CITIZEN ADVOCACY CENTER

 

YOUNG CITIZENS AND MEDIA ACCESS

LESSON PLAN AND ACTIVITES

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Grade Level:  5-12

Subjects: 

 

Duration: 1-2 session(s)

 

Description: The media plays an integral role in political and social systems.  This lesson will explore how students can make their voice heard through different media avenues in order to raise awareness of a cause or issue.

 

Goals:

ISBE Standards:

1.      Social Science

·        14A:  Understand and explain basic principles of the United States government.

·        14B:  Understand the structures and functions of the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.

·        14C:  Understand election processes and responsibilities of citizens.

·        14D:  Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups in the political systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.

·        16A:  Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation.

·        16B:  Understand the development of significant political events.

 

2. Language Arts

·        1A:  Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.

·        1B:  Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency

·        1C:  Comprehend a broad range of reading materials

·        3A: Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and structure

·        3B:  Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.

·        3C:  Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes

·        4A:  Listen effectively in formal and informal situation

·        4B:  Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

Objectives:    

1.                  Discern the importance of media in our society;

2.                  List the types of media available to the public;

3.                  Understand the different roles for different types of media;  and

4.                  Understand how different types of media influence different people.

Materials:            Citizen Advocacy Center “Take Action Packet.”  The full packet is available at www.citizenadvocacycenter.org

Instruction and Activity:  Day One

I.                    Media is essential for many purposes in our society.  Why do you think media is important?  What does the media do?

1.      Educate public on important issues;

2.      Entertainment;

3.      Organizing tool;

4.      Other

 

II.                 Brainstorm different types of media that citizens can use to voice their opinions on issues that they think are important either on a local, state, or national level.  

 

A.     Written Media – Newspapers, Magazines, Newsletters

1.      Letters to the Editor: school paper, community weekly or local paper

2.      op-ed pieces (Opposite Editorials)

3.      Guest columns in weekly or local shopper papers

4.      Bringing your issue to the relevant reporter

5.      Press releases for announcements

B.     Radio

1.      Call-in shows

2.      Public radio

3.      Broadcast editorials: find out if your local station broadcasts these

C.     Television

1.      Call the local news station and tell them you have a story

2.      Local cable access shows feature voices of the community in local programming and provide a place to announce meeting and event times.

3.      Public Service Announcements – have to be non-partisan

D.  World Wide Web

                               1.   E-Mail Discussion Forums/Groups

2.      Personal Websites

3.      Live Chat

 

III.               Brainstorm some issues students think are important on a school, local, state, or national level.  Pick two to three items from that list.  Ask the following questions:

1.      Who are the decision-makers for those issues?

Example:     Issue = bad cafeteria food

      Decision-makers = school board

 

2.      Who influences the decision-makers for those issues?

Example:   Principals, Parents, PTO, Booster Club, Tax-Payers/Voters

People who influence those who influence the decision-makers:    Students

 

3.      What types of media can individuals and groups use to most effectively get the attention of the decision-makers and the people who influence the decision-makers?

Example: Student-to-student email to alert each other of the problem and the organizing effort; School newspaper – articles and letters to the editor; PTO newsletter; Commercial newspapers – articles and letters to the editor; Email campaign to school board;Public comment at school board meeting; and Bringing issue to local reporters.

 

4.      Will the type of media change from one issue to the next?  Yes.

Example:   Generally speaking, if the issue is senior citizen healthcare, email and listserves will probably not be the most effective way to organize or to get the message out.

 

IV.              Activity One:  Ask student to go home and survey at least three adults. 

A.     What media do they use?

B.     What media do they prefer?

C.     Does the media they use change depending on the purpose?

D.     Are the types of media they use restricted based on time, money, etc.?

 

Day Two

V.      Activity Two:  Pass out newspapers to the students and have them locate the editorial page.    Have them label which pieces are letters to the editor and which are op-ed pieces and any other editorial forms. 

·        What kinds of issues are they writing about? 

 

VI.            Activity Three:  Brainstorm with your students as to what kinds of issues are important them, and a subject that they would like to address in a letter to the editor at the local newspaper.  Ideally, the letter should be prompted by something going on in the school or community. 

A.            Review the sample letter to the editor in the “Take Action Packet.”  Have students compose their own letter to the editor to submit to the school paper or local paper.  The students will then be competing to have their letter published.

 

1.         Topic Suggestions:

·        School rules (dress code, class requirements, hall passes, eating/chewing gum in class, cell phone use, punishments for rule violations)

·        School funding

·        School building conditions

·        Commending a teacher/principal

·        Standardized tests

·        School Elections

·        Year-round School vs. long summer break

·        School Prayer

·        Pledge of Allegiance

·        Recycling

 

2.            Tips for writing a Letter to the Editor

a.       Keep it short and on topic to avoid having it edited or eliminated from consideration – no more than 300 words.

b.      Get to the point, and avoid the long wind-up (such as “I’m sure everyone one would agree that. . .”)

c.       Mention a recent editorial column or story in the news that prompted your letter.

d.      Letters should be very neatly written or typed (preferably).

 

 

VII.      Activity Three:  As an assignment, have the students watch or listen to a show that allows members of the community to voice their views (public radio, cable access, or even national Sunday news show like Meet the Press).  Have them answer the following questions about the show:

 

A.   What media, title of the show, what time

B.            Who was voicing their opinion?  Was there a moderator?  Was the moderator impartial?

C.            What issue(s) was/were discussed?  What did you learn about the issue(s)?

D.            Did you feel that one side was more persuasive than the other (or that the one speaking was persuasive)?  Why was that person effective or not effective in getting across their view?

E.            Why were these issues important to the people voicing their views?

F.             Did you feel that the show was fairly run in allowing the people to explain their positions?  Would you have made any changes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Copyright 2004 Citizen Advocacy Center.  All rights reserved.  No part of this lesson plan may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior, written permission of the Citizen Advocacy Center. The Citizen Advocacy Center is a 501(c)(3) non-pofit, non-partisan community based legal organization. For information about the Center, or to make a tax deductible contribution, visit www.citizenadvocacycenter.org, call 630.833.4080. The Center is located at 238 N. York Rd., Elmhurst IL 60126

 

 

 

 

LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR

 

Did you know the editorial section contains some of the most popularly read pages of the newspaper? Letters-to-the-editor enlighten and inspire citizens and may reveal common views in a public forum.   Moreover, politicians and their staff read letters-to-the-editor. These letters offer a way for constituents to address issues the pollsters or the politicians may not be addressing.  Even so, it remains important that you write your legislators personally.

 

Letters-to-the-editor have the greatest impact when they are to the point. Most newspapers print only letters of 400 or fewer words. If you feel that your message cannot properly be communicated in one letter, write a series of letters.  Letters that can be tied to a current event or a published article have a greater chance of being chosen for publication.

 

Need help getting started?  Below is a sample format for a letter-to-the-editor and following are addresses of some Chicagoland papers.

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Date

 

Dear Editor:

 

[A short introduction to your letter.  Most effective letters pick one topic, i.e. a particular piece of legislation, an upcoming or recent event, or one aspect of the problem.] 

 

I am disheartened by the current state of public health in Illinois. 

 

[One or two reasons why you think the above is important.  Write and rewrite your sentences and pick words with the most meaning] 

 

[Call to action.  For example, ask readers to call their legislators to vote for or against legislation or tell elected officials to change their behavior.]

 

I hope that Representative _______ will support meaningful public health legislation in the General Assembly. 

 

Sincerely,

Your Name

Title/Affiliation (optional)

Address

Phone number

 

 

LETTERS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS

 

Do not end your letter writing campaign with a letter-to-the-editor. It is even more crucial that you contact your legislators in Springfield or at their home district office.  Make them aware that you are a knowledgeable and involved citizen—that you follow their votes.  Put forth your views concerning the issues and request their support.  Do not forget to remind your legislators that you expect them to reply.

 

The following is a sample format for a letter to your State Representative or Senator.  Addresses are on the next page.

 

Date

 

The Honorable _________________    

Address of Home office

 

Dear Representative/Senator_________________:

 

[Jump into your letter: who are you and what do you want, i.e., you are a voter in her district and you want her to support House Bill XYZQ, the “title of the legislation” bill.]

 

I am a registered voter in your District, and I want you to vote yes on HB XYZQ, “The ____ _____ Act.”

 

[What is your concern?  Your letter need not be a scholarly exposition of the issue—a short paragraph will do.]

 

[What do you want your representative to do?  For example, introduce or support  legislation, hold public hearings, meet with you, etc.]

 

Please keep me informed of your efforts toward reform and vote yes on HB XYZQ.  I look forward to your response.

 

Sincerely,

Your Name

Address

Phone