reading assignment

/in /by

Directions:  Watch the TED talk given by Eli Pariser, titled Beware Online ‘Filter Bubbles’.  The talk fits in well with the quote above and with Ch. 8 of our textbooks.  Media shapes the way we view information, especially in this digital age.  Pariser discusses what he believes is happening with digital information.  Read through the questions below before watching the video, to know what to focus on as you are watching.  You may want to to take notes as you go, pausing when needed to write down important information that will help you answer the questions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s

Answer the questions below. You can copy and paste the questions into the text box or a word document for uploading.

  1. The topic of this video is about digital media.  What is the issue? (phrase this in yes/no question form)
  2. What is the conclusion that Pariser has come to in regards to this issue?
  3. State at least four reasons that Pariser gives from the video.  Two of those reasons need to be exact quotes from the video.
  4. Thinking back to Ch. 2-3 in your textbook, what do you believe is a reality assumption of Pariser’s that led him to want to give this talk?  Explain the reality assumption with an example from the video.
  5. Strong arguments are usually backed by research (Ch. 4-5).  Give at least one example of research that Pariser used in his argument that helped support his point.  Do you believe this research helps the argument?  In what way?  Does your experience coincide with the research given?
  6. What is a fallacy (Ch. 6) used in his argument?  Give the type of fallacy and the example from the video that illustrates the fallacy.  Is this fallacy the only reason given in the argument?  Does it hurt the argument?  Why or why not?
  7. After reading Ch. 7 & 8 and listening to Pariser, what do you think is important for us to consider as a society where media is concerned?
  8. Did Pariser have a compelling argument?  Why or why not?  Give your reasons to support by making connections with what has happened in your own life?
  9. What do you think about the topic of the media?  What are at least three other issues that you can think of that could be the basis of a research paper in another class?

***************** I gave you all the power points for the chapter because you need to use them. ************