not valuable sources?

v. How do you cite sources of information? Why?

vi. What is the use of writing persuasive pieces: sharing news and media.

vii. What is a podcast? How does the podcast (as a form of media) respond to the demands and technology of the current time?

Reading The Breadwinner - how is non-fiction different from fiction in terms of relaying current events? What influence does a story have on a people's understanding of world events?

Why is it important to understand the present implications of social issues in addition to the historical context?