Virginia SOL 5.C.4.C
The Standard
Compare and contrast techniques used in a variety of media messages (e.g., animation, famous images and words, music and sound, photo-editing).
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Examining Media Messages
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students examine print, audio, video, and digital messages to identify specific techniques. They compare how those choices shape meaning, mood, attention, and audience response.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students accurately identify techniques such as music, animation, image editing, and memorable words. They explain a clear similarity and difference, then connect each choice to its effect on the audience.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may describe what they see or hear without naming the technique. They may also assume different techniques create the same effect or judge only which message they like best.
How to Assess It
- Show a poster and a 30-second video about the same topic. Ask students to name one technique in each and explain how each affects the message.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed ads, highlighters, and sticky notes to mark edited images, slogans, color choices, and other attention-grabbing techniques.
Ask students to compare two messages about the same product and write which technique is more convincing and why.
Play Media Match by having teams match technique cards, such as sound effects or photo editing, to their likely audience effects.
Compare a school event poster with its video announcement, then list which techniques would best persuade families to attend.
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Printable 5.C.4.C Worksheet
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