Teaching Tools for the Classroom

How the Media Influences Our Sexual Health

Prepared By: Mary Shannon & Doug McCall
Sponsored By: www.sexualityandu.ca

Number of People for this WQ

• This webquest can be done by an individual student, or with two or three students working together. All students should visit all assigned web sites and complete all of the activities individually in this webquest.

Outcomes for this WQ

• Know the difference between sex, sexuality and sexual health
• Learn how the media uses sex to influence us
• Express your beliefs about media responsibility
• learn how to present your beliefs in an editorial or how to write a newspaper story

Materials for this WQ:

• No specific materials are required for this webquest

Documents for This WQ

• No specific documents have been prepared for this webquest.

Student Tools for this WQ

• Personal Health Journal
• How to Write a News Story
• How to Write an Editorial

Evaluation Criteria/Procedure

• Notes on assigned articles using Section 3.1 of Personal Health Journal
• Evaluation Criteria for Summary Reports
• Evaluation Criteria for News Stories
• Evaluation Criteria for Editorials

Introduction

There is no doubt about it. In our society, sex is a big deal. But why is this so? In part, this is because the media makes it a big deal. This webquest will encourage students to understand how the media influences our thinking, views and behaviours about sexuality.

Task

In this quest, students will first get the basic facts about sex, sexuality and sexual health. Next, they will investigate how the media sensationalizes sex and uses sex. Lastly, the students can choose to write a news story or an editorial and submit that editorial to a local newspaper on the influence of the media on our sexual health.

Process and Steps

(Don't forget to take notes on your activities in this WebQuest. Use Section 3.2 of your Personal Health Journal.)

1. First, get the basic facts about sex, sexuality and sexual health.
   • Start at www.sexualityandu.ca, where the section "What is Sex?" introduces the topic. Also read the brief definition of "sexual health".

   Use Section 3.1 of your Personal Health Journal to take notes on each of these readings. Your teacher may ask you to submit those notes as part of this webquest.

2. Now, lets look at the role of the media and how newspapers, television, radio, magazines and the Internet contribute to a greater or lesser understanding about sexuality.
   • Start with this short review of the role of media in the sexual development of young people. Identify five ways that the media may influence people about sexual health and sexual health issues. Describe whether those influences are positive or negative. Also describe whether those influences are honest and explicit or hidden.
   • Think that media is neutral? Read about the policies of television stations in the United States in regards to accepting ads for condoms, in this history of condom advertising in the media.

   Prepare a Summary Report on how the media influences our thinking, views and behaviours about sex and sexuality. Review the evaluation criteria for writing summary reports ands ask your teacher which of those criteria will apply to this webquest.

3. For the third major activity in this webquest, you will prepare either a newspaper story or a newspaper editorial on how the media influences us about sex and sexuality.

   Write a 750 word newspaper report on how the media influences our thinking and behaviours about sex. (Detailed instructions are needed here)

   OR

   Write a 500 word Editorial on how the media should behave in reporting, advertising, investigating and portraying sex, sexuality, sexual orientation and sexual health.

   Use the student tools for these two activities from the links on the left hand margin.

How Your Work will be Evaluated

Your Summary Report on the role of the media in influencing our thinking, views and behaviours about sexuality will be evaluated using some of the criteria for writing Summary Reports. Ask your teacher which one will apply to this webquest.

Your work will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria for writing news stories and for writing editorials. Your teacher may also want to review and evaluate your notes taken during the readings.

Conclusions and Extensions

As an extension of this webquest, you can submit your editorial to the local newspaper and ask them to publish it. (This extra work may qualify for credits towards community service learning in your course. Ask your teacher).

Or, you could submit your newspaper article to www.sexualityandu.ca for possible inclusion in the youth newsletter.

Want to talk with someone about these issues? Why not call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or visit their website. Also read these tips on how to use Hotline Information.