English 2 students are starting to take a thorough look at the topic of consumerism, a modern issue in today’s society, by conducting a research project that analyzes chosen individual consumerism topics.

“This unit is significant because it shifts the focus from traditional literature to rhetorical analysis of the modern world,” English 2 teacher Amaya Lewis said. “It bridges the gap between classroom learning and media literacy, turning students into critical thinkers who can evaluate the psychological and ethical implications of the messages they consume daily.”

This unit not only proves to be significant, but piques the interest of students like sophomore Zyva Hasan.

“I think this unit is pretty interesting because it makes you more aware of how much advertising and social media influence what people buy,” Hasan said. “[It’s] also intriguing how we started to research an aspect of consumerism of our choice.”

Additionally, a deep dive into consumerism also reveals more about the self, according to sophomore Rebecca Feng.

“During this unit, I think I will be able to apply my research to understand more about myself and my own spending habits,” Feng said. “I hope that this unit will allow me to understand consumption at a different level in the future.”

Students will be able to advance beyond surface-level observations after this unit.

“They will analyze complex non-fiction texts regarding the global impact of consumption, such as environmental degradation and labor ethics,” Lewis said. “ By examining specific case studies, like the “fast fashion” cycle or planned obsolescence, students will learn to identify logical fallacies in advertising and understand the broader societal consequences of a consumer-driven economy.”