Media Studies 20
The Instructor for this course is MJ Sherven
Course History
First Offered in 2003
Developed by Eileen Laverty
Pre-requisite ELA A10 OR ELA B10
The mass media are an integral part of our lives and our society. We live in a world influenced and shaped by the sights, sounds, opinions, and values presented by the mass media--those print, non-print, and electronic texts that communicate with a mass audience.
The mass media create artifacts related to our cultural environment and help us construct our concepts of society today. They influence our values, opinions and attitudes, and our social conventions and norms. Given the influence which the mass media exercise in our lives, and in the lives of students, it is important that we bring the "languages" of these media into the classroom with the goal of teaching students how to become critical listeners, readers, and viewers as well as effective users of the media available to them.
This course encourages students to expand their repertoire of language skills and strategies through the study of media communication. It assists students in dealing critically with the media in their lives. While media literacy is an important dimension of all English language arts curricula, this course gives students an opportunity to explore mass media and their effects on society in more depth.
The purpose of Media Studies 20 is to develop the knowledge, skills, and disposition students need to understand and use media as informed and active citizens.
Media Studies 20 is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of the mass media, the messages contained in the mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these media.
Course Information / Credit Recovery Units
Module One: Common Ground ~ 14 days
Who am I?
Responsibility to Respond
Responsibility of Society
Virtues of Society
Values of Society
Module Two: Media Awareness ~ 16 days
Media Terms
Media Profile
Role of Media
Pop Culture
Powerful Influence
Module Three: Key Concepts ~ 21 days
Ideology and Values
Medium is the Message
Industry
Canadian Culture
Media Investigation
Module Four: Advertising ~ 26 days
Public Service Announcements
Advocacy Ads
Language
Positioning
Marketing
Double Speak
Weapons of Media
Television and Radio
Module Five: Journalism ~ 20 days
Media Event
Sources of Information
Types of News Stories
Watch Dogs
Gatekeeper
Internet News
Creating Bias
Photojournalism
Photographic Truth
Political Concerns
Module Six: Independent Project ~ 21 days
Project Topics
Project Ideas
Project Proposal
Project Research Grid
Project Assessment Sheet
