GM Media - A Critical Thinking Exercise

Duration of activity: 50 minutes (up to 1.5 hours with involved discussion)
Curriculum for Excellence objectives : Topical science: SCN 3-20b Through research and discussion, I have contributed to evaluations of media items with regard to scientific content and ethical implications. Also SCN 2-20b, SCN 4-20a, SCN 4-20b

Aims

  • To understand that articles about science are not necessarily objective or scientific, and that articles may try to persuade you.
  • To appreciate that some sources are more reliable than others, and to remember to think about who is writing the article and what their interests might be.
  • To discover that you may have to work to find ‘truth’ or ‘fact’ in science articles.
  • To promote discussion of the pupils' ideas, views and interpretation.
GM man dressed aas a GM aubergine
Word files

How to analyse a media article

Article 1 Monsanto

Article 2
Nature Journal

Article 4 Greenpeace

PDF files

Article 1 Monsanto

Article 2
Nature Journal

Article 4 Greenpeace

Method
Pupils complete the task ideally in pairs, or small groups. Introduce the concept of genetic modification to your class.
The teacher’s notes ‘Introducing genetic modification’ provide a quick introduction for you. You also could use our explaining GM powerpoint.

Each pair or pupil gets:

  • One copy of each of the media articles.
  • Four copies of the A5 sheet ‘How to analyse a media article’.

Pupils read each article through once. Then they read through the article a second time, this time filling in the analysis sheet, making marks and notes on the article itself.

When all the articles have been analysed bring the class together for a discussion of their findings.

The following questions may help to start discussion:

  • Which article did you find the most persuasive? Why?
  • Did you find any of the articles alarming or scary?
  • Which article contained the most science?
  • Which article gives you the most helpful information?
  • Are articles about science always written in a scientific way?