For the weblog:

Just provide a two paragraph summary like the example in the book (82-83). As you can see, one of these 2 paragraphs is devoted to the articulation of the main thesis and the supporting reasons that are invoked to back it up. The other paragraph shall be devoted to (depending on the argument) the argument’s awareness of the opposite point of view in the form either of explicit support for its underlying assumptions or response to counterarguments. As you know some argument pay attention to this aspect and some don’t hence my “depending on the argument.”

Ask the students to find fault with the argument (to critique it from a doubting perspective: find fault with its use evidence (logos), use of pathos (appeals to emotions), and attention or lack of attention to opposite viewpoints).

Students should refer to particular parts of the passage (page and paragraph cited with direct brief examples or quotations) with specificity to support their critique (otherwise it is pointless). This will be at most one paragraph long.

For the presentation:

Establish the argumentative conversation the argument is a part of (a contextual narrative that situates its main claim in a bigger context with counterarguments). To do this, you could articulate and briefly explain the counterargument to which this argument is a reaction.

Follow that up with a rhetorical analysis of the argument pointing out both its rhetorical strengths and its weaknesses. Restate the thesis and the mains reasons supporting it. Evaluate the evidence used in terms of STAR criteria (89-90). Evaluate the reliance on emotions (pathos) or Logos (use of logical and accurate reasoning, use of credible sources etc) and how these enhance or undermine the credibility of the writer for a larger audience.

Pick two of the best responses from the weblog and explain why they were the best!

Conclude your powerpoint presentation with a list of further questions!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

“The Massless Media”
By: William Powers


William Powers examines how mass media has changed since the 1800s. CBS, NBC and ABC news television channels have lost viewers for multiple reasons. Their viewers have found quicker ways to retrieve the same information as provided on these channels. With the advancement of technology, the success of mass media has decreased. Web blogs, news sites and radios have been more successful in providing the public with information than the mass media. Radio now has satellite and web variants that let listeners choose their taste pods with exceptional precision (468). Powers also states that channels focusing on certain products attract the viewers’ eyes more often than none. Business Week magazine reported the following quote about preferential viewers. “The country has atomized into countless market segments defined not only by demography, but by increasingly nuanced and insistent product preferences.” (468). With the advancement of technology and partisan viewers, the success of mass media has declined over the past two hundred years.


Powers does not effectively speak on the opposing argument, that mass media has not declined over the years and it is still the same as the 1800s. He focuses more attention on getting his argument across that mass media has changed significantly. Although Powers provides reliable sources such as Business Week magazine, a college professor and a Washington journalist, he does not take into consideration the views of the opposing side. He puts more emphasis on the idea that advancing technology affects the use of mass media. Some citizens select which type of news they want to follow allowing selective magazines, radio stations and websites to get more attention than mass media.
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9 comments:

  1. TaspiaSeptember 27, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Jenna IbertSeptember 27, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    It is a common thought that many people view a particular news channel based on their political views such as conservative or liberal. There are also many new forms of the news that causes people to not only watch it on the television. A counterargument to Powers thought that the advancement in technology has changed the way our media works would be that the newer generations are not interesting in the news. I know that my friends and myself included do not take time out of our busy lives to read the newspaper or watch the news on television. Many older people, such as our parents, are very up to date with the news. However, a majority of college students and younger students are not actively reading the newspaper.

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  3. Meredith LesterSeptember 27, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    Mass media is similar and different to media in the 1800s. It still serves the same purpose, which is to inform people. This article focuses on media, politics and culture. I do not really understand this article because it doesn't seem to focus on one issue claim. But to support the opposing claim that mass media has not declined and is the same as the 1800s, there is one example Powers does give to justify this. Powers says that James Franklin made America's first fiercely independent newspaper that created the nations's tradition of an irreverent press. (469)Media, politics, and culture in the 1800s are not he same as media, politics, and culture today, but they has heavily influenced them.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    This argument is effective in using logos to make its claim. The claim is that mass media has decreased in effectiveness over the years, To convince the argument of his claim, he does not only try to prove that it is decreasing in popularity by giving examples, he explains why this is happening by telling about new technology.

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  5. Baleigh1011September 27, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    Mass media has become a major part of society today. It all began with James Franklin and has since grown throughout the years. Reading magazines and internet blogs has become a pass time for many college students today. For example, LSU students have the opportunity to read the daily Reveille as well as other colleges who have their own campus newspaper. In Powers' report with Pew, he reported, "Fully 73% of Internet users come across the news this way, up from 65% two years ago, and 55%as recently as 1999." This shows that newspaper reading "lives on".(472)

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  6. AliSeptember 27, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    "There are many forms of news sources now. It can be internet related, TV related, or even newspapers. It is mostly believed that newspapers and television are the most reliable. Internet sites have known to be corruptible and therefore at risk of being false. It can be caused by personal opinion. Websites like wikipedia are known to be sources of wrong information. "

    Duchuy

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  7. Bria JohnsonSeptember 27, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    This argument has presented two ideas within its body. 1 being that the media is dwelling and 2. that the media is enhancing as technology evolves. To make an accurate claim on which claim is most valid, the author does not provide examples, facts, or clear evidence as to what concrete reasons back up his reasoning. Media, due to the new technology is constantly improving they way viewers can watch. The content, however may be on a downfall.

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  8. TaspiaOctober 9, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    In the article William Power talks about a lot of things from different perspectives. He argues about how the big media has been replaced with niche media and how in this century it's more about tribalization. "The country has atomized into countless market segments defined not only by demography, but by increasingly nuanced and insistent product preferences" as Business week reported(468). Tracing how the era from last century is to the media of today,he examined how Popular pursuit of difference and self-expression took place of the political culture of the 18th-19th century. In his words, "In a mass media world it's hard to be special, but in the land of niche's it's easy, what is blogging if not the celebration of the self?". I agree with him on tribilization of the media. Avarage readers/viewers/surfers like us, seek out the things that are of interest to us. I think William Power succeded writing this piece as this matter centers on the media, politics, and culture.

    ReplyDelete
  9. TaspiaOctober 9, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    In the article William Power talks about a lot of things from different perspectives. He argues about how the big media has been replaced with niche media and how in this century it's more about tribalization. "The country has atomized into countless market segments defined not only by demography, but by increasingly nuanced and insistent product preferences" as Business week reported(468). Tracing how the era from last century is to the media of today,he examined how Popular pursuit of difference and self-expression took place of the political culture of the 18th-19th century. In his words, "In a mass media world it's hard to be special, but in the land of niche's it's easy, what is blogging if not the celebration of the self?". I agree with him on tribilization of the media. Avarage readers/viewers/surfers like us, seek out the things that are of interest to us. I think William Power succeded writing this piece as this matter centers on the media, politics, and culture.

    ReplyDelete

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