Preparing to Analyze a News Story
1. Take a blank sheet of paper and draw the structure of Table 9.2 on it. That is, create two columns: label one column “Skills” and the other column “Knowledge.” Now create four rows, labeling them “Cognitive,” “Emotional,” “Aesthetic,” and “Moral.” Your table should have eight blocks.
2. Think about an important issue that is triggering current events. For now, don’t worry about seeking out any news stories on this issue or the events currently taking place. Instead, think about the issue itself and what kinds of skills and knowledge you would need to get the most out of news coverage.
3. Write down the skills and knowledge you would need to achieve a basic minimal understanding of a story on this topic. Think in terms of your everyday viewing of news, where you just want to monitor the surface facts to keep up with the day’s major events.
4. Think about the skills and knowledge you would need to achieve a much more complete understanding about the meaning of the event in the news story. Think in terms of what it would take for you to be an expert on the event.
5. Look at what you have written in response to Question 4. Does it differ much from what you have written in response to
Question 3? How much detail do you have in each of the eight blocks? With which blocks did you struggle the most? Why do you think you struggled there?
6. Compare the results of your tables with those of a friend. Did your friend have more details in certain blocks compared to yours?
If so, did that additional detail extend your thinking? The more people’s work you compare, the more you can see a range of differences.