ENGLISH CLASSES

Eng329/News Literacy/Opotowsky

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: The Electronic Wasteland

What you’re doing: Watch “The Electronic Wasteland” video by copying this link and pasting it in your web browser:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4586903n" />

Review the Deconstruction Guide.. Then watch the video a second time, taking notes as you do. In about 350 words, complete the following:

1. Give an example of direct evidence used in the story.

2. Identify one authoritative source and describe why he/she is

authoritative.

3. Overall is the report reliable? Why or why not? Use your

deconstruction skills and be specific.

4. Are there any attempts to control the news? Is the report fair?

Send your assignment as an attachment to [email protected] by August 15.

Why you’re doing this: To apply the principles of deconstruction to a

television report. The final exam may ask you to do a similar exercise.

What you should aim to get out of it: Practice at deconstructing a news story, in this case a TV news story

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