English 1A
Mr. Cain
PAPER TWO: DECEPTIVE LANGUAGE & PROPAGANDA
George Lakoff has put forth a theory of how deceptive language strategies and moral frames work and
has explained how these are used to manipulate and control public opinion on various issues. Lakoff's
work is filled with examples of Orwellian Language, spin, and other deceptive language strategies which
have been used in order to manipulate public opinion. Our goal here is to identify and expose those
deceptive strategies and tactics and argue against them.
ASSIGNMENT:
1) Pick any ONE focus topic or issue which the American public is currently debating or discussing.
Use citations from Lakoff and the terminology from the Moral Politics Glossary handout to present a
case for how both the Strict Father and the Nurturant Parent view the issues involved in it. More
importantly, we want to know why they think the way they do and how they both justify their view of
the issue as the right one, according to Lakoff’s model.
2) After you’ve given us the information we need to understand how both sides view the issue, we want
to know how they have framed it in the media. Explain how deceptive framing works and argue against
it. Present and expose any deceptive strategies, tactics, or frames that have been applied to your focus
topic and argue against the way they have adversely affected an honest debate of your topic. How have
strategies and tactics such as deceptive framing, spin, Orwellian language, or other propaganda
techniques adversely affected the debate?
Be specific: give us specific examples of these deceptive tactics at work, either from Lakoff or from “real
world” articles you find when researching your topic. (If you can’t find examples of what they did say,
which is preferable, you can also give us an example of what they would say, according to how the
model works.) Be sure to fully signify and connect any examples you use to the specific features of
Lakoff’s model and the terminology he uses to explain it.
END GOAL OF THIS PAPER:
By revealing how people think, and by exposing the the specific strategies and tactics being used to
manipulate the public’s thinking as it relates to your focus topic, your paper should help “pop the
bubble” on the deceptions used to frame it and thus help protect the public from the deceivers and
dishonest persuaders who are trying to manipulate it.
REQUIREMENTS:
Double Spaced, 1” Margins all around, 12 Pt Font. No headings on any pages.
Cover Page:
Must include your name, class, and hour, and
A Title which suggests your argument or attitude toward your essay
Must be more than 4 Full Pages and No More Than 7 Full Pages
Must use at least 8 citations, using key terminology or quotes from text or video to explain
Lakoff’s theory
PAPER DUE:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28