Bias and Propaganda - Mrs. Darnell
The Power of Persuasion
What is Propaganda?
- The word "propaganda" has some negative associations; people often associate it with dishonesty and lies. However, the working definition is:
"Propaganda consists of the planned use of any form of public or mass-produced communication designed to affect the minds and emotions of a given group for a specific purpose, whether military, economic, or political."
Propaganda is so pervasive that people must learn to think critically to deal with it. Like mosquitoes in the woods, you can't make propaganda go away, but there are things you can do to make things more bearable.
Think about all the sources of propaganda you encounter each day. The radio, the television, billboards, bumper stickers, magazines, signs at the grocery store, textbooks, teachers, friends, parents, and on and on. If you watch thirty hours of TV per week, you will view roughly 37,822 commercials per year. That about 100 TV ads per day. You will see another 100 to 300 ads per day through the other mass media. Advertising manipulates people into buying all sorts of things that they don't need for all sorts of illegitimate reasons.And that's only advertising. By no means is all the propaganda you encounter advertising. In fact, advertising is perhaps the least insidious. Even though advertising is effective (that's why advertisers use them), the results aren't usually that serious. At some level, most of us don't really trust ads. What you've got to worry about are those whom you do trust, your community leaders for instance. With those whom you trust, there is a tendency to let down your guard. There are two very important things to realize about propaganda. First, it is partly true. Indeed, advertising does give the potential buyer some useful information. For instance, one may not have known that the product existed otherwise, or where to buy it, and so on. But we all know that there's a lot the advertiser doesn't tell us. Second, propaganda works because the audience wants it to work.
Lesson on Persuasion, Bias, and Propaganda
Propaganda Types Videos
Propaganda Testimonials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od3Y8_A1qpk&feature=youtu.be
What is Propaganda
Propaganda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAzZr0nT0S0&feature=youtu.be
Some Practice and Examples of POWERFUL WORDS
CLICK HERE to view a digital handout containing powerful words that can be utilized when employing propaganda techniques. Try the "Guided Practice" section to identify the types of techniques used in each of the examples.
Persuasive Advertising Project
You will work in a "professional advertising team" to create a marketing campaign for a novel, poem, or short story that you have read in middle school. The goal is to make the literature appealing to even the most reluctant readers. You will choose a target group (such as moms, dads, teenagers, young kids, etc.) as to whom you will market your literature (Who do you think should read this story/poem?). Remember, books are for everyone, but choose a target audience for your literature. Your professional advertising team will spend the next four days working on various components of this marketing campaign.
*This final completed project is due March 2. No late grades are accepted!
Criteria:
- Strategic Plan (The handout that includes the target audience, audience need/want persuasive technique, 3 vocabulary words)
- Script (What your team will say and do to advertise your novel, poem, or short story; Use an appropriate TONE to create the MOOD of your advertisement, use pictures/images that support your tone/mood theme and the literature you're marketing.)
- Product (Movie-style poster, print-ad or other digital media, such as PowerPoint, Book trailer/Commercial–make it visually appealing to your audience)
- Presentation–your professional advertising team will present your final product to the class on March 2.
Grading:
This task is a major grade. Your grade will be based on how well you meet the criteria above, as well as creativity, teamwork, and presentation skills. You will be given three full days in class to create a high-quality project. Be Productive!
Supplies/Materials:
It is up to your professional advertising team to determine what materials suit your marketing campaign. If you are creating a movie-style poster, your group will need to bring a poster board to complete your project on. If you choose to create a commercial or book trailer (like a movie preview), then you will need to use an iPad and iMovie to create your final product.
Other Considerations:
Since you will be working in a group/team on this assignment, it is important for all group members to share contact information in the event that one of your is absent during the time we are working in class on the marketing campaign. The final product will be due on March 2, regardless of absences. All groups members/teammates are responsible tor creating this presentation. You must be productive during class time each day. be prepared and bring what you need each day.