Page 18 - Journeys C1 (Workbook)

2 Lıterature

Twenty-four-hour news, blogs, social media feeds, three components of rhetoric: logos – the use of logic
adverts, movies, websites, etc. These days, information and facts to persuade; ethos – persuasion through
about our world is everywhere. We are constantly convincing people of the morally right approach, and
influenced by these streams of information, and pathos – appealing to a person’s emotions in order
it affects the way we view the world, how we see to persuade. By recognising rhetorical devices, such
ourselves in it and whether our outlook is positive, as emotive language in news stories and speeches,
bleak, empowered or helpless. students will be better able to understand the writer
or creator’s motives. They will also learn to question
While understanding information at first seems to the credibility of the content, identify bias and any
be a straightforward matter of comprehending omitted information and separate fact from opinion
language, images and diagrams, it’s surprising how and conjecture. They will also begin to understand
many people are unaware of how susceptible they how information and misinformation shape our
are to media manipulation. That’s why schools are culture and beliefs.
increasingly calling for students to become media-
aware. A course of study in media literacy teaches Learning how to think critically about the information
students how to access, analyse, evaluate, create and they are fed, helps students to make smart decisions
act using all forms of communication, from online ads in their lives. It can influence the products they buy,
to viral videos, blockbuster films and current affairs. the political parties they support, the charities they
endorse and the celebrities they follow. It also helps
Probably the most important skill taught in media them to create media responsibly. This isn’t only
literacy is critical thinking. This encourages students applicable to those who go on to become journalists,
to think beyond the superficial content of a message film producers and reporters. These days, almost
and consider who created it and why. Critical everyone has responsibility for which films and news
thinking requires an understanding of the language stories become popular when we decide whether or
of persuasion, also known as rhetoric. Rhetoric not to share something we have found on the Internet.
has been utilised for thousands of years to raise Understanding the impact of these choices is key to
awareness and influence public opinion. There are
creating a world that is inclusive, tolerant and fair.

C. Read the text. What is the topic of paragraphs 1–4?
Choose from the topics below. You will not need all
of them.

1. How education can help students to understand
modern media

2. How our minds are negatively affected by
constant streams of information
3. How modern media affect our attitudes

4. How schools can utilise modern media in order to
teach more effectively
5. How an understanding of rhetoric can make
students more persuasive
6. How critical thinking can help students
understand a message
7. How media literacy can influence students’
behaviour and choices
8. How we can persuade people working in the
media to be more responsible

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