Critical Literacy: Dawn Raid

Critical Literacy: Dawn Raid

Who would be most likely to read this text and why?

Anyone who is interested in New Zealand history and culture around this subject and time.

How are children, teenagers, young adults, and adults constructed in this text?

The adults are all written as important figures with a strong voice, the young adults (Lenny and Rawiri) are a bit reckless but they do what they do because they believe it is the right thing to do. Children Tavita, Ethan and Archie are like most little boys, they do before they think, "One Kid - one brain, two kids - half a brain, three kids - NO BRAIN AT ALL" Dawn Raid. The teenagers who are the for front are all different having characteristics. All the characters are well written with different personalities and motivations.

Is the text fair?

Yes, it tells of an important time in New Zealand's history, even the best places have their problems and we need to learn from them.

Germans Abandon Cars?

Activity 1

In 2017 this post started circulating online.

For this activity we had to see if it passes the C.R.A.P. (Current, Reliability, Authority and Purpose) test. Here are links to two websites I looked at, Times Of India and The Star Online.  The captions competently fake, but the photo is real but is not from Germany but from China 2010 traffic jam. The traffic jam lasted two weeks, imagine being stuck in that! It was caused by trucks and foggy weather, so no Germans protesting fuel prices. 

Activity 2

What kind of langue is used in the text? 

Which positions, prospective, voices and interests at play in this text?

Factual or Satirical?

The Onion
What does the website look like?
At first glance it kind of looks real but after look at it closely it easy to see that it is satirical.

What photos is it using?
The main photo with the drones is clearly Photoshoped  and unrealistic.

What headlines are they sharing?


Is it Factual or Satirical?
The Onion is Satirical.

The New York Times
What does the website look like?

What photos is it using?

What headlines are they sharing?

Is it Factual or Satirical?

The Civilian
What does the website look like?


What photos is it using?

What headlines are they sharing?

Is it Factual or Satirical?

The Civilian is Satirical

The Daily Mail

What does the website look like?

What photos is it using?

What headlines are they sharing?

Is it Factual or Satirical?

The Daily Mash

What does the website look like?


What photos is it using?


What headlines are they sharing?


Is it Factual or Satirical?

The Daily Mash is Satirical

The Herald

What does the website look like?

What photos is it using?

What headlines are they sharing?

Is it Factual or Satirical?

The Herald is Factual.

The Shovel

What does the website look like?

What photos is it using?

What headlines are they sharing?

Is it Factual or Satirical?

What does the website look like?

What photos is it using?

What headlines are they sharing?

Is it Factual or Satirical?

Critical Literacy Vocabulary

Crash Cause In Critical Literacy

For this activity we had to watch a video and answer questions about it.

What aspects of stories was she (Andrea)  interested in?

Don't take things at face value, look for the hidden messages.

What did the ad imply with the big diamond ring?

If you buy it, it shows them you care and if you don't buy it you don't.

What is subtext?

The hidden message, things hidden beneath the surface.

With CL, can each student have their own answer?

Yes of cause, everyone is different and has a different background.

What does Andrea compare CL to?

Wonder Woman's lasso of truth.

How can CL be applied to your life outside of school?

You can use it to brake down the media around you.

What am I learning?

I am learning how to brake down media

How does this work show my learning?

What am it wondering?