Summary
This comprehensive lesson plan explores the tactics of disinformation campaigns, from emotional manipulation to the use of bots and trolls. Students will analyze a video, learn key vocabulary, practice cautious grammar, and engage in practical, collaborative tasks to build their media literacy and confidently discuss sensitive topics in English.
Activities
Discuss suspicious social media posts to activate prior knowledge and introduce the concept of disinformation and the importance of verifying sources before believing or sharing them.
Watch an engaging video on the "disinformation playbook" to learn about tactics like "active inoculation" and how media can inadvertently amplify false narratives, followed by comprehension questions.
Practice using hedging and distancing language, such as modal verbs and reporting phrases (e.g., 'allegedly,' 'it appears that'), to report on unverified information cautiously and accurately.
Analyze a realistic case study of a local disinformation campaign and participate in a collaborative role-play to practice applying their new skills in a simulated community workshop setting.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces essential media literacy terms, including the difference between disinformation and misinformation. Students will learn to identify trolls, bots, echo chambers, clickbait, astroturfing, gaslighting, and dog whistling.
Grammar focus
The lesson focuses on hedging and distancing language. Students practice using modal verbs (might be, could be), reporting verbs (reportedly, allegedly), and phrases (according to, it appears that) to discuss unverified claims without presenting them as facts.
