https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OwE_6yGaPxzhgCKUVjPNe3Fmvte3npRW9iiJ6ZuaOmA/edit?usp=sharing Google Doc for below activity.

Big question: How does the media influence the way people think?

Journalism Activity 1- This is for the first lesson of class. Issues can be twisted, you decide how and why.

Got Milk? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLSsswr6z9Y Sponsored by the Milk Producers, Why?

Beef, Its what's for dinner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhxhiffTFwE Sponsored by the Beef council, Why?

Question?

What about real, fresh Christmas trees from tree farms? 

Why are we doing this? I do not want you to read just the headline, not just the first couple of sentences but the first paragraph or two. When you see what the Most Valuable Points are then you can see the motive for the article. Do not make a judgement on the title and the first few sentences. The truth is hidden after that as to the real news or the point the Journalist is trying to point out and inform. Reading more than one source is also valuable.

Topic: Obama administration is putting a tax on Christmas.   Tax v.s. no tax

 Did the Obama administration ruin Christmas with a tax?

Guiding questions:

What is the difference between a tax and a fee?

Why promote or advertise a product? Who's job is it to promote a product?

Directions: Read the title and first two paragraphs of each article on taxing Christmas.

Compare the two  articles below for bias in journalism and which one leans right or left. View the title of the article and what the title says with the article.

• Article 1  Fox news article on Christmas tree tax.  Headline: White House sidelines Christmas Tree "Tax"
• Article 2  christmastreetax.pdf   Huffington post article on Christmas tree tax.  Headline: Christmas Tree Tax: Obama Attacked for Agriculture Department Plan to Support Farmers. Same as above but works.

 Use one of the literacy techniques called MVP

      MVP from each article, Most Valuable Point. Write the statement that makes the best point about a tax on Christmas.

Conclusions: write down 1-4 points about the (MVP) of the articles after looking at the title and reading first two paragraphs.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Answer the questions below on the MVPs

What is the MVP from the title of the article and first two sentences of the article? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the MVP from the third sentence of the articles to the end of the second paragraph of the articles? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

How is the rhetorical or implied evidence different between the two sides of the issue and from the beginning to the end of the reading? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

What objectives do people have to stretch or misrepresent the truth on a certain issue? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Exit discussion: How is this activity going to change the way you view the news? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How is going to change the process you used to come to your own conclusion? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:  Did the Obama administration ruin Christmas with a tax?

Extra credit

Do the same with the Obama Library. Who is paying the bill for the library, what is happening with and around the library, what is the MVP of the articles?

Obama library to cost taxpayers 175 million

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/24/report-obama-library-cost-taxpayers-175-million/ Breitbart News

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/24/obama-librarys-public-cost-estimated-at-175m-report.html Fox News

Conclusions: write down 1-4 points about the (MVP) of the articles after looking at the title and reading first two paragraphs.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Answer the questions below on the MVPs

What is the MVP from the title of the article and first two sentences of the article? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

What is the MVP from the third sentence of the articles to the end of the second paragraph of the articles? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

How is the rhetorical or implied evidence different between the two sides of the issue and from the beginning to the end of the reading? _______________________________________________________________________________________________

What objectives do people have to stretch or misrepresent the truth on a certain issue?