TOPIC: Understanding small groups and mass communication in a BBC movie ‘Scoop 2024’.
Purpose of the assignment:
The purpose of the assignment is to deepen students' comprehension of small group dynamics and mass communication through a detailed analysis of the BBC movie "Scoop 2024." By examining the characteristics of the investigative team within the movie, evaluating their actions, defining mass communication, and exploring the application of the Agenda-setting theory, students will gain valuable insights into how these concepts manifest in real-world media contexts. This assignment encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical examples, enhancing their analytical skills and understanding of interpersonal communication in media and journalism settings
What do you have to do?
The BBC has recently released a movie titled "Scoop”. The movie exhibits details of small groups in a workspace as well as mass media. This assignment examines your understanding of the content on the topics of small groups and mass media.Watch the clips related to the assignment below: (the clips is also uploaded as a video in the folder)
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Play Media
After watching the clips, read the background information about the movie:
Formation of the Investigative Team: The core investigative team in the movie "Scoop (2024)" is led by an ambitious young journalist, played by Emma Watson. She is joined by a seasoned editor, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, who provides guidance and support as she delves into the story. Additionally, there are a few key allies within the newsroom who offer assistance and expertise, including a tech-savvy researcher and a tenacious photographer.
Relationships within the Team: Initially, there's a degree of skepticism and apprehension within the team as they embark on their investigation. However, as they uncover more evidence and piece together the puzzle, their bonds strengthen, and they form a cohesive unit driven by a shared desire for truth and justice. Despite occasional disagreements and setbacks, they support each other through the twists and turns of the investigation, developing a deep sense of mutual understanding along the way.
The Story They Were Investigating: The central story of "Scoop (2024)" revolves around a scandal involving Prince Andrew, a member of the British royal family. The investigative team uncovers evidence suggesting that Prince Andrew has been involved in a controversial relationship with a high-profile individual, leading to widespread speculation and public outcry. As they dig deeper, they unearth a network of secrets and lies, implicating powerful figures and exposing the lengths to which some will go to protect their reputations and privileges. The team faces numerous obstacles and dangers as they pursue the truth, including threats of legal action, intimidation tactics, and attempts to sabotage their investigation. Ultimately, their relentless pursuit of justice brings the scandal to light, sparking a national conversation about accountability, transparency, and the role of the media in holding the powerful accountable on social media and beyond.
You have to write an essay. Before you start do the following "research":
Identification of Small Group Characteristics - Watch the "Scoop 2024" movie and identify the characteristics of small groups within the investigative team.
Explanation with Examples - In your essay, explain each identified characteristic of small groups using examples or scenes from the movie that illustrate these traits.
Pros and Cons Evaluation - Evaluate one advantage and one disadvantage of the investigative team's actions in the movie. Provide reasons why the team should be praised for certain aspects (Pros) and reprimanded for others (Cons) in their investigative task.
Definition of Mass Communication - Define mass communication in the context of media and journalism.
Demonstration of Mass Communication in "Scoop 2024" - Determine if the movie demonstrates mass communication and support your answer with an example or scene from the movie.
Agenda-setting Theory Discussion - Explain what agenda-setting theory is and how it applies to mass communication. Discuss how agenda-setting is applied in "Scoop 2024" and analyze its effects on public dialogue and perception. Use examples from the movie to support your arguments.
Submission guidelines:
You should write an essay. Your essay should adhere to a standard essay format, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Ensure clear organization and coherent flow of ideas throughout the essay.
Introduction
State the topic of your writing or essay.
Provide a roadmap for your discussion
Body paragraphs:
Uncover the characteristic of small groups from the investigative team in the movie.
Provide an example from the movie that support each stated characteristic of the investigative team (small group) in the movie.
Suggest one Pros and Cons for the investigative team (small group) in the movie and explain why the investigative team should be praised for doing something (Pros) and reprimanded for doing something (Cons) in their investigation task.
Define mass communication
State if the “Scoop movie” is a demonstration of mass communication or not and support your answer with an example from the movie
Discuss the Agenda-setting theory by addressing the following:
Explain what agenda-setting is according to the theory.
How is agenda-setting applied in the movie?
What were the effects of the BBC’s application of agenda-setting in the movie? (Speak about public dialogue and public perception, use examples from the movie to support your ideas. [4 Marks].
Conclusion
Summarize your discussion.
Ensure your essay does not exceed 850 words. Be concise and focus on conveying your ideas effectively within the word limit.
Only cite your textbook as the source of information and guidelines used in your essay.
Use appropriate citation format as per academic standards.
What would a succesful homework look like?
Understand the Rubric: Familiarize yourself with the grading criteria outlined in the assignment to ensure your submission aligns with the specified requirements.
Avoid Plagiarism: Use your own words to describe the characteristics of small groups, mass communication, and agenda-setting theory in the context of the movie. Properly cite any information or examples from "Scoop 2024" to avoid plagiarism issues.
Independent Work: Complete the assignment without relying heavily on external sources or AI tools. Ensure originality and authenticity in your analysis.
Grasp the Material: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of small group dynamics, mass communication concepts, and agenda-setting theory, as they apply to the investigative team in "Scoop 2024."
Apply Learning: Showcase how the theories and concepts learned in the course can be practically applied to real-world media and journalism scenarios, specifically focusing on the actions and communication strategies of the investigative team in the movie.
Critical Thinking: Engage in thoughtful analysis and interpretation of the small group dynamics, mass communication elements, and agenda-setting instances depicted in the movie. Evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and their impact within the narrative.
Organized Presentation: Structure your essay with a clear introduction, detailed body paragraphs covering each aspect of the assignment (characteristics, pros and cons, mass communication analysis, agenda-setting discussion), and a concise conclusion summarizing your key findings.
Clarity in Expression: Express your ideas coherently and succinctly, avoiding unnecessary repetition or ambiguity in your writing.
Proper Citations: Use appropriate referencing, such as Harvard style, to cite examples and scenes from "Scoop 2024" and your textbook.
A successful homework assignment would include the following key components:
1. The essay should begin with a clear introduction that states the topic of the assignment and provides a roadmap for the discussion. This sets the tone for the rest of the essay.
2. In the body paragraphs, the student should identify and explain the characteristics of small groups within the investigative team in the movie "Scoop 2024". Each characteristic should be supported by examples or scenes from the movie that illustrate these traits, showing a deep understanding of the dynamics at play within the group.
3. The student should evaluate one advantage and one disadvantage of the investigative team's actions in the movie, providing reasons for why they should be praised for certain aspects (pros) and reprimanded for others (cons). This demonstrates critical thinking and analysis of the team's effectiveness in their investigative task.
4. The student should define mass communication and determine if the movie "Scoop 2024" demonstrates mass communication. This should be supported with an example or scene from the movie, showcasing an understanding of how mass communication functions within the context of media and journalism.
5. The student should discuss the agenda-setting theory, explaining what it is and how it applies to mass communication. They should then analyze how agenda-setting is applied in the movie "Scoop 2024" and its effects on public dialogue and perception, using examples from the movie to support their arguments. This demonstrates a strong grasp of theoretical concepts and their practical application in real-world scenarios.
6. The essay should conclude by summarizing the key points discussed and providing a concise overview of the findings.
7. The student should ensure that their essay does not exceed the word limit of 850 words, displaying the ability to be concise and focused in their writing.
8. Proper citation format should be used throughout the essay, referencing the textbook as the source of information and guidelines. This demonstrates academic integrity and professionalism in the presentation of ideas.
Overall, a successful homework assignment on this topic would showcase a clear understanding of small group dynamics, mass communication concepts, and agenda-setting theory, as well as the ability to apply these theories to a real-world media scenario in a thoughtful and critical manner. The essay should be well-organized, articulate, and insightful, demonstrating the student's ability to analyze and interpret complex communication concepts effectively.