Media and Bias

EQ: 

1. How balanced is your information diet?
   
2. How do different cognitive biases and other trends impact the information we take in?

 
Starter 20: Bill Bishop interview on Daily Show (5 min)

1. Watch the video of author Bill Bishop talking about the Big Sort (note…the data in this interview is old, but more recent research has actually shown that not only is what he talks about still happening, it’s actually gotten more pronounced!)
   
2. What’s the Big Sort?
   
3. How do you see the big sort in Durango?  In your own life?

 
Big Sort Brainstorm

1. In your group, brainstorm all the ways we are sorted- make the list as big as possible
   
2. How does being sorted that way impact the information you take in?

 
Power of Political Information (on docs page)

1. Read it, annotate.  Make sure to highlight/underline phrases/words that particularly strike you.
   
2. Spirit read!

In your groups, talk about…

1. How does this connect to the Big Sort?
   
2. Do you see this in your own life?  In people around you?
   
3. What does this suggest about political decision making?
   
4. How does this connect to the debate that we watched?

 
Checks and Balances Scenarios
Who does it?  Who checks it, and how?

1. A law is written
   
2. Secretary of Defense dies in a chinchilla attack, and needs to be replaced.
   
3. A bill was recently passed to allow citizens to choose their own health care plan under Medicare.
   
4. The United States has signed a peace treaty with Iran.
   
5. A free trade agreement is signed between the US and New Zealand.
   
6. A law recently passed in a state legislature banning gay marriages is being challenged as unconstitutional.
   
7. A bill is passed outlawing American citizens from making contributions to charitable organizations from the Middle East is vetoed.
   
8. A replacement for the Attorney General has been given to Congress.
   
9. A recent law closing a tax reduction for US companies establishing offshore operations is ruled constitutional.
   
10. A recent bill to increase funding for education was passed over the president’s rejection of the bill.

 
Independent Study Time
Use this time to get ready for the test tomorrow!  

HOMEWORK:
Study for the test tomorrow!