DO NOW
TITLE: PERSUASION AND PROPAGANDA
62L
 Directions: Choose the best verb. Make sure it
agrees with the noun or indefinite pronoun.
 1.)
Few of us (like, likes) salad.
 2.) Nothing (get, gets) in his way.
 3.) Each of the stores (give, gives) a gift.
 4.) Most of my friends (want, wants) to dance.
 5.) Several of the homes (have, has) fire damage.
 6.) Nobody (laugh, laughs) at his jokes.
 7.) None of the equipment (belong, belongs) to me.
 8.) Many of the teachers (give, gives) homework every
night.
 9.) Each of our pets (try, tries) to please us.
TODAY’S AGENDA!!
 Persuasion,
Unsupported Inferences,
Fallacious Reasoning, and Propaganda

Foldable
 Beach
Ball Game
 Partner Activity
 Independent Activity
PERSUASION
We have talked about persuasion in the past. Also, we
have been looking at an author’s assertion, and making
sure that he/she is using evidence to support their
main idea.
 Today, we will further our understanding of
persuasion.
 Can someone remind me what persuasion means??
 A persuasive message encourages the audience
to think or act in a certain way.
 Let’s take a closer look at all the ways someone can
persuade us…

PERSUASION CONTINUED…
Certain forms of writing like newspaper articles,
speeches and advertisements (commercials) often
do not have supporting evidence, or the
evidence that is used seems questionable.
 Other times, the evidence is presented as fact
when it is the writer’s opinion.
 By the end of today, you will learn how to
determine whether a writer’s statements are well
supported and whether the support is fact or
opinion, propaganda, fallacious reasoning,
or unsupported inference.
 What does all of this mean?!?!
Let’s get started…

FACT VS. OPINION

It is important to understand the difference between a
fact and an opinion.
Fact:
 A statement that can be proven
 Example: The city of Los Angeles is in the state of
California.
 Can you give me a few examples of some facts
(think about science class)?
 Opinion:
 How someone thinks or feels about a certain topic
 Example: Los Angeles, California is a wonderful
place to live
 Can you give me a few examples of opinions you
have about homework?

TO START US OFF…

The first ideas you need to understand are:


You will also learn different types of propaganda
techniques:








Persuasion, Unsupported Inferences, Fallacious Reasoning,
and Propaganda
Bandwagon
Either/Or Fallacy
Broad Generalization
Loaded Language
Snob Appeal
Hidden Message
Testimonial
This all looks like a lot, but it will seem easy soon. To
help us organize all of this information and make notetaking easier, we are going to make a foldable…
FOLDABLE
You will receive one piece of construction paper.
 Please fold, cut, and label it as follows:

Persuasion
Unsupported
Inference
Fallacious
Reasoning
Propaganda
PERSUASION
 Persuasion
encourages people to think
or act in a certain way.
 The purpose is to make you believe or do
something.
 Example: Come see this new movie. It is the
best you will ever watch!
UNSUPPORTED INFERENCE
 An
author says something is true, but
has no factual support or citations (has
no evidence).
 It is exactly what it sounds like: A
statement that is unsupported!!
 Example: Nike shoes have been proven to
support your leg muscles and make you
stronger!

There is no evidence to prove this.
FALLACIOUS REASONING
***Fallacious also means Faulty.
 When an author fails to reach a conclusion
based on reason.
 Using unrelated details as support.

 Example:
More people have cats than dogs,
so cats must be easier to take care of.


This may not be true. More people may have cats
rather than dogs for a number of different
reasons, such as cost, enjoyment, etc. Being
easier to take care of is not necessarily related.
He just reached a conclusion, without using good
reasoning.
PROPAGANDA
An extreme form of persuasion. A writer goes
“over the top” to make readers believe an
assertion.
 Information that is one-sided or misleading.
 There are many different types of propaganda that we
will look out.
 Example: In this example, the government is trying to
persuade you to join the army.

 These
are all ways that a person can
persuade you to believe or do
something.
 In addition, there are several types of
propaganda techniques that people can
use to further persuade you.
 There are many of these, so I will pass
out a half sheet that we will go over.
Once we go over it together, you will
tape it to the inside of your foldable.
 Let’s take a look…
Type of
Propaganda
Definition
Example
-Thousands of allergy sufferers
Bandwagon
The reasoning that “everyone is
doing it,” or everyone else uses a
certain product
Either/Or
(Black/White)
Fallacy
The misconception that either you
are a part of one thing or the other
(there is no middle point)
Either you drink this
product or you’ll look fat
forever
Broad
Generalization
A simplified statement that applies
to a whole group of people
All people will love wearing
our comfortable, sporty
shoes.
Powerful words that carry deep
Loaded Language meanings with them
use Sneeze-Free.
-Everyone else drinks Coke, so
you should too.
These “New and Improved, All
Natural” energy bars will make
you feel young again.
Snob Appeal
Charming based on wanting to be
the best
Only the best people fly
our airlines.
Hidden Message
Pictures of words that suggest an
idea without stating it directly.
A photo of an Olympic runner,
suggesting you’ll be a winner if
you buy a certain brand of
sneakers.
The personal story of a celebrity or
person not directly related to the
issue
Justin Bieber drinks milk
everyday to make him
strong.
Testimonial
BEACH BALL GAME!!
To help us understand this more, we will play the Beach
Ball Game, in which we have to decide what type of
technique is being used.
 Remember the rules:
 All bottoms must stay in the chair
 Do not chuck the ball
 CATCH and then throw the ball
 WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS, EVERYONE MUST
STAY QUIET. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
EXPLAIN THE CORRECT ANSWER
 This is just practice, and I know this information is
difficult. Please do not be afraid to get a question
wrong!!

SNOB APPEAL
Buy
these
diamonds because
she deserves the
best!
BROAD GENERALIZATION
All
students love to
read the Twilight
saga.
BANDWAGON
Everyone
else is wearing
Vans and Chucks, so you
should too.
TESTIMONIAL
Jessica Simpson swears
that Proactive Acne
Solution worked for
her. It will probably
work for you, too.
EITHER/OR FALLACY
Either
you prepare for
college or you will have
no financial stability in
your future.
PROPAGANDA
LOADED LANGUAGE
“It’s a miracle product.”
PARTNER ACTIVITY!!
You and your partner will receive a movie review.
 Together you will read through it and answer the
following questions to help you understand
persuasive techniques:
 1.) Who is presenting the information?
 2.) How reliable is the information?
 3.) Are persuasive techniques used? (Use
your foldable to help you.)
 Please answer these questions on the left side of your
notebook.
 We will discuss the answers in 15 minutes.

INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY!!
 In
your textbook, you will turn to page
#542.
 Read through the speech, and then
answer questions #1-6.
 We will go over the answers in 10
minutes.
HOMEWORK!!
Study for Quiz (Next Wednesday)
 This quiz is difficult!! You will have to match each
word you learned today to its definition.
If
you have not turned in your
research paper, it is officially late!!