Unit 3 Lesson/Challenge #4

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Lesson #4: The Words We Use

We will be exploring these images and the roles people/concepts play in these messages in order to think critically about how messages are constructed.

Challenge #4: What Journalism Can Do

We will be looking at familiar media and unpacking them through various observational lenses (different aspects and questions).

LESSON #4
The Words We Use

WHY this lesson?

Things like headlines often influence how we think about topics or concepts in media today. Words play a powerful role in how we think about the nature of something. Remember when you were young and you would tell someone you “fibbed” - but, why didn’t you use the word “lie” or be called a “liar?” We call this CONNOTATION or the emotions that words evoke (or create). For this lesson, we’re going to examine the connotation of words in regards to mainstream stories and the differences media can construct depending on what kinds of emotions are intentional in constructing.

Thinking Questions:

How can the connotations of words impact stories?

How can the connotations of words impact our sense of understanding?

PART 1: Denotation vs. Connotation

Let's practice Connotation vs. Denotation. Using your Writer's Notebook "Notes" section, make a 3-column chart:

Using the 3-column chart to help our analysis, let's work with the following words:
- chicken
- blue
- snake
- talk
- old

Take some time to examine/analyze the “Media Bias Chart” located below

For additional support, watch the short video explaining the bias chart in more detail.

Thinking questions:

How can this chart be utilized by readers?
What epiphanies (or new ideas) did you have when examining this chart?

PART 2: Reading the Media Bias Chart

CHALLENGE #4
What Journalism Can Do

WHY this challenge?

Now that we understand the power of words, this challenge will allow us to explore, examine, and analyze the words journalists use to report information as well as share stories. If we can understand how words are used, then we can also ask important questions related to forming our own beliefs.

Partner & Organize

Choose partner to work with for this challenge. You and your partner will use the "Media Connotation Graphic Organizer" to help support your thinking throughout this experience. Make a copy and share it with your partner OR grab a paper copy available in class.

Choose Your Sources & Headline

Use the "Media Bias Chart" from Part 2 of the lesson to determine three sources that you'll be using - think about a source from the middle of the chart, right and left. For example, you could choose NPR (middle chart), The Published Reporter (right chart), and Rolling Stone (left chart).

Once you've determined your sources, find a leading news headline to analyze across your news sources. Remember to think more specifically (Ex: Elon Musk and owning Twitter) rather than broad topics (Ex. immigration).