Pop Culture Presentation

Task: Students will be divided into five groups. Each group will be given a decade in which to examine in respect to pop culture (1950’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s). The presentation will be conducted using the smartboard and will aim to highlight the popular interests of the people of the decade.

The Pop Culture Examination will include:

-Music -What was popular? What different styles existed? Sales?
-Movies –What films were people watching? Award winners? Technology in film?
-Television -Popular shows? Characters?
-Inventions -Important products/gadgets?
-Toys/Hobbies -Children’s toys? Sports?


Students may wish to divide the workload amongst each other (i.e. one person gets music, one gets television). The presentation should also include visuals and examples to support what the group verbally presents. For example if the group is talking about music of the decade they should give an audio example to support their findings.

Students are expected to go beyond just naming what was popular at the time. They should examine why these things represent the pop culture of the times, and what influence they had over a generation. Examine ratings, awards, sales, etc. The assignment is marked heavily on content.

Students should end the presentation with a works cited page noting the sources of their research.

The presentation will be at least 30 minutes in length and will be expected to include examples, visuals, audio, etc. It will be marked out of 40.

Presentations will take place on December 10th, 11th, 14th, and 15th.

Editorial Assignment

Editorial Assignment

Part A:

Looking at online newspapers choose three editorials on various topics. For each editorial answer the following:

a) What is the topic of the editorial? (Also state the title and the newspaper)
b) What information does the author use to back up their argument?
c) Do you agree with the author? Why or why not?

Two marks per question. Total /18


Part B:

Now that you have become experts on editorials it is time to write your own. Your task is to choose a problem at Cobourg West and take a side of the argument. Your editorial will need to:
-give a brief introduction to the problem.
-clearly state your opinion.
-use facts or expert opinion.
-find other students to back you up and use quotes from them.

Your editorial is expected to be 300 words in length.

This task will be marked out of 20.

Content /10 -follows editorial format.
-includes all the necessary components.

Style/Mechanics /10 -is proofread.
-free from grammar/spelling mistakes.

Both Parts A and B are due on Thursday November 19th

Online News Assignment Part C

Online News Assignment Part C

Choose a popular news story in the press today. Examine how this news story is presented in three different newspapers. The three newspapers that you choose should be from different cities or even countries. Answer the following:

1) In a few sentences describe the event being covered. What are the 5 w's of this event.


2) What are the three different headlines used for this story? Which one do you believe is most effective


3) What experts/witnesses do the articles interview/reference? Do they use any of the same sources?


4) What are the major similarities and differences between the three articles?


5) After reading these three articles are all questions answered about this event? What do we not yet know?

Online News Assignment

Part A: Examine the websites of three different major newspapers and answer the following for each. (Consider the following newspapers: The New York Times, The Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, The Washington Post, LA Times, The Toronto Star)

1) How does the website use advertising? (pop-ups, banners, etc.) What are they advertising? Is the advertising distracting/intrusive?

2) Does the newspaper use fear-inducing headlines/topics to get readership? Comment on the stories being presented by the newspaper. Is there a common theme? Which newspaper do you think aims to scare readers more?

3) Which of your chosen newspaper websites do you find to the best? Why? Which one do you find to be the worst? Why?


Part B: Using Google News Search complete the following.

1) Choose two subjects to search. What are the first three headlines that appear?

2) Google News Search “Cobourg” and search through the news stories for one that catches your attention. Summarize the story in a brief paragraph (5 w’s).

Documentary: Culminating Task

The National Film Board of Canada is working to get its entire collection digitized and available from their website. They currently have over 500 titles online.

There are documentaries about a bear-proof suit, the rise of the Nazis, Toronto's Regent Park, the oversexualization of culture, obesity, waste in our sewer systems, the Great Lakes, Boxing, University Protests, the Internet, and many more.

Your assignment and culminating task for the Documentary Unit is to visit the National Film Board of Canada website , choose a documentary(click "Explore All Films" and search documentary genre) and complete the following tasks:

Part A: Analyzing the film. Answer each of the following in a short paragraph. Give detailed insight into each question.

1) In two or more sentences explain the subject of your chosen film. (4 marks)

2) What documentary devices are used in this film? Which do you believe are essential to the film? Which could have been improved upon or removed entirely? Explain. (6 marks)

3) What notable moments stand out to you in your chosen film? Why? (4 marks)

4) What issues does your documentary explore? Do you relate to these issues? (4 marks)

5) What did you think of the film overall? Would you recommend that others watch it? What were your favorite/least favorite parts? How could the film have been improved? (6 marks)

6) What is the target demographic of the documentary that you have chosen? Explain your rationale. (4 marks)

/28


Part B: Beyond the Film: This part asks you to look beyond the film and into the issues that it explores.

1) Find five websites that relate to an issue brought up in your film. How do they explore the issue? Do you think that they do a good job in dealing with the issue at hand? How could they improve their website? (8 marks)

2) Google news search a topic from your documentary. Choose an interesting article. Summarize its content (with details of title, source, date, etc.) and explain how it relates to your film. (8 marks)

/16

Total Marks /44

This assignment is due on Thursday October 29th

Media Studies Toronto Trip

Yesterday our Media Studies class took a trip to Toronto to visit three locations. The first was a photojournalism exhibit. The second was a visit to the National Film Board of Canada, where we were shown the documentary "Rip!" Our final stop was MuchonDemand where Paramore were the guests.

Upcoming Test Monday October 19th

Study your notes and if you have missed some notes please get them from another student.

Media Studies Field Trip- October 14th

On Wednesday October 14th our Media Studies course will be traveling alongside Mr. White's World Issues course to Toronto for a field trip.

On this trip we will be visiting a photojournalism exhibit, the National Film Board of Canada, and Much Music's Much On Demand studio.

There are 40 spots between the two courses so it is first come, first serve. Get your permission forms in quickly.

Documentary: Sharkwater

Over the past several days our Media Studies course has watched the documentary by Toronto filmmaker Rob Stewart Sharkwater.

Here is a sublimentary clip from Rob Stewart's interview on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.

Intro Quiz this Friday

There will be an intro to media quiz this Friday at the start of class.



















Student-made video with some of the definitions needed for the quiz on Friday.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all students to the Grade 11 Media Studies course

The course will be focused on studying all forms of media and becoming aware of its power and influence.

The coursework will consist of notes, tests, assignments, and major projects. All work is expected to be handed in on time. A mark of Zero will be assigned to any assignment that is handed in after the class has recieved their marks for it.

Parents will be contacted on a regular basis to ensure they have an awareness of how their son/daughter is progressing in the course. Parents can also use this website to keep informed on what is happening in our classroom.


I look forward to a great semester with this class.

“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” -Malcolm X