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Animal Farm
Propaganda Group Project
Group 1: The Pigs (Military Tactics)
Group 5: The Ravens (Utopian Society)
Group 2: The Donkeys (Cynics and Non-believers)
Group 6: The Sheep (Easily Convinced Masses)
Group 3: The Humans (Capitalism and Western World)
Group 7: The Dogs (KGB – Secret Police. The Enforcers.)
Group 4: The Horses (Hard-working Citizens)
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Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to help you understand multiple ways
of interpreting, analyzing, and thinking about George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm.
Requirements: Each group will present a 10-15 minute campaign to the class that reveals their platform (based on the animal assigned). Use
your animal’s characterization in Animal Farm to help you determine where they stand, what they would fight for, and how they would appeal
to the masses. You may also want to bring in props, costumes, or music to enhance your presentation. Each member of your group must play
a role in the presentation of this information.
Your campaign must include the following:
1. Outline
a. In bullet or outline form, please provide a handout that explains the information you will cover in your presentation. The
handout should also include a separate section on how your platform is relevant to the novel. You should include at least 2
different concrete details from the novel that tie into your campaign.
2. Propaganda Poster
a. Use fewer than ten words; in fact, you may not even need to use words to make your point.
b. Make sure you use at least one of the propaganda techniques from the list I’ve provided you.
c. Write your heading, the main idea that you have chosen to convey, and the type of technique on the back of your project
d. You will be evaluated by the: effectiveness of the message, clear incorporation of propaganda techniques, attractiveness and clarity of
product, and evidence of a high level of effort.
3. Political Speech
a. Minimum of 3 minutes and no more than 5 minutes long
b. You must ALL share the reading of the speech. You can divide it up as you wish.
c. Learn the speech. You may hold your speech in front of you to refer to, but the majority must be memorized.
d. Turn in a typed, double-spaced copy of the speech to the teacher.
e. Your speech must have (please highlight these on your teacher copy):
i. At least one metaphor
ii. At least one rhetorical question
iii. Repetition
iv. Describe the present situation Manor Farm is in
v. Provide a vision of a better future
vi. Call to Action
vii. Propaganda techniques/Fallacies of Reason
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4. Commercial
a. Present your campaign platform
b. Have a clear topic and target audience
c. Use persuasive strategies and propaganda techniques
d. Fill out a script (see sample below) and turn that in (typed and double-spaced)
e. 30-60 seconds long
f. All group members must be a part of the filming
g. Sample script:
TITLE: “Peter and Moby”
PREPARED FOR: U.S. Postal Service
WRITER: Steven Spielberg
PRODUCER: Justin Bieber
DATE: 3/10/13
VIDEO
1. Peter is
sitting in his
chair. On the
small table next
to him is a
goldfish in a
small bowl.
Peter is
watching TV. A
voice speaks to
Peter.
2. Peter looks
around. He
doesn't see
anybody.
3. Peter looks
at the fish. He is
astonished.
4. Shot of the
fish.
AUDIO
Moby: Peter... psst, Peter.
Moby: (cont’d) In here, Peter
Peter: Moby, is that you talking
to me?
Moby: Yeah. Why so surprised?
So, listen Peter. Do you have
enough stamps?
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Propaganda Techniques
Broadly speaking, propaganda is any rumor or fact that is spread in order to convince someone of something. Historically, governments have
created propaganda systems to spread ideas through speeches, slogans, posters, newspaper articles, etc. Propaganda may be truthful or not, and it is
often one-sided. The most common type of propaganda these days is advertising. The purpose of propaganda is to convince, so propaganda techniques
can also be called techniques of argument. A salesperson does not simply walk up to us and say, “This thing costs $25. Buy it.” No, he or she uses powers
of persuasion to convince us that we WANT whatever it is. Visually, propaganda is boiled down to the bare minimum. Think about the “Uncle Sam Wants
You!” poster. In print, words are expensive; attention spans are short. Words are chosen carefully! Often, ideas are expressed through pictures.
1. Bandwagon appeal (Other people do it, so join the group.)
2. Repetition (If I repeat myself often enough, you’ll accept the idea.)
3. Transfer (I’ll show you something you like. Then you’ll transfer your good feelings about it to my product or idea. Or: I’ll show you something you dislike. Then you’ll
transfer your negative feelings about it to my opponent’s product or idea.)
4. Testimonial (I’ll get somebody famous to say that my idea is good, and then you’ll be more likely to believe it.)
5. Exigency (You’re going to have to act fast if you want to get in on this because I’m not going to hold this offer open long.)
6. Free (I’ll give you something for nothing—at the most, it will cost you a couple of postage stamps.)
7. Bargain (I’ll give you more than you’re paying for.)
8. Glittering generality (I’ll use words that will sound good to you. But the words will be so general that you won’t be able to pin down exactly what I’m promising.)
9. Innuendo (I won’t really SAY that the other product or idea is no good. But I’ll do a good job of hinting around at it, and that’ll help make you think it’s true.
10. Name-calling (I’ll use emotionally loaded words, and then you’ll react emotionally instead of logically.)
11. Card-stacking (I’ll only tell you one side of the story. Then maybe you won’t stop to think about arguments for the other side.)
12. Oversimplifying (I’ll give you a simple solution for a complex problem. I won’t mention that my solution doesn’t cover all the angles. Well, maybe I’ll mention it, but I’ll
make it seem unimportant.)
13. Snob (You’re a really superior person if you go along with my idea.)
14. Just plain folks (Hey, I’m just like you are, so I know you’ll go along with my idea.)
15. Flag-waving (You’re patriotic if you go along with my idea, and you’re unpatriotic if you don’t.)
16. Fear mongering (make them afraid and they’ll buy in to anything)