Communications 11

Comprehend and Respond
(Critical Analysis)

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

Prescribed Learning Outcomes

It is expected that students will:

identify various techniques of persuasion in a variety of works, including workplace communications
explain how perspectives and biasses are reflected in print and non-print resources, including electronic communications
compare different sources of information on the same topic
identify ways in which mass media influence individual perceptions and social behaviours

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Comprehend and Respond (Critical Analysis) in grade 12 click below.

Suggested Instructional Strategies

As a class, develop a list of persuasive techniques commonly used in advertising. Ask students to find examples of persuasive material such as political cartoons, promotional flyers, commercials, or public education campaigns. In groups, have students identify the persuasive elements used in each example and then revise the piece to correct the bias or reflect a different point of view.
Have groups of students select a current event and research at least five different sources of information about it, including both print and electronic media. Each group compares its sources of information, noting similarities and differences, and reports to the class about which source was the most reliable and why.
Hold a class discussion on the topic: "How do mass media affect our perceptions of the world?" Then have students view, discuss, and evaluate commercials, television shows, music videos, cartoons, and magazines by answering the following questions:
- What stereotypes are presented?
- Is the selection sexist?
- What biasses are displayed?
- What errors in logic are found?
- How realistic is the representation?
- Are your views of the world being manipulated? How?
Have students make presentations on how mass media affect our perceptions of the world, providing examples to support their statements.
Provide students with examples of workplace communications such as proposals, letters to customers, business plans, and brochures. Have them identify the persuasive techniques being used by answering the questions:
- What is the objective of the communication?
- Who is the source of the communication?
- What is it trying to persuade the reader to agree with?
- What supporting evidence is provided?
- Are you persuaded by the document's message? Why or why not?
As a class, discuss the role of persuasive techniques in workplace communications.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

When groups make presentations to the class about the reliability of information sources, look for evidence that they have:
- discussed at least five different sources
- assessed each of the sources based on questions about the currency, apparent bias, depth, completeness, and accuracy of the information
- ranked the information by order of importance
- supported their statements with evidence
At the same time, assess students' presentation skills such as:
poise and confidence
enunciation and voice projection, inflection, pace, and tone
consideration of audience Look for equal sharing of presentation tasks.
When students prepare reports on how mass media affect our perceptions of the world, check for evidence that they can identify:
- stereotypes
- biasses
- errors in logic
- realism
- sexism
- manipulation
Also look for:
- specific examples to support each statement
- correct documentation of sources
- standard English
- neatness
- correct report format