Transcript Should modern media be restricted in any way?

Preparing for
the Persuasive Essay
AICE: General Paper—9/Pavich
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?

CONTENT FIRST:
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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…

THEN STRUCTURE:

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 From SECTION 3 of the
essay…
!

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!
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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?
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Information-Gathering
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…
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
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!
The 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.
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.
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.”
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
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Better Business Bureau
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Its sole purpose is to protect the consumer!
Responsible for overseeing companies to ensure that the
follow truth-in-advertising laws
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!
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“Truth in Advertising” article
Media can help stimulate the economy
PROBLEM:
Modern technology is hurting
American businesses.
 DVR hurts commercial biz
 Internet hurts music biz
SOLUTION:
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.
“ADVERTAINMENT”:
product placement;
naturally weaving
advertising into media
sources
Americans FREELY Google
“Tiananmen Square”
Chinese Google “Tiananmen
Square” under RESTRICTIONS…
“The Rise of China” article
So Google stopped doing business with
them…RIP…
“North Korea” article
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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
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.
Connecting Learned Knowledge to the GP
From Info-Gathering
to Brainstorm
to Essay
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Guess what? You just learned enough information to enhance the
content of several essay prompts!
MEDIA PROMPTS:
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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?
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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?
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RESTRICT MEDIA:
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Otherwise, it unfairly
manipulates its
viewers
Otherwise, it can be
misleading/
deceiving
Doing so helps shield
the public from
inappropriate
content/filters it
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DO NOT RESTRICT:
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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
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.
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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.
Let’s take a look at a
 SAMPLE ESSAY 
AttentionGetter
Transition
to Topic
Thesis
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.
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
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
TOPIC SENTENCE:
However, if we restrict the media, it
could negatively affect our social
rights.
“The Rise of China” article
North Korea knowledge
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.
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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
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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
truth-in-advertising laws
Advertising” &
 Better Business Bureau:
“Can You Believe
complaints and intervention
Your Eyes?” articles
 Legal Action:
companies suing companies (AT&T sued Verizon; FedEx sued
UPS) as a form of “self-policing”
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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…
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!
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
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.
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Begin and end creatively…
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Back up every idea with PROOF!
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Relate to your audience on a human level
Appeal to their minds, their hearts, and their values (logos,
pathos, ethos!)
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!!)
PRACTICING THE PERSUASIVE:
Cooperative
Group Brainstorm
Independent Intro-Writing + Peer Evaluation
Independent Body-Paragraphing + Peer Evaluation
Point-Counterpoint Practice
REVISION for Homework
Conclusion Peer Eval.
PRACTICING THE PERSUASIVE:
Individual
Essay
Peer Swap/Read/Critique
Group Debrief/Sharing/Teacher Feedback
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PowerPoint (Credits: Pavich)
Upfront Articles:
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“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)