Freshman Lit: Thursday Nov. 25 > Sniper and Theme

Please answer all of the questions below, on a separate piece of paper (your choice, Word or hand-written). Use your books or the Internet to help find/support your answers. I recommend typing ...

Making connections

1. What themes connect Disguises with Sniper? Use full sentences and be thorough.

2. What is the difference between theme and subject?

3. Many themes are universal: We can all relate to them - even people from different places and time periods. Hunt down a different book, movie, TV show or song that has the following themes present, and cite your source.

Find these themes in a work:

> unbreakable friendship

> pain of war

> the blurred line between friends and enemies (no, don't use Disguises or Sniper)


Word Stories

4. Words don't just fall out of the sky - they come from somewhere. Often that "somewhere" is a very interesting place with a cool story behind it.

Uncover the back story to these words - some from our text, and some from our present-day popular culture:

> silhouette

> sandwich

> maverick

> chauvinism

5. Now uncover the history behind these more modern terms:

> google (not the website, the verb).

> bling

> xerox (as in to copy something)

> kleenex

6. Writing Workshop

Answer one of the following questions (just one, your choice) thoughtfully, using developed sentences/paragraphs. I'd like your answers to be one page long, double-spaced.

> re-write the story from the brother's point of view

> pretend you are the central character: write a letter to your parents informing them of your brother's death

> eliminate the final line of the story and write your own ending

> write a dramatic monologue of the sniper, who suddenly realizes what he has done

(All work including one-page essay due at end of class)

Intro to Journalism: Food Reviews

Writing food product reviews is similar to a music review - well, at least the process is similar.

First, we research other sources in order to ID reviews we like. The same questions apply:

What reviews do you like, and why? I hyperlinked that last source, because I thought the author offered a cool intro: A history of sunchips in a nutshell. The author then segues nicely into the review of the current product - tying together background with the product at hand.

Our process is the same as with music reviews:

First: Find reviews you like (or don't like) and think about why.

(Google search terms could be along the lines of "food product reviews," etc.)

Next: Write a first draft, peer edit, and turn in your final with the rubric and edits.

The secret to a good food product review is in the details! Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• What are your general attitudes toward this sort of food product?


• Which products have you tried from competitors?


• What prompted you to try this product?


• What instructions were given for usage?


• How did it differ from your expectations?


• What was unexpected about this product, or caught you off guard?


• What were the disadvantages?


• Is the product available in different sizes/flavors/packages - including a diet/health line?


• How is it packaged (recyclable, easy to use/store, etc.)?

Once again, we want a catchy intro - possibly some background and history on the product.

Compare, compare, compare!

Sum up and call to action. Ex: Buy this, don't buy this ... along with your reasons why.

Intro to Journalism: Monday February 22

Before we get back into music reviews, read the following article from the Charlotte Observer. It's an interview with Newsweek's editor, who claims the media does not have a liberal bias.

Pay particular attention to the last question in the interview!

Action: Write or type up a few paragraphs, offering your reaction to this article. State any opinion or position you want as you review this article ... just be sure to back up and defend your positions.

Turn in your paper, written or typed, when you are finished. Then return to writing your music reviews - but be sure to first check out the bonus opportunity below. ...

Bonus opportunity! We had a previous opportunity to earn bonus points by successfully editing a Wikipedia entry (and that offer still stands). Here's another:

Remember, we are examining media and how we interact with it. Notice this interview is conducted by Taylor Batten, editor of the Observer's opinion pages. His email is listed at the end of the story.

Your challenge for bonus points: Write a very brief, thoughtful letter to the editor (Mr. Batten), stating your opinion on whether the media is biased. Show it to me first (for edits), and then go ahead and let Mr. Batten know your opinion for full points!

Okay ... back to music reviews!

Freshman Lit Monday Feb. 22: Theme

Collection 4: Friends and Enemies

After watching the videos above, answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Turn in your own paper - for a grade - at the end of class.

>There is a difference between the theme and the subject of a work.

• The subject of the Rocky Movies is boxing.

• The themes are the strength of the human spirit, never giving up, believing in the underdog, the importance of family and relationships, and always believing in your dreams.

Question 1: What is the subject of Harry Potter (the entire series)?

Question 2: What are some themes of Harry Potter?

Question 3: What is the subject of Night?

Question 4: What are some themes of Night?

5. The line between friends and enemies can become blurred and confusing. How is the line between friends and enemies blurred in Night? Give an example and explain your answer.

6. Describe one example from your own life, when the lines between friends and enemies was blurred.

7. In your own words, what is a good working definition of "theme?"

Homework: Bring Your Book. No Excuses!

Friday February 18: Writing music reviews

1. Setting the stage: Group Discussion - use your graphic organizer I handed out to organize your thoughts as we talk.

You guys were very opinionated about music reviews, and it got me thinking about some issues:

• Are peer reviews more valuable than an "expert?" Why or why not?
• Is it ethical to download music for free? What are the pros and cons for the artist?
• The music reviews you liked - what stuck out about them; why did you like them?
• Where are these reviews falling short?

Okay, let's get ready to write.

Click back over to the post here on Eating Media, and review the basic parts of a good music review. Remember, these are just suggestions.

The assignment: Go ahead and write the first draft of your review, on a Microsoft Word doc to be turned in at the end of class. We will undergo a more extensive editing process next!

Music reviews: Writing tips and resources

Writing music reviews

Remember, professional music reviews vary depending on a magazine and author's style - there is a lot of flexibility for creativity here.

Here are some helpful tips for getting started writing your reviews:

> Catchy intro: Include intriguing background info, breaking news and big announcements about the band. Let your audience know right off the bat your attitude toward this album.

> Review of at least three songs from the album

> Compare to other works: Let readers know how this effort compares to past albums by the band, or to other bands within the same genre of music.

> Conclusion: Urge readers to take action - buy or download the music (or not!).


Resources for your reviews

Metacritic - links to several new albums and artists

professional reviews - links to Yahoo!, Rolling Stone and other sites offering reviews

Amazon - read peer and professional reviews here

Skateboarding bulldogs!

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Wednesday February 17: Junk Media

Take a moment to think about the concepts we have discussed so far.

Next, open a Word doc, type your name on the paper, and answer the following questions:

1. What do you think the makers of this last YouTube video mean by the term Junk Media?

2. Over 25 years ago, Neil Postman predicted, "We will become, in a phrase, a people amused into stupidity."

Do you think the media we consume is amusing us into stupidity?

3. Why is understanding a media outlet's potential bias important?

4.How is the media treating President Obama? This is your opinion - just make sure you support your answer.

Turn these questions in when you are finished/by the end of class.

video: junk media

Politics 101

For the purposes of this class, it's helpful to know a bit about the left-right political spectrum.

• A left-leaning news organization or news source is associated with liberals and Democrats.

• A right-leaning news organization or news outfit is aligned with conservatives and Republicans.

Is Wikipedia a valid source?

For this class, absolutely; we are focusing on social media, and Wikipedia is a socially created news source.

It's a great place to start a project. As with all of the media sources we are studying, think critically about it! Do not accept what's on that page at face value, or as absolute truth.

If the Wikipedia entry you find seems solid, use it - and double check it with other sources.

If it seems like nonsense, it probably is. **Take a shot at editing the page if you feel up to it - that's how it works!

Remember: You are controlling your media use and consumption for this class. You decide.

**If you edit a Wikipedia entry successfully, print out your edits and show me for bonus points.

Media Studies Webquest: Media Bias

Media Studies Webquest: Examining Media Bias

Instructions:

1. Work alone or in groups from your tables
2. Log onto computers
3. Research the following questions (make sure your sources are credible)
4. Answer on a separate sheet of paper
5. Turn in your work when finished

Background: In 1996, Newscorp established the Fox News Channel, a 24-hour cable news station to compete against the rival channel CNN.

1. Who is the president of Newscorp (Fox News)?

What are his political affiliations and/or beliefs?

2. Who is the founder of CNN?

What are his political affiliations and/or beliefs?

Thinking further ...

3. How might the opinions of Fox’s founder affect media coverage and potential bias?

4. How might the opinions of CNN’s founder affect media coverage and potential bias?


Thinking critically about your sources ...

5. Go to Google and type define: cable news (a neat way to get definitions for just about anything).

What website/source is listed in the search results? What is your opinion about this website, as an informational source for your school work and projects? Defend your answer.

Amusing ourselves to death

When news and entertainment collide ...

• Amusing Ourselves to Death
• Important book published in 1985
• The book is growing in relevance as time goes on.

Here's an excerpt from Postman's book. See if Postman's assertions hold true, over 20 years later:

…we will become a trivial people, incapable of coping with complexity, ambiguity, uncertainty, perhaps even reality. We will become, in a phrase, a people amused into stupidity.

Television has become the command center of our culture. The light entertainment is not the problem. The least dangerous things on television are its junk.

On television all subject matter is presented as entertaining. And that is how television brings ruin to any intelligent understanding of public affairs.

How serious can a bombing in Lebanon be if it is shown to us prefaced by a happy United Airlines commercial and summarized by a Calvin Klein jeans commercial? When newscasters say, “Now…this,” they mean to indicate that what you have just heard or seen has no relevance to what you are about to hear.

When a people become, in short, an audience and their public business a vaudeville act, then…a nation finds itself at risk and culture-death is a clear possibility.

Keep these thoughts in mind as we examine the treatment of Sarah Palin in the news and entertainment industries:

Palin treatment: SNL & MSNBC

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Okay first we saw the treatment of Sarah Palin on the news (MSNBC). Next, we saw Saturday Night live doing a skit on Sarah Palin.

And now here, we see a total convergence of news, entertainment and culture: The news (Fox) is covering a Sarah Palin skit on Saturday Night Live - treating this sketch as a news story.

Mass Media video 3: corporate influences

Media Distortions: Video 2

Mass Media Introductory Video

Webquest: Wiesel's Night and the Nazis

Webquest instructions:

1. Log onto the webquest website.

1. Find your topic, according to your group's number.

3. Answer the questions for your topic as a group.

4. Create a PowerPoint presentation - presenting your findings and answering your group's questions.

5. Make sure you include one slide with everyone's name on it!

6. Save your slide show on a flash drive and give to Mr. Bank.

7. Present your slide show to the class.

*** Update: Bonus Slide

Create an additional slide offering one example of something you perceive as propaganda, found somewhere in our present-day society and culture.

Log onto the webquest here!

Propaganda: The Nazis

Web 2.0