Becoming an Expert
In order to write your expert critic article for the new class magazine you
must first become a media expert. In order to do this you are going to visit a
few different sites built to teach media literacy and awareness to students
such as yourself. View these sites in detail and make yourself an expert. Make
sure to read and participate in as much of the web-sites as possible.
Remember you are using these sites to be come an EXPERT. Get as much
information as you can!
Once you have informed yourself with these two sites take a good look at the
next page, ADDITIONAL EXPERT NOTES to get a few further ideas from an
additional resource.
Expert Media Sites
Don't Buy It from PBS Kids, this interactive site teaches students about the
tricks the media uses to sell their item, idea, or opinion.
Don't Buy It
This page about Common Advertising Strategies from the Media Awareness Network
will help you understand some of the common elements of what is considered
successful advertising.
Common Advertising Strategies
Becoming an Advertising Critic
The next part of your challenge asks you to review various advertisements and
become a critic by writing an article about one ad. The instructions are as
follows:
STEP 1
Watch the four chosen ad campaigns by choosing their page above.
1. The Campaign for Real Beauty
2. Is It In You
3. Hello, I'm a Mac
4. Mini Wheats
In some cases you may need to look out for more specific instructions to guide
you to the right video.
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STEP 2
Choose 1 of the 4 ad's or ad campaigns to write your article about.
When choosing your ad consider how the ad made you feel, did you have any
personal connections or feelings toward the ad? Does it connect to any of your
own personal experiences, likes or dislikes? Remember your personal response
or opinion will be a part of your article, good articles will have a strong
personal response.
You will also notice further links that will help you to gather additional
background knowledge on important aspects of the ad campaign. As well, some of
the advertisement websites may also have information about their campaign,
reading a little bit about that may help you when writing your own article.
But remember DO NOT copy information directly form the website, this
information is meant to give you a stronger understanding of the subject, NOT
to copy into your article.
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STEP 3
Using the knowledge you have gained on your expert search and your own
personal response, write a Magazine article about your chosen ad campaign.
Remember to use all elements of newspaper / magazine articles that we have
learned about in school.