Dissecting Media Messages

Description of the material selected as the focus of the Lesson – Political Advertisements found at http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/ from election years 1968, 1988, and 2008

Lesson Plan Title – Dissecting Media Messages

Discipline and Topic – Information Literacy Skills/ Evaluating Information Sources

Target Population – 12^th Grade, fully integrated Government Class

Curriculum Links – Students have been studying the democratic process and elections. This lesson will teach them how to dissect political advertisements they may see on television or online.

Media Literacy Objectives – Students will be able to:

• • Identify the creator of a message

  • Distinguishes the intent of a message

  • Explains techniques used to capture attention in a message

  • Describes bias in a message

  • Explains how a message may be viewed differently by different people

Materials and Timing – LCD Projector and Laptop, Laptop Cart with internet access, Worksheet, 1 (45) minute class period

Scope and Sequence – Introduction, including recap of previous lessons. Brief lecture on the 5 ideas everyone should know about media. Brief whole class discussion on what advertisements are designed to do, and the idea that presidential candidates have something to sell too. As a whole class, view a political advertisement from each side in 2008 at http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/ and fill out the attached worksheet for each. In small groups, view at least 1 advertisement from each of the candidates in 1968 and 1988 at http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/ and analyze using the worksheet. Ask the class to identify who they would have voted for in 1968 and 1988 based on the advertisements alone.

Supplemental Materials – none

Evaluation of Students –

Each advertisement/worksheet will have the same rubric, for a total of 60 points