Grade 10 - 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 draw reasoned conclusions from information found in various written, spoken, or visual communications and defend their conclusions rationally.

It is expected that students will:

demonstrate their awareness of how the artful use of language can affect and influence others
evaluate how both genders and various cultures and socio-economic groups are portrayed in mass media
explain how the media can influence emotional responses
analyse and assess the impact of specific techniques and designs used by the media

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Comprehend and Respond (Critical Analysis) in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Mass media can influence students' lives both positively and negatively. Students learn to examine critically and evaluate both print and non-print materials through direct instruction, journal keeping, problem solving, and examination of other viewpoints.

Set up stations with video, audio, and print advertisements showing the various persuasive techniques used by mass media. Ask students to make notes about the techniques they see and examine advertisements for gender, age, and race stereotypes. Provide questions at each station such as:
- What strategies do advertisers use to sell their products?
- What are they really selling?
- Who is doing the cleaning, buying the car, using shampoo, buying life insurance?
- Who and what are not included in the advertisements? Why?
Examine how various cultural groups have been portrayed in films, on TV, and in print. Have students explain how and why attitudes change, using examples of different treatments of the same cultural group.
Have students examine a cartoon, film, or rock video that contains violent images. Ask them to consider the images from different viewpoints, such as those of a child, a victim of violent crime, a teacher, an advertiser, a creator of cartoons or rock videos, and a police officer. Ask students to write letters to a local newspaper giving their views of violence in mass media.
Ask students to compare the way a current topic (e.g., immigration, gender equity, access for persons with disabilities, environmental concerns, Aboriginal land claims) is treated by different sources (e.g., newspapers, radio and TV newscasts, political cartoons). Ask questions such as:
- What is emphasized?
- What is left out?
Have students evaluate the different sources for completeness, accuracy, and clarity.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

At this level, assessment should involve students in analysing an increasing variety of material, sources, and media. Students need to be aware that effective critical analysis is characterized by attention to purpose and perspective, thoroughness, objectivity, analyses of relationships, and use of relevant examples. These criteria can be demonstrated in a variety of ways.

When students write letters (or e-mail) commenting on an issue such as violence in mass media, look for evidence of:
- focus and a consistent viewpoint
- analyses of cause-effect relationships
- the use of specific examples to support their analyses
- the development of logical, coherent arguments
- clarity and conciseness
- the use of appropriate formats
Have students work with partners to collect three or four examples of a particular style of editorial cartoon and then show their understanding by using these as models for a cartoon that they develop themselves (stick people or cutouts are acceptable). Have students submit or display their work along with the originals. Teacher or peer assessment should emphasize the extent to which students' cartoons use the key features of the originals and offer clear comments.
Work with students to develop criteria that can be used to assess a variety of media analysis assignments. For example, the effective analysis of particular persuasive techniques or biasses might be characterized by:
- a clear focus on the issue
- specific examples of the technique or problem
- objective and detailed explanations
- logical analyses of purpose and potential impact
- explicit conclusions supported by examples and explanations
- explanations of how to apply what has been learned to avoid being misled in the future