Introduction
Did you know that on a yearly basis, a child's brain is flooded with over 40,000 TV ads? Add on the messages recieved from billboards, the internet, radio, magazines, etc., and the number of messages recieved becomes incredible, especially when you consider that you are usually unaware that you are recieving these messages at all. Advertisers, politicians, your friends and even you can use countless number of techniques every day to persuade people to buy, believe, and do things. Propaganda, though it may have a negative connotation, is not all bad -- having a grasp of porpaganda is an important part of navigating society, and propaganda can be used for good! explore the landscape and dynamics of the media-heavy world you live in, and maybe you will recognize ( or appropriate! ) these persuasive strategies for yourself!
Guiding Question
How are you influenced by media on a daily basis, and why? How can you train yourself to be aware that you are the target of propaganda? How can you use propaganda?
Questions
1. What is propaganda? where do you see it used? Is it always negative? How can persuasive techniques be used in a positive way?
2. How is propaganda oten used in war times, ia ll countries? What role did propaganda play, for example in WWI and WWII?
3. What are ethos, logos and pathos?
4. What are some common propaganda techniques? Would they be considered ethos, logos or pathos?
5. What are some jobs that require strong media literacy? Explain.
6. Why should media literacy be emphasized in modern curricula? How has it already been incorporated? What are some other ways it can be incorporated in the future?
7. What are some examples of companies who have used propaganda and persuasive techniques against the common good, and done so on a large scale, very successfully?
8. Ethics and media literacy What guidlines are in place for advertising and propaganda in the United States? Do you think any revisions need to be made, or do you think that these parameters are adequate for protecting the public?
9. What are target audiences? Give some examples of different target audiences for different messages.
10. How can diction, figurative language, and rhetorical and aliterary devices in general reinforce persuasive technique?
Internet Resources
Propaganda
World War II Propaganda
Propaganda World War I
Examples of World War I Proganda
Ethos, Logos, Pathos
Media Literacy
Target Audiences
Example of use of Propaganda
Activities
1. Compose a group skit that is a live commerical. Use ethos, logos, and pathos in commercial. Make sure you havea vsual aid.
2. Create a video commercial that lasts about 45 second. Use three different propaganda techniques. Make sure you can point out the techniques to the class after showing the video.
3. Draw/paint/digitally create a poster-size ad that sells a product. Use at least three propaganda techniques.
4. Try to convince a friend or family member to do something using different propaganda techniques. Reflect on the techniques successes and failures after the conversation.
5. Make a list of ten propaganda techniques that you think are the most interesting. Come up with a one-line example for each of them.
6.The a media literacy quiz: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/media_lit/quiz.html
7. On your way home one day, look for five instances of either ethos, logos, or pathos (try to find a mix). Keep a list, including what message each example was trying to give, howethos/logos/pathos was used and a reflection of how the message and it's delivery affected you.
Ann Wang, Teacher, and Diana Kozlova, AP student, collaborated to develop this web hunt.
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