Discourse: Introduction to Representation

To help gain context for our discourse on Chew on This, please research the following items in the next 20 minutes of our 7th period class:

1. Find out how obesity affects American culture
2. What films, books, or news items occurred around 2000-2005 (just before this book was published) that dealt with obesity and/or the fast food industry? For example,

• Obesity suit (NY TIMES, 2002)

• Obesity Crisis in America (Surgeon General report, 2003)

Find at least 3 other internet/media sources (that includes newspapers, films, books, etc.) that dealt with issues found in Chew on This BEFORE this book was published (i.e., 2006)

We will use your research in our discourse today.

Also, consider this question: why did this book become a national bestseller?

In the classroom (238):

Discourse: a discussion using all forms of human communication & mass media.

Major question: how does communication shape the world we live in?

• How do we use communication?
• What is the message being sent?
• What form does the communication take?
• Who benefits from the delivery of the message?

We reinforce or challenge communication by making statements based on our beliefs, experiences, observations, and organize our thoughts in categories, concepts, theories and relations. These reinforcements or challenges often set up and reflect a status quo--a common ground from which to base our beliefs, experiences, observations, etc.

What we believe, our experiences, and observations are largely cultural. They help shape our values, politics, or the values of a society in a particular time and place, as well as create and influence the conventions, norms, and habits of the people we generally involve or converse with (family members, neighbors, friends, but also the media--since we are always connected to some media source!)

Questions:

• how influential do you feel your family, friends, or environment has been on who you are and what you believe?
• how influential do you feel the media has been on who you are and what you believe?

Let's get a little real here:

• Why are some kids in school unpopular? How does this "outsider" position shape or change that person into being an "outsider"?
• How are white people and black people depicted as different? What exactly is "whiteness" or "blackness"? How does this answer affect our society, culture, experiences, etc.?
• How are boys and girls depicted as different? Same question as above.
• How are adults and children depicted as different?
• How are liberal and conservatives depicted as different?
• How are rich/poor depicted as different?
• Identify the power structures involved in these categories. What does the power structure have to gain or lose?

Now, let's bring our attention to the book: Chew on This.

• How does this book use communication? Who is the ideal audience for this book? How do you know? Why was this audience chosen by the publisher?
• What is the message(s) being sent? What are important points or main ideas the book covers?
• What form does the communication take? Why?
• Who benefits?

Key Vocabulary:

Rhetoric: Rhetorical tools used in a text. See links for a list of commonly used rhetorical tools for writers!

Context: 1. Communication that precedes or follows a specific word, text, passage, speech, etc. that influences its meaning or effect. 2. a set of circumstances or facts that surrounds a particular event, situation, etc.

Deductive v. Inductive Reasoning: Elementary, my dear Watson!

HOMEWORK: Nellie Bly's 10 Days in a Madhouse. Please read and take observation notes/annotate the text (for example, you can use Cornell Notes to help organize your thoughts/observations/ analysis). Aim to finish your reading by Thursday, Oct. 13!