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9th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 12 of 12

Media Analysis

Rhetoric, framing and synthetic media

What your child practices

Students analyze the purposes and techniques of media messages (rhetorical appeals, framing, propaganda, sponsored content, deepfakes) and how beliefs and algorithms shape interpretation.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 9.12; 9.18 · analyzing how media messages use appeals, framing and other techniques

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Media shape feelings with music, framing and charts. A cut-off y-axis can make a trend look bigger.
  2. Confirmation bias is favoring information you already agree with.
  3. A filter bubble is a feed that shows mainly what you already agree with.

Example: What is confirmation bias? “Confirm” means show something is true. People tend to look for what backs up their beliefs. Answer: the tendency to favor information that matches what you already believe

Media Analysis in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 12 of 12 in 9th grade English Language Arts, after Proofreading.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which is an example of pathos in a public service announcement?

    • a list of traffic laws
    • a road map
    • a story of a family affected by a distracted-driving crash
    • a chart of crash statistics

  2. Question 2

    Which is a sign a social media account may be a bot?

    • it posts constantly, has no personal details and repeats the same messages
    • it has a profile picture
    • it posts about hobbies
    • it has friends

  3. Question 3

    What is the purpose of a political attack ad?

    • to sell products
    • to inform neutrally
    • to entertain only
    • to persuade viewers against an opponent

  4. Question 4

    Why do media makers use stereotypes?

    • they are always accurate
    • they are quick shortcuts, but they can spread unfair ideas
    • they make stories longer
    • they are required

  5. Question 5

    Why might a company sponsor a scientific study about its own product?

    • it may hope for results that help sales
    • it is required by law
    • it guarantees accuracy
    • companies cannot fund research

  6. Question 6

    A viral image is AI-generated and shared during an emergency. What is the greatest risk?

    • nobody will see it
    • the colors are wrong
    • people may act on false information
    • the image loads slowly

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