Digital Activism Unpacked: Exploring the Power of Hashtag Campaigns

Digital Activism Unpacked: Exploring the Power of Hashtag Campaigns

Government -- 12th Grade

Learning Objectives: Students will analyze and evaluate the role and effectiveness of hashtag campaigns in promoting social justice issues. They will assess campaign elements like target audience, purpose, emotional appeal, and calls to action and synthesize their findings into a written or visual presentation.

• Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of hashtag campaigns in promoting social justice issues.

• Assess campaign elements, including target audience, purpose, emotional appeal, and calls to action.

• Synthesize findings into a creative or analytical product, such as a campaign critique or new campaign design.

• Present findings through written and verbal explanations, demonstrating critical thinking and understanding of digital activism. 

Language Objectives: Students will use academic language to discuss digital activism, incorporating key terms such as hashtag, target audience, and call to action. They will construct written and verbal explanations to evaluate the effectiveness of a selected campaign. 

• Define and use key terms related to digital activism, such as hashtag, target audience, and call to action.

• Construct written explanations in the Campaign Analysis handout to evaluate campaign elements and their societal impact.

• Participate in collaborative discussions, using academic language to articulate ideas clearly.

• Deliver structured presentations using evaluative and reflective language to explain campaign elements and their effectiveness.

Common Core Standards:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2
  Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among key details and ideas.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7
  Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats to address questions or solve problems related to social justice.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1
  Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Lesson Overview:

• Focus: This lesson examines the impact of digital activism and hashtag campaigns on social justice issues. Students critically evaluate campaign elements such as purpose, audience, and emotional appeal through guided analysis and collaborative discussions, culminating in the creation or critique of a hashtag campaign.

• Agenda Highlight:

  • • Day 1: Investigate hashtag campaigns through lectures, guided notes, and the Campaign Analysis Handout. 

    • Day 2: Creating or critiquing a campaign, presenting findings, and engaging in peer review discussions.  

Lesson Flow: 

• Day One: Investigation and Analysis 

  • 1. Welcome and Objective Review (5 minutes)

    2. Lecture: Introduction to digital activism and elements of effective hashtag campaigns (20 minutes). 

    3. Guided Modeling: Analyzing #BlackLivesMatter as an example using the Campaign Analysis Handout (5 minutes). 

    4. Independent Activity: Students analyze preselected campaigns using the Campaign Analysis Handout (40 minutes). 

• Day 2: Creation and Presentation

  • 1. Welcome and Recap (5 minutes). 

    2. Instructions for Campaign Design or Critique (5 minutes). 

    3. Group Activity: Students create or critique campaigns and prepare a poster or analysis (30 minutes). 

    4. Presentations and Peer Review (30 minutes).  

Key Activities:

• Campaign Analysis Handout: Students evaluate preselected hashtag campaigns, analyzing their purpose, target audience, emotional appeal, and calls to action.

• Campaign Creation or Critique: Students work in groups to design a new hashtag campaign or critique an existing one, synthesizing their findings in a poster or written analysis.

• Peer Review and Presentations: Students present their campaigns or critiques and participate in peer reviews, providing feedback using evaluative language.

Assessments:

• Formative: 

  • • Guided notes and Campaign Analysis Handout. 

    • Observation during group activities and discussions.

• Summative:

  • • Campaign poster or critique with reflective analysis 

    • Final presentation, assessed using the Campaign Presentation Rubric.