Unit 10
Public Opinion, Media and Civic Participation
Notes
Forming opinions
- Political socialization comes from family, school, peers, religion and media. Generational and life-cycle effects shape views.
- Core values of American political culture: individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, limited government.
Polls
- Good polls use random samples and neutral questions. The margin of error gives the likely range of the true value. Watch for biased samples, loaded wording and push polls.
Ideology
- Liberal, conservative, libertarian and moderate views differ on the role of government in the economy and in personal choices.
Media
- Roles: gatekeeper, scorekeeper, watchdog. Effects: agenda setting, framing, horse-race coverage, echo chambers.
- Media literacy: tell news from opinion, check sources, read laterally, use primary sources, recognize misinformation and disinformation.
Participation
- Conventional (voting, contacting officials, public comment) and unconventional (protest, boycotts, civil disobedience). Internal and external efficacy.
Topics in this unit
Each topic has its own short notes and practice.
Practice
$55 \pm 3$ gives a range of 52% to 58%.
Families shape early values and party identity.
Gatekeepers decide which stories reach the public.
Framing is how information is presented to shape understanding.
Sit-ins and other protests are unconventional forms of participation.
Primary sources and independent reports confirm or disprove claims.
Free response
Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.
Free-response question
A city council will vote next month on whether to build a new public library. Two groups have released different polls about the plan.
(a) Poll 1 surveyed 1,000 randomly selected city residents. Poll 2 surveyed 300 people at a book fair. Explain which poll is more reliable and why.
Show the answer and scoring guide
Poll 1 is more reliable because it used a random sample, giving every resident an equal chance of being chosen, and a larger sample size. Poll 2's sample is biased, because people at a book fair are likely to support a library more than the general public.
Check off the points you earned:
(b) Explain how local media coverage could affect public opinion on the library through agenda setting or framing.
Show the answer and scoring guide
If local news covers the library vote often, more residents may see it as an important issue (agenda setting). If stories focus on the cost to taxpayers instead of the benefits to students, they may frame the issue in a way that lowers support (framing).
Check off the points you earned:
(c) Describe TWO ways a high school student could participate in this decision.
Show the answer and scoring guide
The student could speak during public comment at the city council meeting to share her view. She could also write to her council member or gather signatures on a petition from residents.
Check off the points you earned: