Fear Clippings Assignment

Find and cut out a recent newspaper or magazine article that promotes Glassner’s described "culture of fear." Bring your article to class to turn in; be sure to write the source and date on the back of the clipping. Type answers to the following questions about your article to turn in as well:

1. How does this article encourages us to fear "the wrong things"? What disproportionate, irrational fears does it stir up?

2. Think about the strategies the article uses to do this. How does is seek our trust?

3. What larger social issues or insecurities you think this article might be masking. What deeper, “real” fears does it tap?

4. How could this article have countered, rather than perpetuated, “the culture of fear”?

Then, working together in class in groups of three or four, select one of your articles that best represents Glassner’s points. Present the article to the class, briefly explaining your four points in a 2-3 minute presentation.

           Optional but recommended for your portfolios:

Write a letter to the editor expressing your opinion about the story or about “the culture of fear” in general in light of our Culture of Fear readings. Email your letter to the editor of your article's publication. 150 words max.

You might also consider writing a longer, more general "opinion piece" essay and submit it to your selected publication's editor and/or to other publications (e.g., The Bent Tree, letters@ajc.com, letters@nytimes.com, etc.). If published, this would be a solid addition to build up your career portfolio.

Some tips about how to write letters to the editor (adapted from The New York Times):

• Write quickly, concisely and engagingly. Your maximum length for letters is 150 words, so strive for brevity and conciseness in your writing.

• We welcome opinions from all sides: the majority, the dissenters, the contrarians. Be clear about your position.

• Letter writers are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. There is, of course, a broad gray area in which hard fact and heartfelt opinion commingle. But we do try to verify the facts, either checking them ourselves or asking writers for sources of information.