Examine the role that popular culture has played in their behavior. Explore the issues surrounding regulation of screen violence through reading and discussing the article. Through consensus, define violence. Apply their definition of violence to a pre-taped television program and articulate their positions about the program. Construct and defend an argument about the appropriateness of the television programming for children.
Students then share their answers.
Divide students into groups of five. Each group represents the F.T.C commissioners, who will have to decide upon the appropriateness of programming, should the proposed regulatory legislation pass. Reconvene the class and share definitions. As a class watch a pre-taped daytime or early evening television program, including commercials. Divide students again into their F.T.C groups.