Week 9 Magazine Cover

Magazine Cover

The media persuasion techniques that I used on my cover included mainly grammatical techniques. Since the cover was based on the common core and acquiring information about the core I chose to add minor sentences that discussed the information "within" the magazine while creating an air of mystery and illusion. I also included exclamation statements on my magazine cover as they are exaggerated statements that use exclamation points for emphasis. I chose the statements for my cover based on personal concern about the Common Core and how it will affect me professionally and my children and students academically.

I chose to make my magazine cover a "Special Edition" to emphasize the importance of parents and teachers understanding what the Common Core is all about. The font for the month and price is smaller indicating that those two things are of little importance. The bold black font on each of the article "titles" indicate that these are important items to be read. I also included a scan barcode and a QAR code since all magazines have these.

Weekly Reading 7: The Common Core

What do you like about the common core?
As an educator, I find very little to actually "like" about the common core. If I had to choose something I suppose I could find some benefit in the common core stance of including non fiction text in English Language Arts standards.

What concerns do I have?
Concerns that I have as an educator  are many. Among them include the Smarter Balanced Assessment in which all students are tested in the same way regardless of their individual learning styles or whether they have a computer in their homes. I am also concerned about that students (or any student for that matter) success is relative to my own success as a teacher. Poor testers be damned! Regardless, how well or how poor they did on the TEST is on me. Treating students as "machines" doesn't sit well with me. They aren't little robots that perform on demand. They are kids..people..that have lives and wants and needs. My concerns are many and my frustration is unlimited regarding this new initiative that is supposed to shape my career and my passion. A passion that on some days, when the bureaucratic bullshit becomes so HUGE, that I often wonder was this the right choice for me?

Ironically enough, just today I shared the post linked below on my personal Facebook page regarding the Common Core.
Why I Want To Give Up Teaching Over the Common Core

Week 8: Magazine Cover Analysis

Authors and Audience:

• Who produced this document, and for what purpose?
• theblaze.com produced this document. The purpose for the document cover is to warn parents of the potential negative effects that the common core will have on our children, and as a result on our futures. 


• When was this produced, and what was it's historical context?
• This particular document was produced in May 2014. Historical content is related to the common core. 


• Who is the target audience?
• The target audience is parents and teachers. 

Messages and Meanings

• What are the messages communicated?
• The message being conveyed is that common core is a threat to our kids and to our personal futures. 


• What techniques are used to attract and hold attention?
• Techniques used to attract and hold attention are the speech bubbles and the bright white and gold chalk print. 


• How might people interpret this message differently?
Some may interpret this message differently by assuming that the article is not public school but college related. (Especially those that have no knowledge of the Common Core initiative)

• Who might benefit from (and who might be harmed by) this message?
Parents and teachers might benefit from the message. Government may be harmed. 

Representation and Reality

• What information or perspective is left out of this message?
Any positive related to student learning and the common core. 

• Is this an accurate and credible representation?
I think this is an accurate and credible representation of the negativity related to common core. 

• How does this reflect the perspective or bias of its creator?
The creator is obviously against common core and feels that it will negatively impact students. 

Text and Subtext

Describe the text and subtext presented in this magazine cover. You can find a example of what this means on p.5 in this Intro to Media Literacy Project.

The text in this magazine profile is the large gold word COLLECTIVE
Subtext is: Common Cores Threat to Our Kids, our Freedom and our Future.

The text and subtext indicate that the Common Core initiative is going to ruin our kids and our futures.

Language of Persuasion

Starting on P.6 of the Intro to Media literacy document there are 40 persuasive techniques listed and described. Which ones are used in this magazine cover?
Explicit Claims; Fear; Intensity; 

Lazy Day

I hereby declare this day a lazy Saturday here at home. My house is a wreck, laundry is backed up, and my homework is piling up. So staying home today to get caught up. Or at least attempt to. Skipping the soccer games and hanging on the couch sounds like a plan.