Thesis Statement/Controlling Idea: Fear exploits a person’s need for control. Hence, it forces the individual to submission.
Real-life Manifestations of the Controlling Idea:
History:
 2003 Invasion of Iraq
 Goal/s: US and its allies believe that under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, the world is in grave danger if Iraq
is allowed to develop WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). They were convinced that Iraq succeeded in
developing these weapons. The 2003 invasion was meant to deter the country from using those WMDs and
remove them once and for all (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
 Measure of Success of goal/s: It can be considered a success. Since the invasion, Iraq has not attacked any other
state. Systemic military repression of its own citizens is no longer being done (Simon).
 Tools used in order to achieve goals: Bush administration used the global media to show the world why this
invasion is necessary. Particular steps were taken to strengthen this world-wide propaganda. The US government
established The Office of Global Communication in an attempt to address questions raised regarding the war.
This is labelled as ‘diplomacy’ by the US. The department released daily responses to questions raised about the
war on terror. Daily fact sheets were released globally in order to shape media presentation and people’s
perception (Knight).
 Synthesis of the Controlling Idea and Real-life Example: The rest of the world cowered in fear with the
possibility that WMDs are being developed in Iraq. This fear rationalizes the bloody response that majority of the
world agreed upon. The fear of a possible threat forced the powers of the world to subjugate Iraq. It caused
death and destruction of property even if the threat is not fully realized even until now.
 Bibliography:
Knight, Alan. “The Hollywoodisation of War: The Media Handling of the Iraq War.” Global Media Journal, Research and Reviews, 30 Dec. 2014,
www.globalmediajournal.com/open-access/the-hollywoodisation-of-warthe-media-handling-of-the-iraq-war.php?aid=35131.
“Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress.” EveryCRSReport.com, Congressional Research Service, 2 Apr.
2009, www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL34387.html.
Simon, David M. “Important Objective Measures Show That The Iraq War Was A Success.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 3 June 2017,
www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2017/06/02/important-objective-measures-show-that-the-iraq-war-was-a-success/?sh=1c61672181de.
Art:
 Raft of the Medusa Painting by Théodore Géricault
 Goal/s:
 Measure of Success of Specified Goal/s:
 Tools used in order to achieve Goal/s:
 Synthesis of the Controlling Idea and Real-life Example:
 Bibliography:
Pop Culture:
 True Crime television such as Criminal Minds, Law and Order: SVU, American Murder: The Family Next Door
 Goal/s:
 Measure of Success of Specified Goal/s:
 Tools used in order to achieve Goal/s:
 Synthesis of the Controlling Idea and Real-life Example:
 Bibliography:
Science and Technology:
 Covid19 Pandemic
 Goal/s:
 Measure of Success of Specified Goal/s:
 Tools used in order to achieve Goal/s:
 Synthesis of the Controlling Idea and Real-life Example:
 Bibliography: