Materials for Students

Student Directions Part I

(60 minutes)

Your Assignment

Teens With Power is an organization that runs youth programs that help teens build on their unique talents in order to inspire leadership. You have been asked by your school to serve as the student representative on the Board of Directors for this organization.

The Director wants to start a new program that incorporates pop culture icons, styles, music, movies, TV shows, trends, and slogans into its messages in order to interest more young people in the youth programs. A board member hears about the director’s plan and immediately rejects the idea, claiming that the media is too commercialized and pop culture is beneath people with creativity and intelligence. He says if the agency uses pop culture references, they will go against cultivating individuality and leadership for its teens.

They both ask you, “Does media influence pop culture in a way that impacts teens negatively, or can pop culture have a positive impact?” You can ask your friends what they think, but you know that you need to have a broader perspective than just your friends’ ideas.

Your Task

You will conduct research on positive and negative effects of media’s influence in pop culture.

You will look at a variety of sources and opinions. Pay attention to whether the sources have extreme biases and whether they can be trusted.

Steps to Follow

In order to plan and compose your response to the board, you will do all of the following:

  1. Review and evaluate the results of an Internet search on the various perspectives of your topic.
  2. Make notes about the information from the sources.
  3. Answer two Research Questions about the sources, their information, and their credibility (whether they can be trusted).

Internet Search and Notes

Read and take notes on the information given in the following sources. There is a note-taking guide provided after the list of sources. The note-taking guide is not scored. You will use the information from these sources for Research Question 1 and Research Question 2.

Stimulus Set of Texts

(Printable copies at end of Performance Task)

SOURCE 1
Brooks, Gwendolyn. “We Real Cool” (1963) / / This short poem looks closely at what some teens think make them look cool. Substitute a current handout for the pool hall and we have the same thing 55 years later.
SOURCE 2
Matthew Newton. Forbes Magazine. “Selling the New Cool: Inside the World of ‘Influencers.’” / / The article attempts to answer the question: Who or What are the major influencers of pop culture today?
SOURCE 3
Video. “The Pursuit of Cool.” Length 1:12 min. / / It all started with one quote…”There is no algorithm to define cool, you just know it when you see it”
SOURCE 4
Video. “Influencers.” Length 5:18 min. / / Influencers In Depth Series feature Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of Translation, a brand management firm that arranges strategic partnerships between pop culture icons—such as Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Lebron James and others—and Fortune 500 companies.
SOURCE 5
Saujani, Reshma.“Popular Culture Can Inspire and Entice Girls in Technology.” NYT Room For Debate. / / Opinion article discusses the positive influences of popular culture.
SOURCE 6
TMW Media Group. Real Life Teens Series. “Media, Impact and Influences.” Length: 3:13 min. / / A short video that explores the positive and negative effects of media on teens, from both teen and adult perspectives.
SOURCE 7
Sandra L. Campbell. “Cultural Influence on Teen Behavior and Morality” / / Two-page article examines the influences of parents, peers, and media on teens. Adapted version in print resources has a lower text complexity score.

STUDENT NOTE-TAKING GUIDE(not scored)

NOTE:

If using this chart as a digital resource, simply fill in the chart here. The table will expand to hold text. If using this chart as a hard copy, print the version in the Appendix section.

SOURCE TITLE #1 / WHO PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE? / IS IT RELIABLE?
ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, WHO CREATES “COOL”?
NOTES:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
SOURCE TITLE #2 / WHO PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE? / IS IT RELIABLE?
ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, WHO CREATES “COOL”?
NOTES:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
SOURCE TITLE #3 / WHO PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE? / IS IT RELIABLE?
ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, WHO CREATES “COOL”?
NOTES:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
SOURCE TITLE #4 / WHO PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE? / IS IT RELIABLE?
ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, WHO CREATES “COOL”?
NOTES:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
SOURCE TITLE #5 / WHO PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE? / IS IT RELIABLE?
ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, WHO CREATES “COOL”?
NOTES:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
SOURCE TITLE #6 / WHO PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE? / IS IT RELIABLE?
ACCORDING TO THIS SOURCE, WHO CREATES “COOL”?
NOTES:
QUOTE:
QUOTE:
Question
Who creates “Cool” in America today?
Is “Cool” in America today something that is created by large corporations, the consumer (you), by celebrities, or by something else?
After studying all of the resources, make a claim.
MY CLAIM: ___

ScoredResearch Questions

After you have reviewed the research sources, answer the questions below. Your answers to these questions will be scored.Also, they will help you think about the sources you have read and viewed, which should help you respond to the Board. Answer the questions in the spaces provided below each question.

Scored Research Question 1: From the sources you have reviewed, consider the key reasons for changes in pop culture trends. Then summarize 3 major arguments that support positive impacts of media’s influence in pop culture, and 3 major arguments that support negative impacts of media’s influence in pop culture. For each of the arguments, cite at least one source that supports this fact or point of view. Fill out the chart that follows.

NOTE:

If using this chart as a digital resource, simply fill in the chart here. The table will expand to hold text. If using this chart as a hard copy,print the version in the Appendix section..

Reasons for Changes in Pop Culture Trends / Source(s) Supporting This Information
1
2
3
Argument/ Fact That Show Positive Effects / Source(s) Supporting This Argument
1
2
3
Argument/ Fact The Show Negative Effects / Source(s) Supporting This Argument
1
2
3

Scored Research Question 2: Evaluate the credibility of the arguments and evidence presented by these sources. Which of the sources warrant some skepticism due to biases, balance, or tone? How do you know?

NOTE:

If using this chart as a digital resource, simply fill in the chart here. The table will expand to hold text. If using this chart as a hard copy,print the version in the Appendix section..

Student Directions Part 2

(75 minutes)

You may use your notes and refer to the sources. You may also refer to the answers you wrote to the questions in Part 1, but you cannot change those answers. Now read your assignment and the information about how your report will be scored; then begin your work.

Your Assignment

The week that you are to report back to the Board, there is a major snowstorm and roads are unpassable. The Board decides to conduct their business by Google Apps. Since the adults on the board can’t figure out Google Hangout to do a live chat, the Director asks you to write your findings in a Googledoc and share it with the Board members.
Specifically, the Director wants you to write a report that gives your recommendation about whether or not to launch the program for teens using pop culture references. To do that, you need to assess both the positive and negative effects of pop culture on teens’ lives,and argue for or against the Director’s idea of a youth program.
Since you know that no matter which way you decide, you will make at least one adult unhappy, be sure to support your claim with evidence from the Internet sources you have read and viewed, personal experience, and other examples as necessary. You do not need to use all the sources, only the ones that most effectively and credibly support your position and your consideration of the opposing point of view.

Response Guidelines

Your report will be scored on the following criteria:

  1. Statement of purpose / focus and organization:
  • How well did you clearly state your claim on the topic, maintain your focus, and address the alternate and opposing claims?
  • How well did your ideas logically flow from the introduction to conclusion using effective transitions?
  • How well did you stay on topic throughout the report?
  1. Elaboration of evidence:
  • How well did you elaborate your arguments and discussion of counterarguments, citing evidence from your sources?
  • How well did you effectively express ideas using precise language and vocabulary that were appropriate for the audience and purpose of your report?

3. Conventions:

  • How well did you follow the rules of usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling?

To Begin Work

Use the Evidence-Based Claim Essay Organizer to help you plan your work.

Then, type your response in the space provided. Write as much as you need to fulfill the requirements of the task; you are not limited by the size of the response area on the screen.

Manage your time carefully so that you can:

  1. plan your report
  2. write your report
  3. revise and edit for a final draft

Write as much as you need to fulfill the requirements of the task; you are not limited by the size of the response area on the screen. The Response Area will expand as you compose and edit your work.

EVIDENCE-BASED CLAIM ESSAY ORGANIZER

(optional, not scored)

Who creates “Cool” in America? Is “Cool” in America today something that is created by large corporations, the consumer (you!), by celebrities, or by something else?

Should the Directorlaunch a program that uses extensive pop culture references, or does the media have too big an influence on teens?

After studying all of the resources, make a claim and back it up with your sources. Make sure you include an opposing claim* and counter-argument* against the counterclaim in your essay. Fill out this organizer with your notes and then write your essay.

*Opposing claim: What might be an argument that someone would have against your claim?

*Counter-argument: What would your response be to people who believed the Opposing Claim?

NOTE: If using this chart as a digital resource, simply fill in the chart here. The table will expand to hold text. If using this chart as a hard copy,print the version in the Appendix section..

CLAIM (PARAGRAPH ONE: STATEMENT YOU ARE MAKING FOR YOUR ARGUMENT)
EVIDENCE #1 (PARAGRAPH TWO: SOURCE, QUOTE, AND EXPLANATION)
EVIDENCE #2 (PARAGRAPH THREE: SOURCE, QUOTE, AND EXPLANATION)
OPPOSING CLAIM(PARAGRAPH FOUR: WHAT WOULD SOMEONE SAY AGAINST YOUR ARGUMENT?)
COUNTER-ARGUMENT (PARAGRAPH FOUR: ARGUMENT THAT REFUTES THE OPPOSING CLAIM)
CONCLUSION (PARAGRAPH FIVE: RESTATE THE CLAIM AND GIVE AN OPINION)