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Lesson Plan: Starting with Barbara Frum
Lesson Plan
Introduction
Barbara Frum said she looked for what was "fresh" in her subjects; finding this allowed her to reveal the truth about many fascinating subjects. The breadth of subject matter that Frum investigated can be used as a beginning for further study on a variety of subjects. Use this activity to suit the content that you have been studying in class.
The Task
Direct students to the Barbara Frum
topic on the CBC Digital Archives website. Ask students to browse
the clips and to choose one that focuses on a topic that interests them. Topics
might include:
- values of children's television programming
- relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada
- eco-terrorism
- limits of television
- journalism and ethics
- steroids and sports
- sexism, feminism
- evolution of radio
- Nelson Mandela
- Margaret Thatcher
- Canadian broadcasters
- literary vs. popular fiction
Once students have chosen a topic, they will conduct a Web search to gather further information. Using online and other sources, students will write a formal essay on a relevant aspect of their chosen topic.
The Process
Students should make accurate notes as they research. After reviewing their research, students will focus their topic and write a thesis statement. To organize their work, they can complete an outline such as the one available on the download sheet Starting with Barbara Frum.
Students will write or type a draft of their essay, then edit and peer-edit their work, checking particularly that they have fulfilled their purpose and appealed to their audience. Students will then complete and submit their final version.
Conclusion
Ask students to prepare a brief oral presentation for the class explaining their choice of topic, stating their thesis, and explaining how Barbara Frum's treatment of the topic interested them in that topic.
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