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Propaganda Techniques
Propaganda Techniques
Jane Ogunmokun and Kathy Taylor
ThomasMetcalfLaboratorySchool
IllinoisStateUniversity
Summer 2005
Library of Congress
Prints & Photographs Division
Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-92565
Television commercials have an enormous impact on the buying power of Americans. Students need to become aware of the influence used in commercials to make them more appealing to the buyer. The purpose of this activity is to expose students to different propaganda techniques. This activity will allow them to become commercial directors using one or more propaganda techniques to use to market their products during Mini Societies Unit. In addition they will use the knowledge and skills gained as consultants to 3rd and 4th grade students.
Overview/State Standards/Resources/Procedures/Evaluation
Overview Back to Navigation BarObjectives / Students will:
- Identify propaganda techniques used in advertisements.
- List 5-10 reasons why certain propaganda techniques are used to sellproducts.
- Write their own advertisements using propaganda technique that will influence others to buy their products during Mini Societies.
- Videotape their commercials for public speaking practice.
- Write a short paragraph describing how learning to recognize propaganda techniques can help students when it comes to purchasing items.
- Allow students to work in cooperative learning settings in designing advertisements for Mini Societies Unit.
Recommended time frame / 4 weeks
Grade level / 5th-6th
Curriculum fit / Language Arts
Resources /
- Image table for Propaganda Techniques
- Worksheet
- PowerPoint
- Old magazines, tag-board, scissors, glue, video equipment, computer with slide show presentation equipment.
IllinoisStateLearning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Language Arts:
GOAL 4: Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
- 4A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations
- 4B. Speaking effectively using language appropriately to the situation and audience
- 5C. Apply acquired information, concepts, and ideas to communicate in a
Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
- Review propaganda techniques generally used in advertisements. Give definition and examples of each.
a.Bandwagon: persuading people to do something by letting them know others are doing it.
e.g.buy Nike shoes because everyone in the neighborhood has a pair
b.Emotional words: words that will make you feel strongly about someone or something.
e.g. an ad about drunk driving saying, “You drink, you lose.”
c.Facts and Figures: statistics and objective factual information is used to prove the superiority of the product
e.g. a car manufacturer quotes the amount of time it takes their car to get from 0 to 100 mph
d.Magic Ingredients:the suggestion that some almost miraculous discovery makes the product exceptionally effective
e.g. a pharmaceutical manufacturer describes a special coating that makes their pain reliever less irritating to the stomach than a competitors
e.Patriotism: the suggestion that purchasing this product shows your love of your country
e.g. a company brags about its product being made in Canada and employing Canadian workers
f.Plain Folks: the suggestion that the product is a practical product of good value for ordinary people
e.g. a cereal manufacturer shows an ordinary family sitting down to breakfast and enjoying their product
g.Repetition: the product name is repeated at least four times.
e.g. ad advertisement naming the product multiple times—say the name at the beginning and end, print the name, and show the emblem.
h.Snob Appeal: the suggestion that the use of the product makes the customer part of an elite group with a luxurious and glamorous life style
e.g. a coffee manufacturer shows people dressed in formal gowns and tuxedos drinking their brand at an art gallery
i.Testimonial: using the words of a famous person to persuade you.
e.g. a famous hockey player recommends a particular brand of skates
j.Transfer: using the names or pictures of famous people, but not directquotations.
e.g. a textile manufacturer wanting people to wear their product to stay cool during the summer shows people wearing fashions made from their cloth at a sunny seaside setting where there is a cool breeze
- Assign students to write down any commercials they can think of from any and all media. Have a discussion on what type of propaganda technique was used and its suitability.
- Using old magazines, students will choose a variety of advertisements to analyze and examine the propaganda technique used in each piece.
- Students will generate ideas and plan to create advertisements using one or more propaganda technique suitable for marketing their product during Mini Societies.
- Students will work with 3rd and 4th grade students during Mini Societies Unit as experts/consultants assisting with proper and effective marketing techniques of their clients’ products.
- Document students’ advertisements through multi-media.
- Encourage students to identify and justify the techniques they used with their 3rd and 4th grade clients.
Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
- Worksheet
- PowerPoint class discussion
- Rubric for advertisement design
- Rubric for multi-media project.
An Adventure of the American Mind
IllinoisStateUniversity