homework for Friday, April 13th

Hi there. I didn't get to see much of the class today. There was March of the Penguins assembly this morning. Another way of looking at documentaries. I watched a really good one made by a Calgary team this week called Radiant City. It's about the spread of the suburbs and how the architecture and organization of suburbs affect societies and the life of people. Probably more of an adult think, but students would relate. The two main characters are a 14 year old boy and his 10 year old sister. It's a bit of fiction and a bit of fact, how youth are affected by the suburban landscape. Also the filmmakers made a good case of decrease in personal interaction. I highly recommend the film as for food for thought.

Homework for the weekend
Note: All Monocliffs forms are due Monday. Please make sure all parental/guardian permission and health information is complete. I can receive money at a later date.
The place requires both food and health information ASAP.

Students have been given purple folders and a green notebook in which to hold all Travel Brochure investigations.
While student MAY go ahead and find information and/or complete parts. I will still require them to show me parts (as part of the overall process). All work should be brought to school every day.

L.A. work on Spelling Lessons 21 & 22 (due Tuesday)
L.A./Geography - come up with a SLOGAN for your travel company
Pick two reflection topics for media study.

see below for a reminder of the topics:

Math homework is 7.2 (brown double sided paper).
Get a protractor set. Some students still need to get a calculator too.


A reminder of the topics for the MEDIA reflection as follows:

Pick two (2) of the following and write a one page reflection (each).

• 
  Examine how problems are solved in the media, using examples from TV, movies, advertising and other formats. How were concerns resolved (e.g., through buying a product, using violence, being dishonest, taking drugs)? What are some other ways that the problems in question could have been worked out? In what time frame were they resolved (e.g., by the end of a 30-minute episode)? How does this compare with how long it takes to resolve similar problems in real life?
• Examine celebrity endorsements. Look through newspapers and magazines or watch commercials where celebrities (e.g. sports stars, actors, musicians, or even cartoon characters) endorsing products. Why do you think a famous person or character would be in these ads. Does the celebrity truly believe in the product? Is he being paid to say the product is good? Would you buy something just because someone famous said it was a good thing. Why or why not?
• Explore careers in media. What kinds of jobs are available in the media? Some jobs are in the spotlight, including television reporters, radio personalities, and newspaper and magazine journalists. Other jobs are behind the scenes include photographers, illustrators, research assistants, Web editors, camera operators, printers, video game developers, and advertising agents. Investigate one type of media job that you would prefer. Write about the career and why it might interest you? What kind of education do you need to pursue this career?
• Develop an awareness of media usage at home. Keep track of how much time you watch TV, use the computer, read a newspaper or magazine, or listen to the radio in one week. Also record the purpose of each activity? Did they learn something new? Which media resource did the student use most often? Which least often? Also track non-media activities such as playing with toys or friends, reading a book, or having conversations with friends and family. Total the time spent per activity over the week to create a double bar graph. Compare the time spent with media vs. non-media activities. What do you think about your use of time?

Eg. Of log Day ---- Activity ---- Media or non-media ----- amount of time (minutes)

• The use of the performing arts in advertising. Watch t.v., listen to radio examine print sources. What genres of music and dance are most often used to market products? Which genres are associated with which types of products? Does the use of these art forms reflect positively or negatively on the art and the artists who create it? Does it reinforce stereotypes? How does it relate to the target audience for the product? What messages does it convey about the products being marketed? What type of genres of music and dance do you think are most effective to your age group?

Assessment:
Expectation - demonstrates an understanding of a variety of media texts and is able to reflect and discuss advantages and disadvantages of techniques

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4

- creates a Company name, slogan and logo for travel brochure using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4

- identifies characteristics of slogans and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4

- identifies characteristics of logos explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4

Reflection question: In your own words what are your strengths in understanding and creating media texts. What areas do you need to improve?

What strategies do you find to be most helpful in understanding and creating media texts? (think of strategies listening, watching, talking, discussing) Overall mark: