English Insight
by Don Sorsa

Videos | one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven | twelve | home
Video materials | one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten | eleven | twelve
 
The video boxes can be made larger and moved around.
  1. TV Nation tells the story of an African-American who has trouble with the local police department. Themes: crime, discrimination, attitudes of police and others toward "minorities."
  2. Chicago Tonight tells the story of a professional athlete who was suspended for using steroids, a drug that is legal but banned by American professional football leagues. Themes: athletes using legal and illegal drugs, organizations that penalize the use of legal substances.
  3. TV Nation tells a story identified as corporate crime - a bank that received millions of dollars in tax breaks and then fired several dozen workers. Themes: crimes and punishment, crime prevention.
  4. Chicago Tonight tells the story of Southern Baptists planning to seek converts in Chicago, and the reaction of Chicago religious leaders to this campaign. Themes: religious freedom, proselytizing and avoiding having missionaries.
  5. Chicago Tonight tells the story of a Cuban boy whose mother dies trying to leave Cuba and reach the USA. Themes: parental rights, attitudes toward Cuba, using children for political purposes.
  6. TV Nation does a satirical piece on slavery because the state of Mississippi did not abolish slavery until 1995. Themes: local and national laws, attitudes towards slavery and discrimination.
  7. TV Nation attempts to challenge the right of a Connecticut community to own and control a local beach. Themes: private versus public property, tactics for challenging laws.
  8. A local news station has a Special Report on a bride and groom whose wedding reception occurred during a power outage. Themes: wedding customs and traditions, corporate and legal responsibility, when are events newsworthy and why.
  9. TV Nation explores a decision by local government to increase revenues, tourism and jobs by building public aquariums. Themes: local government responsibilities, economic issues.
  10. Politically Incorrect explores what the government of New York City is doing to homeless people. Themes: homelessness, attitudes toward and policies about homeless people.
  11. Politically Incorrect discusses the causes of divorces in the United States. Themes: marriage, divorce, local wedding customs and traditions, expectations about marriage.
  12. TV Nation exposes a company that produces baby walkers, a product considered unsafe by many pediatricians.

 

 

(c) 2002 Don Sorsa
dsorsa@depaul.edu