Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on May 31, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. Amy A. LanninVita.Ph. D. University of Missouri--Columbia 2011."December 2011"This study examined the experience of rural seventh grade students in a communication arts class where advertising media was the focus, and how these young adults talked, thought, and wrote about advertising media. Data was collected over four weeks during a unit on persuasive techniques in propaganda texts and included interviews, whole class and small group discussions, student writing, and student production of multimedia commercials and print ads. This qualitative case study provides an analysis of the instructional methods chosen by a constructivist teacher who engaged her students in the spring of the year, immersing them in the genre of advertisements, providing scaffolds and equipment for student use, and scheduling large blocks of time for students to talk, write, and create. The study provides insight into pedagogy and issues around media literacy.Includes bibliographical reference
