Media
Definition: Media comes from mass communication. The news is an example of media. It is information that is published about relevant topics for everyone to read. The media pieces we read will be from major news sources which are free for everyone to read over the internet.
Components: The media we read in this unit will be text, printed from the web. Within the text we will note the headlines, bylines, interviews, numeric information, references, and advice provided within the text.
Focus Questions: What is the relationship between opinion and fact? What is the author’s opinion or message related to the topic? Who is the author’s audience?
Texts:
- Bullying: “Bullying Law Puts New Jersey Schools on Spot” by Winnie Hu, New York Times
- Gaming: “On a Hunt for What Makes Gamers Keep Gaming” by John Tierney, New York Times
- Money: “Teen Spending on the Rise” by John Stossel, ABC News
- Pop Culture: “On Screen, the Frenzied Yet Friendly World of Justin Bieber” by Jon Caramanica, New York Times
- Relationships: “A teen’s friends are a powerful influence” by Valerie Ulene, Los Angeles Times
- Social Media: “Facebook updates its status: It wants to be an entertainment hub” by Jessica Guynn, Dawn Chmielewski and Alex Pham, Los Angeles Times
- Sports: “New N.F.L Culture May Filter Down Slowly” by Alan Schwarz, New York Times
Critical Reading Rubric
Each day that your group is asked to read and discuss a text related to your topic, you will be evaluated in the following categories using the check plus, check, and check minus system:
