SHOULD MODERN MEDIA BE RESTRICTED IN ANY WAY?

Preparing for the Persuasive Essay

AICE: General Paper—9/Pavich

BELLRINGER:Review the list of “Section 3” prompts as a group. Consider the following:

What prompts would you never write about? Why? Do any prompts actually scare you? Why?Are there any prompts you could you write to because of your own knowledge and interests, those unrelated to school learning?

What Will This Lesson Teach Us?

CONTENT FIRST: Exposure to lots of

subjects will ease your fears on the test.

In this unit, we will get a crash course in a topic we haven’t studied much this year… From SECTION 3 of

the essay…MEDIA!

THEN STRUCTURE: We will use the

content we learned to see how it can be effectively organized into an ESSAY…

We will learn how to ORGANIZE ideas in a persuasive fashion ;-)

We will silence (some of) our Section 3 fears!

ACTIVATE PRIOR MEDIA KNOWLEDGE…

Before the facts, what are your thoughts on the following?? Define “MEDIA”…what does this entail? How do you feel about the media? What do

you like about it? Dislike about it? How does it benefit our society? How does it hurt our society? Aside from your experiences with media in

your own country, what are media sources like in other countries?

DAY 1Information-Gathering

STEP 1: KNOW YOUR FACTS…Any essay begins with good ideas. In order to get those ideas, you have to do your homework, watch the news, make connections in what you’re learning in all of your classes…CONSTANT INFORMATION GATHERING ensures that you will have something to SAY in your essay!!

SO LET’S LEARN ABOUT THE MEDIA(AS A SUBJECT IN GENERAL) FIRST…

THE MEDIA CAN BE MANIPULATED…Notice anything different about these

snapshots?

NOW YOU SEE TROTSKY NEXT TO LENIN…

NOW YOU DON’T!!

During the Russian Revolution, Trotsky became an “enemy of the state” (recall how Snowball was exiled from Animal Farm)…the intent was to change the past so the leader never looks “bad” or “wrong” in the eyes of his people!

“Can You Believe Your Eyes” article

MORE MEDIA MANIPULATION: Can you believe your eyes?!

NIKOLAI YEZHOV, CHIEF OF SOVIET SECRET POLICE…WALKING WITH STALIN AS HIS FRIEND AND TRUSTED COMPANION…

POOF! THIS GUY WAS NEVER MY FRIEND…?!

I HAVE THE PHOTOS TO PROVE IT!

MODERN MANIPULATIONThe Newsweek cover is the original mug-shot, whereas the Time cover is digitally manipulated. O.J. Simpson's face is darker, blurrier and unshaven. It is clear that on the cover of Time, O.J. Simpson looks more sinister than he does on the cover of Newsweek. The manipulation therefore distorts the truth.

Using Media to Inspire Political Protest

American Revolution: to whip up revolutionary sentiment against the British in 1775, American colonists used the printing press, where they emblazoned pamphlets with a ready-to-strike coiled rattlesnake and the catchy “don’t tread on me” slogan.

MODERN MANIPULATION: Using Media to Communicate Terrorism Concerns

This parody of an Uncle Sam Poster uses the image of Osama Bin Laden to comment on America’s dependence on oil from the Middle East and how our purchase of oil to supply our needs inadvertently funds terrorism.

Using the Media to CommunicateNuclear Concerns

NUCLEAR EMERGENCY

(inspired after Japan’s march disaster)

EDVARD MUNCH: THE SCREAM

Using Media to Communicate Health Concerns

The makers of this parody of Camel cigarettes packaging were criticizing tobacco and advertising companies that collaborate to sell such lethal products. By making the cigarette ads appealing, they are literally selling a death sentence to the consumer. “Cancer sticks: a unique blend of high powered advertising and the people who fall for it.”

Some Media Restrictions Actually Already Exist…

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Its sole purpose is to protect the consumer! Responsible for overseeing companies to ensure that the

follow truth-in-advertising laws Better Business Bureau

Also oversees companies and settles disputes over advertising between companies (Campell’s and Progress soup campaigns) and company vs. customer

Legal Action Companies can sue other companies for unfair or

fraudulent advertising claims (AT&T sued Verizon, UPS sued FedEx!)

Libel Laws…lying in print will result in lawsuit, fines, and jail! “Truth in Advertising”

article

“ADVERTAINMENT”: product placement; naturally weaving advertising into media sources

PROBLEM: Modern technology is hurting American businesses.

DVR hurts commercial biz

Internet hurts music bizSOLUTION: Unrestricted media is free to explore creative new ways to turn a profit, and thus stimulate the economy. “Advertainment” has doubled revenue (20 mil last year)!•SUPPORT EXAMPLE: LADY GAGA’s video “Telephone” is one example of a media program filled with advertisements for products including Diet Coke (seen left), Verizon Wireless, and even Miracle Whip.

Media can help stimulate the economy

China Restricts Their Media…NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE?

Americans FREELY Google “Tiananmen Square”

Chinese Google “Tiananmen Square” under RESTRICTIONS…

“The Rise of China” article

China censors its people…

So Google stopped doing business with them…RIP…

North Korea ALSO Restricts their Media…

“North Korea” article

The Result of this Censorship?

Cultural Isolation from the rest of the world…“In recent years, conditions within North

Korea have continued to deteriorate. The state-run economy is in shambles…

It is probably the most isolated country on earth. There is no Internet for ordinary citizens. TVs and radios are altered so they receive only government channels. Punishment for watching foreign films or TV shows is stiff—six months in a labor camp for watching a Jackie Chan action movie from Hong Kong.”

--UPFRONT MAGAZINE

FREE PRESS…Let’s Keep It That Way!

Amendment I…Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

DAY 2Connecting Learned Knowledge to the

GP

From Info-Gathering to Brainstorm

to Essay

Applying Media Knowledge to the GP Exam

Guess what? You just learned enough information to enhance the content of several essay prompts!

MEDIA PROMPTS:

Can the media ever be relied upon to convey the truth? Should the press be completely free? “Advertising is a modern art form.” Do you agree? In what ways can advertising be useful and entertaining? “Advertisements always promise more than they

deliver.” Discuss. Assess the claim that an uncensored press is dangerous. How far should the media of any society reflect the views

of its leaders? Assess the qualities to be found in a good

advertisement. “The media can be largely blamed for a worldwide

increase in violence.” To what extent do you agree?

Other Prompts:

Think Smart: The prompts in the list below are NOT “media” prompts in the direct sense; but how can you use your new “media” knowledge to weigh in on the matters below?

Is television anything more than an escape from reality?

Account for the ever-increasing popularity of digital photography?

“All art is useless.” Discuss. “In the modern world, image is everything.” Are films or movies only for entertainment and

nothing else?

Ok, let’s organize our “media” knowledge into a

BRAINSTORM for our prompt:

‘Should modern media be restricted in any way?’

BRAINSTORM IDEAS:Should modern media be restricted

in any way? RESTRICT MEDIA:

Otherwise, it unfairly manipulates its viewers

Otherwise, it can be misleading/ deceiving

Doing so helps shield the public from inappropriate content/filters it

DO NOT RESTRICT: It’s part of our

rights as citizens It helps us openly

communicate on a political level

It stimulates the economy

We already have restrictions in place that work

It appears that our brainstorm is stronger on

the “Do NOT restrict” side, so let’s argue persuasively

in favor of this…

NOW THAT YOU HAVE LOGICAL IDEAS AND

CONCRETE EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR THOUGHTS,

IT’S TIME TO WRITE AN ESSAY!

Before you begin writing, draft a quick THESIS statement…this is the main idea of your essay and will guide discussion of

ideas in an organized fashion.

THESIS STATEMENT:

Since it is such an invaluable resource to its audience, modern media should not be limited in a democratic society because it fuels the economy, it enhances the political landscape, and it socially empowers its citizens.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:

Let’s take a look at a SAMPLE ESSAY

THE PERSUASIVE INTRO:

A frail, bald, toothless woman explains to the audience in a raspy smoker’s voice how she gets ready for her day. She puts in false teeth, adjusts her wig and places her hands-free voice box on her throat before she ties a scarf around her neck to cover the hole there, the result of a previous surgery to remove throat cancer. The 30-second television commercial is part of the national 2012 Smoking Campaign that uses graphic, true-to-life images, which are intended to shock people into giving up  their smoking habit. Knowledge like this is shared with society through various forms of media, including television, newspapers, magazines, radio, and of course, the Internet. Since it is such an invaluable resource to its audience, modern media should not be limited in a democratic society because it fuels the economy, it enhances the political landscape, and it socially empowers its citizens.

Attention-Getter

Transition to Topic

Thesis

BODY PARAGRAPH 1:TOPIC SENTENCE:

Television is on of the most powerful forms of communication, and the freedom to air without restriction

can greatly benefit American businesses and the U.S. ECONOMY.

“Now That’s Advertainment” article +

“Truth in Advertising” articles

BODY PARAGRAPH 2:TOPIC SENTENCE:

Not only does a non-restricted media help economically, it

also enhances society’s POLITICAL landscape.

American Revolution knowledge + “The Art of

Dissent” article

BODY PARAGRAPH 3 (this one takes an opposite approach to the argument…instead of looking at the benefits

of free media, it takes a look at the drawbacks of restricted media):

TOPIC SENTENCE:However, if we restrict the media,

it could negatively affect our social rights.

“The Rise of China” articleNorth Korea knowledge

ELEVATING YOUR SKILL…POINT-COUNTERPOINT:Realize that your audience won’t necessarily

agree with everything you have to say…When you brainstorm, anticipate the points that might be raised against your argument, and use concrete examples to

either destroy or minimize these opposing viewpoints.

OPPOSITION POINT…what if others believe that:

The media should be restricted because too much freedom in the media can lead to deceit and manipulation of ideas.

Recall the ideas below that you originally considered that your audience could also be thinking about…

STALIN/RUSSIAN REVOLUTION TIME MAGAZINE/O.J. SIMPSON

COUNTER-POINT, con’t: STRIKE BACK by starting with any of the following

approaches:

Although some media companies have been guilty of unfair manipulation in the past such as Time Magazine’s sinister depiction of O.J. Simpson prior to his conviction, most news organizations have strict rules prohibiting this behavior. Federal Trade Commission: truth-in-advertising laws Better Business Bureau: complaints and intervention Legal Action: companies suing companies (AT&T sued Verizon; FedEx sued

UPS) as a form of “self-policing”

“Truth in Advertising” & “Can You Believe Your Eyes?” articles

While some may argue that the media can unfairly influence its viewers…Although it may be true that the media can sometimes be manipulated…Despite the common belief that the media is out to deceive us…

ADD’L COUNTER-POINT:

And while it may be true that information has been manipulated in the past by Communist dictators like Russia’s Stalin, Cuba’s Castro, and China’s Mao, this type of behavior is not typical in a modern, democratic society. These authoritarian leaders are an exception to the rule. More often than not, there are rules and consequences for political figures who take the dangerous risk of manipulating the media to lie to the public…

REMEMBER: Weave Counterarguments Naturally Into Your Essay…

Insert them anywhere into the body paragraph discussion to strengthen a point further.

Be careful how you word them…don’t contradict yourself or you’ll weaken your own argument!

Spend minimal time raising the opposition’s view (point), and spend maximum time presenting the evidence you have to refute this view (counter). This will make it clear where your allegiance lies!

And the CONCLUSION? What does the END of the essay look like?

In conclusion, limiting media in a democratic society will only bring about negative consequences that impact citizens’ financial, political, and social well-being. While some exceptions to the rule might exist, more often than not a free and unlimited press helps a society thrive because it provides a trustworthy medium for communicating, and it educates the people so they can make informed decisions. Since 1989, the American television station, NBC, has aired their public-service campaign called, “The More You Know.” The goal of these commercials is to provide its audience of over 60 million viewers with information they can use to prevent issues such as child abuse, drinking and driving accidents, while promoting issues like Internet safety. As a members of society, the more we know, leads to the more united we are as a people, and a free press is the best way to guarantee us access to this empowering gift of knowledge.

Briefly summarize essay content

Present a final image that resonates with the audience

Encourage audience a final time to adopt your side of the argument

Remember Your Debate Skillzz…

Begin and end creatively… Relate to your audience on a human level Appeal to their minds, their hearts, and their values (logos,

pathos, ethos!)

Back up every idea with PROOF! Face it…you need concrete evidence to win your audience over…

once you establish a basic, logical point, get specific…and remember, try to what HAS happened, as opposed to what “could” happen (local/national/international examples)!

Anticipate your audience’s doubts against your argument like you would do in a Debate “Cross Examination” round, and be prepared to override them with stronger evidence on your side (point-counterpoint!!)

DAYS 3-5PRACTICING THE PERSUASIVE:

Cooperative Group BrainstormIndependent Intro-Writing + Peer EvaluationIndependent Body-Paragraphing + Peer EvaluationPoint-Counterpoint PracticeREVISION for Homework Conclusion Peer Eval.

DAYS 6-7PRACTICING THE PERSUASIVE:

Individual EssayPeer Swap/Read/Critique

Group Debrief/Sharing/Teacher Feedback

Materials for this Unit: PowerPoint (Credits: Pavich) Upfront Articles:

“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” by Bill Marsha (Nov. 23, 2009) “Truth in Advertising?” by Stephanie Clifford (Mar. 1, 2010) “That’s Advertainment” by Veronica Majerol (Jan. 10, 2011) “The Art of Dissent” by Veronica Majerol (May 9, 2011) “The Rise of China” by Michael Wines (Sept. 5, 2011) “The 30-Second Campaign” by Veronica Majerol (Sept. 17,

2012) Persuasive vs. Discursive: Intros and Conclusion

handouts (Credits: Pavich) Types of Propoganda & Propoganda in Literature

handout (Credits: Gross/Esposito)