Media Shapes Views

Unit Context

Unit: Textual Connections Unveiled (Lesson 7 of 27)
Year Level: 12
Duration: 70 minutes
Class Size: 10 students
Subject: English (Australian Curriculum v9)

Lesson Overview

Students will explore the pivotal role media plays in shaping, reflecting, and challenging social perspectives. Through a close analysis of a selected media segment, students will critically examine how media influences public opinion and the construction of social narratives. Discussions will enhance their evaluative skills in considering media texts’ social impact.

Australian Curriculum Alignment

Content Descriptions

ACELA1563: Analyse and explain the ways text structures and language features shape meanings and influence responses in a range of texts.
ACELY1753: Analyse and evaluate the ways social, cultural, and historical contexts shape texts.
ACELY1755: Evaluate and integrate ideas and information from texts to develop their own perspectives.
ACELY1813: Analyse and explain the ways text structures and language features shape meaning and influence audience responses, including in media texts.

General Capabilities

Critical and creative thinking
Literacy
Intercultural understanding
Ethical understanding

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Analyse a media segment to identify how language, images, and structures reflect or challenge social perspectives.
Evaluate the impact of media texts on public opinion and social attitudes.
Articulate and discuss their critical interpretations, supported by evidence from the media text.
Reflect on their own perspectives and consider alternative viewpoints presented by media representations.

Resources

Selected media segment (e.g., a news clip, documentary excerpt, or social media broadcast) — approximately 5-7 minutes.
Worksheets with guided analysis questions
Whiteboard and markers
Digital device for playback
Presentation slides outlining key concepts

Lesson Activities and Timings

1. Introduction & Stimulus (10 minutes)

Activity: Brief teacher presentation introducing the concept: How does media shape social perspectives?
Method: Use slides to outline examples of media influence in society (advertising, news, social media).
Aim: Activate prior knowledge and set context for analysis.
Curriculum link: Links to examining text structures and purposes (ACELA1563).

2. Media Segment Viewing (7 minutes)

Activity: Watch the selected media segment once uninterrupted.
Instruction: Students note immediate reactions and key messages.
Aim: Immersion in the media text to prepare for further analysis.
Curriculum link: Engagement with multimodal texts reflecting social contexts (ACELY1753).

3. Guided Analytical Task (20 minutes)

Activity: In pairs, students use a worksheet to:
- Identify language choices, visual elements, and text structures that shape perspectives.
- Determine the social perspectives or stereotypes presented.
- Discuss whether the media segment challenges or reinforces these perspectives.
Aim: Develop critical media literacy aligned with curriculum’s analytical focus.
Curriculum link: Analysing textual features and meanings in media texts (ACELY1813).

4. Group Discussion (15 minutes)

Activity: Facilitated whole-class discussion addressing:
- How might this media segment influence public opinion?
- What perspectives are dominant or marginalised?
- Are there any evident biases? How do these affect the viewer?
- Can students relate the segment to broader societal issues?
Aim: Foster verbal articulation and critical reflection.
Curriculum link: Evaluating perspectives and integrating ideas across texts (ACELY1755).

5. Reflective Writing (15 minutes)

Activity: Individually, students write a short reflective response:
- How has this media segment shaped or challenged their own perspectives?
- What responsibility does media have in representing social groups fairly?
Aim: Encourage personal engagement and meta-cognition about media influence.
Curriculum link: Reflecting on personal and social responses to texts (ACELY1755).

6. Lesson Closure & Homework (3 minutes)

Activity: Recap key understandings and assign homework:
- Homework: Find a media article or segment that challenges or supports a social perspective. Prepare a brief summary for the next lesson.
Aim: Consolidate learning and prepare continuation.
Curriculum link: Extend critical media engagement beyond classroom.

Assessment

Informal assessment through observation during pair and group discussions.
Guided worksheet completed during analysis task.
Reflective writing piece to assess understanding of media’s role in shaping perspectives.
Homework media segment selection to demonstrate ongoing engagement.

Differentiation & Inclusivity

Provide scaffolded worksheets with sentence starters for students requiring additional support.
Allow oral responses or concept maps as alternatives to written work for students with diverse learning needs.
Encourage respectful dialogue recognising diverse viewpoints in discussion.

Teacher Notes and Tips

Choose a contemporary media segment relevant and engaging to Year 12 students (e.g., current news story, youth-focused advert, or social media influencer clip).
Challenge students to look beyond surface content—consider production choices like framing, sound, and editing.
Encourage awareness of audience and purpose in media creation.
Use think-pair-share techniques for deeper student interaction.
Highlight the importance of ethical media consumption and creation.

This highly targeted lesson aligns explicitly with the Australian Curriculum v9 English standards for Year 12, incorporating analytical and reflective skills essential in critical media literacy. It invites students to connect textual analysis with societal understanding, preparing them for informed citizenship and academic success in senior English studies. This approach uses active, cooperative, and reflective learning suited for the students' maturity and complexity of content【6:AC9E8LY06.md】.【17:AC9AMA10E01.md】

Teaching Instructions