Media Literacy

Here you will find all the necessary links to use for your research. After reviewing the links of your choice, you may choose one of the three activities listed (accompanying attachments can be found at the bottom of this page). Please remember to take notes and think critically!

Finally, the mandatory individual essay assignment can be found following the list of activity options.

Note: If more room is needed for any of the following activities, please attach any additional documentation to the worksheets provided.

Basic Review of Terms:
Propaganda Techniques

Articles & Docs for Research/Review:
Bad Logic?
Don't Buy It!
The Language of Advertising Claims by Jeffrey Schrank
BBC Doc "Century of Self"
NYT's Article: Social Networking on Cellphones
AdBusters
Merchants of Cool Video
CNN - Google vs. Facebook
The Village Voice -...Get off Myspace
Principles of Media Criticsm

Image Resources:
Culture Shock
Political Graphics
WWII Poster Collection
WWI Posters (USA)

Activity #1: The Media & Social Issues
In this assignment, you will be reviewing the idea that throughout history (and even today) the media uses social issues as a way of transmitting messages. You will be asked to find two images, each from different time periods in history. You will compare and contrast the images, explaining how a prominent social issue of that time is incorporated.

Activity #2: Decoding Messages on the Internet
In this assignment, you will be given a choice of several different web sites. After choosing, your group must scan the site looking for specific propaganda strategies, as well as determining the presence of specific concepts that have been reviewed in the past week.

Activity#3: Social Networking
In this assignment, you will be discussing the use of social networking sites, paying close attention to the positive and negative aspects of their use.

Essay:
After learning about the media and how it works, what have you taken away from this past week? Did you find any particular details interesting? Distressing? How can you apply what you've learned to everyday living? Please produce well thought out responses. Grammar, punctuation, and all the typical conventions of English will be paid close attention to. Please cite any of the information you use from the research you've compiled. A minimum of two citations is required (this is why taking notes is emphasized). Either APA or MLA style is permitted, but must be consistent throughout entire finished product.

Format:
2 page minimum
Typed/Double spaced
Times New Roman font
12 pt

Submissions:
Please print out your finished activity handout, complete with every group members name. Essays may be submitted either individually or included with handouts. If this is what you choose to do, please remember to specify which essay is whose so that there is no confusion. All assignment will be graded using a rubric, which will focus on the following:

1. Language Mechanics (25%)
2. Sources (25%)
3. Requirements (25%)
4. Originality (25%)

Activities will be graded as a group while essays will be graded individually.

Yes - this means this assignment is worth TWO GRADES.