Keep the Revolution Alive!!

Get the message out about LHS rules

Objective: Create a series of propaganda techniques to promote some of the school’s rules.

Top Secret Propaganda Assignment:

You have just been hired to head the “super secret” propaganda department at LebanonHigh School. The administration is concerned that enemies of the glorious “Improved Learning for Everyone” Revolution are among us. There is word that a group of students are potentially subversive and are thereby not willfully following the rules, a problem that threatens the “Improved Learning for Everyone” Revolution. As a result, the administration wants to find an effective way to re-enforce the school’s rules and encourage all students to follow them. In the name of keeping the school’s “Improved Learning for Everyone” Revolution alive, the administration has asked your group to:
Select three school policies and/or rules.
Develop different types of information programs that incorporate different propaganda techniques studied in our unit. This could be techniques from your web search as well as those used in Animal Farm.
Create three different visual aids to complement the propaganda you develop.(It could include posters to put up, slogans to disseminate, pamphlets to distribute around school, a series of mass e-mails, a videotaped ad, or any idea you have.)
Audience
Your work is aimed at the students in LebanonHigh School, but designed to be propaganda with the purpose of promoting the views and position of the administration.

Process

Create three different propaganda campaigns with some kind of catchy visual aid – this could include posters to put up, slogans to disseminate, pamphlets to distribute around school, a series of mass e-mails, a videotaped ad, or any idea you have. Refer back to the examples from propaganda website. Each of your propaganda pieces should incorporate a different propaganda technique as seen in Animal Farm or from the propaganda internet assignment. Explain each campaign in a paragraph that identifies 1) the type of propaganda used, 2)a description of how it will work in LebanonHigh School, and 3) the intended hidden message.

Due date ______

Propaganda Poster Grading Checklist

Our group / James / Criteria = 3 points for each
I.We have identified three different school rules.
II.We have developed a different propaganda technique for each rule.
III.We design appropriate, eye-pleasing visual aids.
IV.Our visual aids or materials directly support our propaganda techniques.*
V.Our techniques accurately reflect the kinds of propaganda studied.
VI.Our propaganda clearly furthers the aims of the school administration with a “hidden message.”*
VII.Our propaganda is designed to be distributed to and/or aimed at LHS students.
VIII.We write a detailed paragraph for each technique that clearly and accurately describes our propaganda.( Type, Hidden Message, How it’ll work)
IX.All our work is typed.
X.All our materials are carefully put together and neatly designed.

5= thoroughly achieved with exceptional quality

4= clearly accomplished, may be minor issues of quality

3= mostly done with some problem areas and/or incomplete parts

2= more incomplete than complete, major issues of quality, completeness

1= incomplete and/or incorrect

* You will probably rely on the written paragraph to make this clear

Propaganda Letter Assignment

Introduction / In your groups, you have developed several ideas about different types and examples of propaganda to use when trying to "get the message out" about school rules. Now, the question is: Which is the most effective type of propaganda to use at LHS?
Of the three methods produced in your groups, decide which propaganda type works the best and is the most effective.
Assignment / Write a letter to Dr. Ison suggesting that he use one of your techniques.
In the letter you must include the following information:
  • Define the technique
  • Explain the technique that should be used
  • How/Why the technique works
  • How a similar tactic was used in Animal Farm.
  • The letter should clearly describe your propaganda technique (and hidden message it conveys)
  • Provide reasons why the school should useyour propaganda technique.

Structure / Intro: Introduce yourself and state that the purpose of your request is to introduce your propaganda idea(s) and tell why Dr. Ison should employ these techniques. Use a thesis.
Body:
  • Describe your suggested propaganda
  • Explain in detail your idea and why it would be effective at LHS.
  • Cite an example from Animal Farm of the same type of technique.
  • States the hidden message
  • How the technique will work on the students at LHS
  • Identify the type of propaganda you’ll be using
Conclusion: Restate your ideas and either
  • End with a thought-provoking idea or
  • Use a strong call to action
  • Be sure to use a closing and give your signature

Requirements /  A strong introduction with thesis
The thesis lays out your argument(s) about the type of propaganda technique suggested.
 Specific and accurate references to events and characters in Animal Farm that directly support your analysis of propaganda.
 A clear, accurate description of the propaganda and specific technique suggested for LHS.
 No gross grammatical errors.
Rough draft due ______Final essay due ______
Acd. I Assessment Rubric for Propaganda Letter
Criteria / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Personal Argument
(i.e. I use a strong introduction and follow a logical order in my letter.) / My letter begins with a catchy introduction that precisely sets up logical compelling argument, and ends with strong final thoughts / My letter follows a logical order, with a clear beginning and end, but needs tighter organ-ization of ideas; or some problems in introduction / My letter is mostly unorganized, but with a vague sense of order; and/or intro’s main points never fully devel-oped or lack clear conviction / I make little attempt to establish a logical order in my letter and/or introduction does not clearly articulate my main point
Support
(i.e. I make strong, connection to Animal Farm to back up my argument.) / My letter relies on strong, specific details about propaganda to bolster main ideas, back up ideas with strong link to Animal Farm / My letter includes examples, details but I may not clearly connect chosen technique to Animal Farm and/or I leave some areas under-developed / My letter contains few significant details and explanations about the propaganda and/or Animal Farm connection left undeveloped / My letter does little more than skim surface of topic, ignore major ideas about propaganda, connections to Animal Farm
Information
(i.e. I correctly deal with propaganda technique.) / I accurately explain chosen propaganda to show clear under-standing of suggested technique / I generally cover the suggested propaganda but there may be some incorrect or missing details about technique / I miss and/or incorrectly deal with several pieces of propaganda but show basic knowledge of technique / My essay generally ignores and/or misstates big pieces of selected propaganda, little evidence to show understanding
Mechanics
(i.e. I proofread and revise for success.) / I use few to no fragments, run-on sentences; rare errors or mechanical mistakes; writing is fluent / I use some frag-ments, run-ons or other errors; occ-asional mechanical mistakes; writing generally clear / I commit several sentence errors, mechanical mistakes that may interfere with ideas, clarity of ideas in writing / My writing is marred by numerous errors, mechanical mistakes

A+ =16A=15-14B+ =13B=12-11C+ =10C=9 D=8-7

Brian's propaganda letter to Dr. Higgins, BHS principal

Dear Dr. Higgins,

Propaganda is a great technique to use when you want to get something done, especially fear propaganda, because it makes people afraid and vulnerable so you can scare them into doing things they might not normally do. In class we learned a little bit about propaganda and read the book Animal Farmby George Orwell. We learned that propaganda is used to influence people into doing things that they wouldn’t normally do. It is around us everyday. Stores, companies, and even the government uses it to try and trick us into doing things. In fact, in class we made propaganda posters, which are supposed to try and make students follow school rules, such as no smoking on school grounds. My group created this one poster, which I think would be very effective in the BranfordHigh School. This one poster is about gambling. In this poster there is a picture of students gambling, with and equal sign leading to a picture of detention and money being flushed down a toilet. So, it says gambling equals detention and loss of money. The hidden message here is: Gambling, which may seem like fun and games, will lead to bad things.

This type of propaganda is called fear. As I said before, it is when you scare people into doing something that they might not usually do. This type of propaganda was used a lot in Animal Farm. In the book the pigs would scare the other, less intelligent, animals into giving them the things that they wanted. For example, one time Squealer, a very sly pig, told the other animals that they needed to give all of the apples and milk to the pigs. At first, this didnot seem fair to the animals. But then Squealer went on and told them that even though the pigs didnot like apples and milk, they need the nutrients from them in order to survive. Without the pigs, he said, the whole farm would fall apart and then Farmer Jones, who they rebelled against in the first place, would come back. That was the last thing any of the animals wanted. So, after Squealer’s deceiving speech, all of the animals were tricked into giving up their food to the pigs. What the animals feared in this example was that Farmer Jones might come back. From this example, you can see that fear obviously works. So why wouldn’t it work in BranfordHigh School? By gambling, students are at risk of getting detention, and no one wants that. It is long and boring, and it is just no fun at all. So, that might influence them into not playing card games or gambling in school. But, if that doesn’t work, then losing money sure will. No one wants to lose money. It is one of the most valuable things around, and everyone wants and needs it, especially students. Students usually get money from their allowance or from their jobs. They need money to go to the movies, go placed with their friends, buy things for boyfriends and girlfriends, buy clothes, buy lunch, etc. Money is very important to us students. Most students like to buy nice things, but they have to save up for months to get something. So why would you want to risk losing all of your savings in a silly little card game? I wouldn’t. That’s one of the worse things that could come out of gambling.

Again, this piece of propaganda will be very efficient in BranfordHigh School because it makes students afraid of detention and losing their money. A lot of students donot want to go to detention; it is long, boring, and no fun at all. And, if detention doesnot make students stop gambling in school, then maybe them losing their money will. Students work hard for their money, and donot want to be giving it away like candy. But, by gambling they are doing just that. I hope, that when you read this letter, you will think about how efficient is would be to use this piece of propaganda in BranfordHigh School. I am sure that it would make a big impact.

Thank you,

Brian Smith

Brian's propaganda letter to Dr. Higgins, BHS principal

  • Explain propaganda * Animal Farm example
  • Restate idea(s)*Hidden message
  • Identify the type of propaganda used* Call to Action
  • Tell how your particular propaganda technique works
  • Why should the School use this/your technique
  • Describe the propaganda technique you used
  • Heading
  • Inside Address
  • Complimentary Close
  • Signature
  • Salutation

Dear Dr. Higgins,↔{SALUTATION}

Propaganda is a great technique to use when you want to get something done, especially fear propaganda, because it makes people afraid and vulnerable so you can scare them into doing things they might not normally do. In class we learned a little bit about propaganda and read the book Animal Farmby George Orwell. We learned that propaganda is used to influence people into doing things that they wouldn’t normally do. It is around us everyday. Stores, companies, and even the government uses it to try and trick us into doing things. In fact, in class we made propaganda posters, which are supposed to try and make students follow school rules, such as no smoking on school grounds.My group created this one poster, which I think would be very effective in the BranfordHigh School. This one poster is about gambling. In this poster there is a picture of students gambling, with and equal sign leading to a picture of detention and money being flushed down a toilet. So, it says gambling equals detention and loss of money.The hidden message here is: Gambling, which may seem like fun and games, will lead to bad things.

This type of propaganda is called fear.As I said before, it is when you scare people into doing something that they might not usually do.This type of propaganda was used a lot in Animal Farm. In the book the pigs would scare the other, less intelligent, animals into giving them the things that they wanted. For example, one time Squealer, a very sly pig, told the other animals that they needed to give all of the apples and milk to the pigs. At first, this didn’t seem fair to the animals. But then Squealer went on and told them that even though the pigs didnot like apples and milk, they need the nutrients from them in order to survive. Without the pigs, he said, the whole farm would fall apart and then Farmer Jones, who they rebelled against in the first place, would come back. That was the last thing any of the animals wanted. So, after Squealer’s deceiving speech, all of the animals were tricked into giving up their food to the pigs. What the animals feared in this example was that Farmer Jones might come back. From this example, you can see that fear obviously works. So why wouldn’t it work in BranfordHigh School? By gambling, students are at risk of getting detention, and no one wants that. It’s long and boring, and it is just no fun at all.So, that might influence them into not playing card games or gambling in school. But, if that doesnot work, then losing money sure will. No one wants to lose money. It is one of the most valuable things around, and everyone wants and needs it, especially students. Students usually get money from their allowance or from their jobs. They need money to go to the movies, go placed with their friends, buy things for boyfriends and girlfriends, buy clothes, buy lunch, etc. Money is very important to us students. Most students like to buy nice things, but they have to save up for months to get something. So why would you want to risk losing all of your savings in a silly little card game? I wouldn’t. That is one of the worse things that could come out of gambling.

Again, this piece of propaganda will be very efficient in BranfordHigh School because it makes students afraid of detention and losing their money. A lot of students donot want to go to detention; it is long, boring, and no fun at all. And, if detention doesnot make students stop gambling in school, then maybe them losing their money will. Students work hard for their money, and don’t want to be giving it away like candy. But, by gambling they are doing just that. I hope, that when you read this letter, you will think about how efficient it would be to use this piece of propaganda in BranfordHigh School. I’m sure that it would make a big impact.

Thank you,↔{CLOSING}

↔{SIGNATURE}

Brian Smith↔{NAME PRINTED/TYPED}