S+Carmichael,+Ashton

**Office: Ed. Center 209** **Office Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 2:30-5:00pm** ** E-mail: ashton.carmichael@maine.edu **
 * Teacher: Mr. Ashton Carmichael**

=Summary of Unit= Media is more than just the tabloids you see at the checkout lane. It is the advertisement in your newspaper, it is the commercial interrupting your favorite program, it is the advertisements on your social networking site. Throughout the course, students are going to be able to recognize a series of these forms of media and point out all the things being sold through them, both directly and indirectly. In this course, students will have the opportunity to take on many media designing roles and establish speaking and listening skills.

=Establish Goals= Content Area: English Grade Level: 8 Domain: Speaking and Listening Standards Cluster: Comprehension and Collaboration Standard: Two: Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.

=Students will understand that=

•media has a purpose in its presentation. •the media presents itself in a variety of formats. •media is always selling something.

= = =Essential Questions=

•how does the presentation of media effect the purpose? •why does the media appeal to a broad public? •how does the media sell things both directly and indirectly? = = =Students will know= •Definitions: media, purpose, portrayal, delivery, sales •media has a close eye on what people are talking about, tailoring their coverage to feed off of this interest and how people respond to information greatly impacts the extent which the media focuses on events. •Sequence and Timeline: media does research and understands what they are selling, but they sell it using something else. that media has a focus and sells ideas/products in a variety of ways.

= = =Students will be able to= •justify the purpose behind why media presents itself in a particular way. •judge what the various types of media are trying to sell and how. •assume the role of a media designer and apply the various aspects of media. •compare the different types of media and their effectiveness. •analyze the different aspects of media that appeal to various age groups. •recognize that media is selling more than just one product.

**Performance Task Overview** CBS News is looking for fresh faces to cover a new segment they are introducing on the Evening news. The segment is going to directly focus on major media hype and how people are responding to it. Having just received your degree in Journalism, you and your friend decide to apply for the position. As part of the application, you and your partner are assigned a piece of media that has received some hype on the streets. You have to research what people think of this piece assigned to you and why they think the way they do. If you are hired for the position, you will be given a brief segment on the news and this assignment will be your first broadcast.

=Expectations= **Absence:** Attendance is mandatory, but circumstances arise and sometimes we cannot make it. The office will validate the excuse of the absence. Try to be in class as your presence is invaluable to the discussion, group, and overall atmosphere of the room.

Assignments and Late Work: C lass notes will always be available on the class wiki along with attachments of documents that can be downloaded. If a student is absent, they should first refer to the class wiki for missing assignments and notes on class discussions if applicable. Students are required to come see me for missing homework assignments.I will not immediately take points off for work that is late, rather, I expect students to negotiate with me when the assignment will be turned in. Students will not be allowed to accept a zero for assignments.

Classroom Expectations: I expect students to make the classroom comfortable for themselves to learn in. It is their environment as well as mine. Students will not speak down to any other student in any form. I ask students to honor other students' opinions and feel comfortable enough to share their own in a way that does not degrade anyone else. I want students to be honest with their peers, themselves, and me.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is not acceptable. Students will be asked to immediately redo the assignment and complete a report on the importance of upholding academic integrity.

=Benchmarks= Performance Task: (See above for final project)
 * •imovie**: a video recording of an interview between a media designer and talk show host explaining why the designer did
 * •wikispaces**: students will debate what a particular peice of media is attempting to sell them.
 * •glogste**r:create an advertisement using various aspects of media.
 * •prezi:** create a prezi to illustrate the similarities and differences between two types of media.
 * •garage band:** Bring an audio recording of your group carying out a radio interview of different aged people responding to what they look for in the medoa and what draws them in/ why.
 * •podcast:** create a podcast describing the different items and or ideas being sold in a form of media. Please be sure to reference the media you choose in the podcast

=Grading Scale=

**A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76), **C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).