FIRST WORLD WAR POSTER TASK
During the First World War, many of the Allied countries used posters in public places and in
newspapers and other publications to encourage men to enlist in the First World War. These
methods were also used in the Second World War.
British recruitment
poster
French recruitment
poster
French recruitment
poster
United States
recruitment poster
Click on the link below for some more examples of First World War recruiting posters, including
Australian posters.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/australia.htm
Select two Australian posters from this website to help you answer the questions below
Questions
1. What is your poster saying?
POSTER ONE:
POSTER TWO:
2.
What symbols aid the poster in delivering its message?
3.
Why do you think posters were used to encourage men to sign up?
4.
What virtues do each of these posters portray? For example, bravery, patriotism? Explain
using evidence from the poster to support your answer.
5. What are some of the similarities in the two posters?
TASK
In pairs (or groups of three), your task is to choose one of the options below and come up with ways
to encourage young people to enlist in either the Australian Defence Force or the United Nations
Peacekeeping Force. You should consider the interests of your own generation. For example, what
encourages you to participate in something? Your media proposal can take the form of any
contemporary media type you wish (i.e. video advertisement, Facebook/Twitter advertisement,
poster, song).
OPTION 1 – Recruitment Advertisement – ADFA (Australian Defence
We live in a very different world to the times of the First World War. Australia was federated only
thirteen years prior to involving itself in the First World War. Would posters influence you to sign up
and enlist if there was a world war on now? Would the government try similar tactics to encourage
young men (and women) to enlist? What might it do differently and what similar approaches might
it use? You can have a look at the following website to see how the ADFA currently advertises for
recruits. http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/default.aspx
OPTION 2 – Recruitment Advertisement – United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Force
In many countries around the world today, people have been touched by conflict. The UN
Peacekeeping force includes military, police and civilians whose aim is to help countries torn apart
by conflict and to create conditions of peace. It was formed in 1948 during the Armistice Agreement
between Israel and its Arab neighbours. It is just as important today as it was in 1948. How might the
United Nations recruit members to join their peacekeeping force? What would attract you to join
up? The following website has information about their current peacekeeping operations, history and
rationale http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/
Your response needs to include
1. A rationale. Approximately half a page explanation on why you have used this medium to recruit
young people to either the ADF or UN Peacekeeping Force. This could also include a very brief
history of the organisation and their rationale.
2. A completed self assessment and peer assessment rubric.
3. An electronic version (on USB) of your video or media response OR a hard copy version of
applicable.
CRITERIA
Creativity – level of
imagination in finding
new ways of
recruiting today’s
young adults for the
ADF or UN
Peacekeeping Force
Teamwork – equal
distribution of tasks
and cooperation
between team
members
Rationale /
relevance – Write up
clearly states
purpose of the task
and identifies
similarities and
differences between
current recruitment
poster and historical
poster
Self and Peer
Assessment – Has
been completed
honestly by all team
members
VERY HIGH
Assessment Rubric
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
Self-Assessment Rubric
VERY HIGH
I always put in my
best effort when
completing this
task.
HIGH
Usually I put in my
best effort when
completing this
task, however I
was occasionally
distracted.
MEDIUM
I do not feel like I
put in my best
effort, but I did
complete the task
to a satisfactory
standard.
Presentation
I have paid very
careful attention
to detail in my
poster
I have paid
attention to detail,
although it could
be better
Co-operation
I always cooperated well with
all team members
and made sure
that each team
member knew
what they were
doing.
I often cooperated well with
all team members
and usually knew
what had to be
done and did my
job well.
My poster is
adequately
presented,
however I can see
lots of room for
improvement
I sometimes
contributed with
team members,
however I think I
might have put in
more effort and
offered more help
to my team mates.
Effort
LOW
I did not put in my
best effort when
completing this
task. I was often
distracted in class
which affected the
finished product.
My poster is not
very well
presented and
looks quite rushed.
I did not cooperate well with
my team mates
and often did not
complete the tasks
I was allocated. A
lot of the task was
completed by my
team mates
instead of me.