Media Literacy: Political Memes Writing Workshop

As we pivot into a new academic year and the inevitability of starring down the political barrel of an election season, I felt it a good idea to create some content that will help students ascertain their individualized sense of “truth.”

“Truth” is hard to come by today, especially when one is facing an endless barrage of messaging that tugs and pulls in every single which way imaginable.

So, in this lesson I’m asking for students to objectively look at political memes from both sides of the coin.

In today’s video, I model how to do this with a bevy of memes from all sides of the aisle.

And what we’re going to do is culminate the unit with a synthesis essay.

In my typical “Bob Ross of Composition” fashion, I model (“Paint”) a slew of examples from top to bottom (intros., bodies, etc.) all while showing teachers and students how to pull the strings of my heuristics.

This was a big project, but I loved putting it together.

All of the slides featured in the video are available for download (which is what you get with this purchase).

Big point of emphasis: it’s important, as teachers, to leave our bias at the door when we delve into political discussions with students.  I feel as if I did a pretty good job of doing this.  Heaven knows, I want these kids to not feel as if we’re indoctrinating from soap boxes; but instead, that we are providing them the space to garner their own sense of “truth.”

Happy teaching and happy writing!