The Reading / Listening - Memes - Level 6

Memes are becoming a growing part of our everyday life and popular culture, especially online. Many of us know memes as the pictures and photographs that go viral on social media sites. People use them to make jokes or social and political observations. However, biologist and author Richard Dawkins, the originator of the word 'meme', is unhappy with how the Internet has defined a meme as a "picture with words". Mr Dawkins coined the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene'. He said memes are ideas that spread from brain to brain and are replicated many times, much like genes. He told the BBC: "I'm not going to use the term Internet meme to refer to a picture with writing on it."

Memes have infused our culture to the extent that universities now offer degree courses on them. America's Northwestern University unveiled its Meme Studies course back in 2011. Britain's Sky News says memes have helped to make politics more accessible to young people. One Twitter user told a Sky journalist that: "Memes helped people understand more complex ideas, and that having politics framed in a different way makes it more digestible." This was obvious with how memes became a key part of how people expressed their views during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The vice.com website said: "Memes now have as much power, influence and reach as the propaganda posters of yesteryear."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Memes - Level 4  or  Memes - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39967075/did-you-know-the-word-meme-is-41-years-old
  • http://news.sky.com/story/how-memes-make-dull-and-dry-politics-accessible-10888209
  • https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/meme-historians-are-an-inevitability


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MEMES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about memes. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       growing / popular culture / online / make jokes / biologist / term / genes / writing /
       degree courses / Meme Studies / politics / complex ideas / views / election / posters

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ART FORM: Students A strongly believe memes should be recognized as an art form; Students B strongly believe it should never be an art form.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. INTERNET: How has the Internet changed these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How the Internet changed it

How things changed for you

Politics

 

 

Dating

 

 

Work

 

 

Friendship

 

 

Journalism

 

 

Studying

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. VIRAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "viral". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. IDEAS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best way to spread ideas at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • TV
  • books
  • schools
  • public speeches
  • memes
  • word of mouth
  • newspapers
  • propaganda posters

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says memes are now an important part of popular culture.     T / F
  2. The word 'meme' originated over 500 years ago.     T / F
  3. The book 'The Selfish Gene' was written in 1967.     T / F
  4. An author said memes spread pretty much like genes.     T / F
  5. Northwestern Uni. will start teaching Meme Studies for the first time.     T / F
  6. Sky News said memes make politics more difficult to understand.     T / F
  7. Memes were an important way to express views in the 2016 US election. T / F
  8. Memes are as important now as propaganda posters were in the past.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. especially
  2. observations
  3. originator
  4. coined
  5. replicated
  6. infused
  7. unveiled
  8. accessible
  9. obvious
  10. posters
  1. created
  2. filled
  3. copied
  4. notices
  5. particularly
  6. understandable
  7. clear
  8. remarks
  9. revealed
  10. inventor

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. a growing part of our
  2. popular
  3. go
  4. Dawkins coined
  5. ideas that spread from
  6. universities now offer degree
  7. memes have helped to make politics
  8. Memes helped people understand
  9. a key
  10. propaganda
  1. more accessible
  2. the term 'meme'
  3. part
  4. courses
  5. culture
  6. more complex ideas
  7. everyday life
  8. posters
  9. viral
  10. brain to brain

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
spread
jokes
replicated
growing
coined
refer
viral
originator

Memes are becoming a (1) ____________ part of our everyday life and popular culture, especially online. Many of us know memes as the pictures and photographs that go (2) ____________ on social media sites. People use them to make (3) ____________ or social and political observations. However, biologist and author Richard Dawkins, the (4) ____________ of the word 'meme', is unhappy with how the Internet has defined a meme as a "picture with words". Mr Dawkins (5) ____________ the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene'. He said memes are ideas that (6) ____________ from brain to brain and are (7) ____________ many times, much like genes. He told the BBC: "I'm not going to use the term Internet meme to (8) ____________ to a picture with writing on it."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
accessible
obvious
framed
influence
extent
views
complex
unveiled

Memes have infused our culture to the (9) ____________ that universities now offer degree courses on them. America's Northwestern University (10) ____________ its Meme Studies course back in 2011. Britain's Sky News says memes have helped to make politics more (11) ____________ to young people. One Twitter user told a Sky journalist that: "Memes helped people understand more (12) ____________ ideas, and that having politics (13) ____________ in a different way makes it more digestible." This was (14) ____________ with how memes became a key part of how people expressed their (15) ____________ during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The vice.com website said: "Memes now have as much power, (16) ____________ and reach as the propaganda posters of yesteryear."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Memes are becoming a growing part of our everyday life and ______
     a.  popularity cultures
     b.  popularize culture
     c.  popular culture
     d.  popular cultures

2)  Many of us know memes as the pictures and photographs that go viral on ______
     a.  social medium sites
     b.  social media site
     c.  social medium site
     d.  social media sites

3)  People use them to make jokes or social and ______
     a.  politic all observation
     b.  politically observations
     c.  political observation
     d.  political observations

4)  ideas that spread from brain to brain and are replicated many times, ______
     a.  much like genes
     b.  much liked jeans
     c.  much like Jean's
     d.  much likely genes

5)  I'm not going to use the term Internet meme to refer to a picture with ______
     a.  writing on it
     b.  written in it
     c.  write in on it
     d.  writing in it

6)  Memes have infused our culture to the extent that universities now offer degree ______
     a.  course is on them
     b.  causes on them
     c.  cause is on them
     d.  courses on them

7)  Britain's Sky News says memes have helped to make politics ______
     a.  more accessibly
     b.  more accessible
     c.  more accessibility
     d.  more access able

8)  Memes helped people understand more ______
     a.  complexion ideas
     b.  completes ideas
     c.  convex ideas
     d.  complex ideas

9)  This was obvious with how memes became a key part of how people ______
     a.  expressed there views
     b.  expressed their views
     c.  expressed them views
     d.  expressed they're views

10)  Memes now have as much power, influence and reach as the ______
     a.  propaganda posters
     b.  prop a gander posters
     c.  proper gander posters
     d.  prop agenda posters

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Memes are becoming a growing (1) ___________________ everyday life and popular culture, especially online. (2) ___________________ memes as the pictures and photographs that go viral on social media sites. People use them to make jokes (3) ___________________ political observations. However, biologist and author Richard Dawkins, the originator of the word 'meme', is unhappy with how the Internet (4) ___________________ meme as a "picture with words". Mr Dawkins coined the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene'. He said (5) ___________________ that spread from brain to brain and are replicated many times, much like genes. He told the BBC: "I'm not (6) ___________________ the term Internet meme to refer to a picture with writing on it."

Memes (7) ___________________ culture to the extent that universities now offer degree (8) ___________________. America's Northwestern University unveiled its Meme Studies course back in 2011. Britain's Sky News says memes have helped to (9) ___________________ accessible to young people. One Twitter user told a Sky journalist that: "Memes helped people understand more complex ideas, and that having (10) ___________________ different way makes it more digestible." This was obvious with how memes became a (11) ___________________ people expressed their views during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The vice.com website said: "Memes now have as much power, (12) ___________________ the propaganda posters of yesteryear."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where are memes especially becoming a growing part of our life?
  2. What did the article say pictures and photos did on social media?
  3. What kind of observations did the article say people made?
  4. What is the name of Richard Dawkins' book that was published in 1976?
  5. What did Richard Dawkins compare ideas to?
  6. Which university did the article say offered a course in Meme Studies?
  7. What have memes made more accessible to young people?
  8. What does framing politics in a new way make it?
  9. What did memes become a key part of in 2016?
  10. When were the propaganda posters mentioned in the article from?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Where are memes especially becoming a growing part of our life?
a) in our homes
b) online
c) in the USA
d) at work

2) What did the article say pictures and photos did on social media?
a) carried viruses
b) pleased people
c) very little
d) went viral

3) What kind of observations did the article say people made?
a) unhappy observations
b) jokey observations
c) political and social observations
d) classroom observations

4) What is the name of Richard Dawkins' book that was published in 1976?
a) The Selfish Gene
b) The Selfless Gene
c) The Surfing Genie
d) The Shellfish Genie

5) What did Richard Dawkins compare ideas to?
a) webs
b) genes
c) books
d) brains

6) Which university did the article say offered a course in Meme Studies?
a) Northwestern
b) Southeastern
c) Northeastern
d) Southwestern

7) What have memes made more accessible to young people?
a) old people
b) complexity
c) politics
d) the Internet

8) What does framing politics in a new way make it?
a) more digestible
b) more disagreeable
c) more digital
d) more delectable

9) What did memes become a key part of in 2016?
a) locks and padlocks
b) expressionism
c) the Internet
d) the U.S. presidential election

10) When were the propaganda posters mentioned in the article from?
a) centuries ago
b) decades ago
c) yesteryear
d) yesterday

Role play

Role  A – Memes

You think memes are the best way to spread ideas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): word of mouth, TV or newspapers.

Role  B – Word of Mouth

You think word of mouth is the best way to spread ideas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): memes, TV or newspapers.

Role  C – TV

You think TV is the best way to spread ideas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): word of mouth, memes or newspapers.

Role  D – Newspapers

You think newspapers are the best way to spread ideas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  word of mouth, TV or memes.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'meme'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'viral'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • extent
    • back
    • young
    • complex
    • 2016
    • posters
    • part
    • know
    • unhappy
    • book
    • spread
    • writing

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Author unhappy with use of the word 'meme'

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'meme'?
    3. What do you know about memes?
    4. What part do memes play in your culture?
    5. What is popular culture?
    6. How important is being online to you?
    7. What do you think of things going viral on the Internet?
    8. What social media sites do you like?
    9. Would you like to read the book, 'The Selfish Gene'?
    10. Will memes become a new art form?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'viral'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What would a degree course in Meme Studies be like?
    5. What would make politics easier to understand?
    6. How has the Internet changed politics?
    7. Is the Internet used in a good way during elections?
    8. Should memes have so much power and influence?
    9. What more would you like to know about memes?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Richard Dawkins?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Memes are becoming a growing (1) ____ of our everyday life and popular culture, especially online. Many of us know memes (2) ____ the pictures and photographs that go viral on social media sites. People use them to (3) ____ jokes or social and political observations. However, biologist and author Richard Dawkins, the originator of the word 'meme', is unhappy with (4) ____ the Internet has defined a meme as a "picture with words". Mr Dawkins coined the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene'. He said memes are ideas that (5) ____ from brain to brain and are replicated many times, much like genes. He told the BBC: "I'm not going to use the term Internet meme to (6) ____ to a picture with writing on it."

    Memes have (7) ____ our culture to the extent that universities now offer degree courses on them. America's Northwestern University (8) ____ its Meme Studies course back in 2011. Britain's Sky News says memes have helped to make politics more (9) ____ to young people. One Twitter user told a Sky journalist that: "Memes helped people understand more complex ideas, and that having politics (10) ____ in a different way makes it more digestible." This was obvious with how memes became a key part of how people expressed their views (11) ____ the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The vice.com website said: "Memes now have as much power, influence and reach (12) ____ the propaganda posters of yesteryear."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     part     (b)     parting     (c)     parted     (d)     partner    
    2. (a)     is     (b)     was     (c)     as     (d)     has    
    3. (a)     have     (b)     do     (c)     make     (d)     take    
    4. (a)     when     (b)     which     (c)     who     (d)     how    
    5. (a)     spared     (b)     speared     (c)     spread     (d)     sprayed    
    6. (a)     confer     (b)     refer     (c)     defer     (d)     prefer    
    7. (a)     fused     (b)     infused     (c)     refused     (d)     confused    
    8. (a)     reviled     (b)     unveiled     (c)     revived     (d)     veiled    
    9. (a)     access     (b)     accessory     (c)     accessible     (d)     accesses    
    10. (a)     flambéed     (b)     flamed     (c)     firmed     (d)     framed    
    11. (a)     amongst     (b)     among     (c)     while     (d)     during    
    12. (a)     was     (b)     is     (c)     has     (d)     as

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. seceapilyl online
    2. make jokes or social and political ebasvsnoiotr
    3. sgooilbit and author
    4. the oniragorit of the word
    5. edenfid a meme as a "picture with words"
    6. ldcpiertea many times

    Paragraph 2

    1. Memes have efudnis our culture
    2. neeiudvl its Meme Studies course
    3. make politics more sscbcieale
    4. makes it more setlbgdeii
    5. how people psdrsxeee their views
    6. panaparogd posters

    Put the text back together

    (    )     part of how people expressed their views during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The vice.com

    (    )     says memes have helped to make politics more accessible to young people. One Twitter user told a Sky

    (    )     website said: "Memes now have as much power, influence and reach as the propaganda posters of yesteryear."

    1  )     Memes are becoming a growing part of our everyday life and popular culture, especially

    (    )     ideas that spread from brain to brain and are replicated many times, much like

    (    )     genes. He told the BBC: "I'm not going to use the term Internet meme to refer to a picture with writing on it."

    (    )     in a different way makes it more digestible." This was obvious with how memes became a key

    (    )     author Richard Dawkins, the originator of the word 'meme', is unhappy with how the Internet has defined a meme

    (    )     journalist that: "Memes helped people understand more complex ideas, and that having politics framed

    (    )     as a "picture with words". Mr Dawkins coined the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene'. He said memes are

    (    )     Memes have infused our culture to the extent that universities now offer degree

    (    )     online. Many of us know memes as the pictures and photographs that go

    (    )     courses on them. America's Northwestern University unveiled its Meme Studies course back in 2011. Britain's Sky News

    (    )     viral on social media sites. People use them to make jokes or social and political observations. However, biologist and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. everyday   are   growing   our   Memes   a   of   life   becoming   part   .
    2. go   social  Pictures   that   on  sites   photographs  viral   media  and   .
    3. meme   Internet   Unhappy   has   with   defined   how   a   the   .
    4. from   brain   replicated   spread   to   are   that   brain   and   Ideas   .
    5. meme  Internet  term  the  Use  writing  with  picture  a  to  refer   to   .
    6. make   to   helped   have   Memes   accessible   more   politics   .
    7. helped   understand   complex   Memes   people   more   ideas   .
    8. Having   framed   a   way   politics   in   different   .
    9. how   A   people   key   expressed   part   their   of   views   .
    10. the   As   propaganda   much  posters   influence   of   as  yesteryear   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Memes are becoming a growing / growth part of our everyday life and popular culture, special / especially online. Many of us know memes as the pictures and photographs that go / come viral on social media sites. People use them to make joke / jokes or social and political observations. However, biology / biologist and author Richard Dawkins, the originator of the word 'meme', is unhappy with how the Internet has defined a meme was / as a "picture with words". Mr Dawkins coined / coins the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene'. He said memes are / be ideas that spread from brain to brain and are replicated much / many times, much like genes. He told the BBC: "I'm not going to use the term Internet meme to refer to a picture with written / writing on it."

    Memes have defused / infused our culture to the extent that universities now offer / offering degree courses on them. America's Northwestern University unveiled its Meme Studies course past / back in 2011. Britain's Sky News says memes have helped to make politics / politician more accessible to young people. One Twitter user / used told a Sky journalist that: "Memes helped people understand more complex idea / ideas, and that having politics framed in a different way makes it more digestible / digest." This was obvious with how memes became a key / lock part of how people expressed their views while / during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The vice.com website said: "Memes now have as much powerful / power, influence and reach as the propaganda posters of yesteryear."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    M_m_s _r_ b_c_m_ng _ gr_w_ng p_rt _f __r _v_ryd_y l_f_ _nd p_p_l_r c_lt_r_, _sp_c__lly _nl_n_. M_ny _f _s kn_w m_m_s _s th_ p_ct_r_s _nd ph_t_gr_phs th_t g_ v_r_l _n s_c__l m_d__ s_t_s. P__pl_ _s_ th_m t_ m_k_ j_k_s _r s_c__l _nd p_l_t_c_l _bs_rv_t__ns. H_w_v_r, b__l_g_st _nd __th_r R_ch_rd D_wk_ns, th_ _r_g_n_t_r _f th_ w_rd 'm_m_', _s _nh_ppy w_th h_w th_ _nt_rn_t h_s d_f_n_d _ m_m_ _s _ "p_ct_r_ w_th w_rds". Mr D_wk_ns c__n_d th_ t_rm 'm_m_' _n h_s 1976 b__k 'Th_ S_lf_sh G_n_'. H_ s__d m_m_s _r_ _d__s th_t spr__d fr_m br__n t_ br__n _nd _r_ r_pl_c_t_d m_ny t_m_s, m_ch l_k_ g_n_s. H_ t_ld th_ BBC: "_'m n_t g__ng t_ _s_ th_ t_rm _nt_rn_t m_m_ t_ r_f_r t_ _ p_ct_r_ w_th wr_t_ng _n _t."

    M_m_s h_v_ _nf_s_d __r c_lt_r_ t_ th_ _xt_nt th_t _n_v_rs_t__s n_w _ff_r d_gr__ c__rs_s _n th_m. _m_r_c_'s N_rthw_st_rn _n_v_rs_ty _nv__l_d _ts M_m_ St_d__s c__rs_ b_ck _n 2011. Br_t__n's Sky N_ws s_ys m_m_s h_v_ h_lp_d t_ m_k_ p_l_t_cs m_r_ _cc_ss_bl_ t_ y__ng p__pl_. _n_ Tw_tt_r _s_r t_ld _ Sky j__rn_l_st th_t: "M_m_s h_lp_d p__pl_ _nd_rst_nd m_r_ c_mpl_x _d__s, _nd th_t h_v_ng p_l_t_cs fr_m_d _n _ d_ff_r_nt w_y m_k_s _t m_r_ d_g_st_bl_." Th_s w_s _bv___s w_th h_w m_m_s b_c_m_ _ k_y p_rt _f h_w p__pl_ _xpr_ss_d th__r v__ws d_r_ng th_ 2016 _.S. pr_s_d_nt__l _l_ct__n. Th_ v_c_.c_m w_bs_t_ s__d: "M_m_s n_w h_v_ _s m_ch p_w_r, _nfl__nc_ _nd r__ch _s th_ pr_p_g_nd_ p_st_rs _f y_st_ry__r."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    memes are becoming a growing part of our everyday life and popular culture especially online many of us know memes as the pictures and photographs that go viral on social media sites people use them to make jokes or social and political observations however biologist and author richard dawkins the originator of the word 'meme' is unhappy with how the internet has defined a meme as a "picture with words" mr dawkins coined the term 'meme' in his 1976 book 'the selfish gene' he said memes are ideas that spread from brain to brain and are replicated many times much like genes he told the bbc "i'm not going to use the term internet meme to refer to a picture with writing on it"

    memes have infused our culture to the extent that universities now offer degree courses on them america's northwestern university unveiled its meme studies course back in 2011 britain's sky news says memes have helped to make politics more accessible to young people one twitter user told a sky journalist that "memes helped people understand more complex ideas and that having politics framed in a different way makes it more digestible" this was obvious with how memes became a key part of how people expressed their views during the 2016 us presidential election the vicecom website said "memes now have as much power influence and reach as the propaganda posters of yesteryear"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Memesarebecomingagrowingpartofoureverydaylifeandpopularcult
    ure,especiallyonline.Manyofusknowmemesasthepicturesandphoto
    graphsthatgoviralonsocialmediasites.Peopleusethemtomakejokeso
    rsocialandpoliticalobservations.However,biologistandauthorRichar
    dDawkins,theoriginatoroftheword'meme',isunhappywithhowtheInt
    ernethasdefinedamemeasa"picturewithwords".MrDawkinscoinedth
    eterm'meme'inhis1976book'TheSelfishGene'.Hesaidmemesareidea
    sthatspreadfrombraintobrainandarereplicatedmanytimes,muchlike
    genes.HetoldtheBBC:"I'mnotgoingtousethetermInternetmemetore
    fertoapicturewithwritingonit."Memeshaveinfusedourculturetotheex
    tentthatuniversitiesnowofferdegreecoursesonthem.America'sNorth
    westernUniversityunveileditsMemeStudiescoursebackin2011.Britai
    n'sSkyNewssaysmemeshavehelpedtomakepoliticsmoreaccessiblet
    oyoungpeople.OneTwitterusertoldaSkyjournalistthat:"Memeshelpe
    dpeopleunderstandmorecomplexideas,andthathavingpoliticsframe
    dinadifferentwaymakesitmoredigestible."Thiswasobviouswithhow
    memesbecameakeypartofhowpeopleexpressedtheirviewsduringthe
    2016U.S.presidentialelection.Thevice.comwebsitesaid:"Memesnow
    haveasmuchpower,influenceandreachasthepropagandapostersofye
    steryear."

    Free writing

    Write about memes for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Memes are the next great art form. They will be as important as movies. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. MEMES: Make a poster about memes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. DEGREE COURSE: Write a magazine article about Meme Studies at university. Is it a good thing to study? Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against Meme Studies as a degree subject.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on memes. Ask him/her three questions about memes. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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