Propaganda and Persuasive
Techniques
English IA & IP
Mrs. Spencer
Definitions and Uses
• Propaganda: Propaganda is ideas or information
that is meant to influence people through their
emotions, instead of with facts
• Persuasive Techniques: In advertising, propaganda
is sometimes called “Persuasive Techniques”,
because someone is trying to persuade you to buy
something.
• 3 Common Uses of Propaganda
– During Wars
– In Politics
– In Advertising
Wartime Propaganda
• Wartime Propaganda is
used to appeal to the
emotional stresses of
military personnel and
civilians as well. Many
times propaganda flyers
are dropped from planes
into a war zone so they
are easily accessible.
Political Propaganda
Propaganda, or Persuasive
Techniques in Advertising
Propaganda or Persuasive Techniques
“Do You Buy It?” Quiz
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
M’m m’m good
You deserve a break today, so get out and get away, at ______________.
Just do it. ( a brand of athletic clothing)
Snap! Crackle! Pop!
Like a good neighbor, ______ is there.
It’s finger lickin’ good
I am stuck on ____, and _______s stuck on me.
Have it your way, at __________
Leggo my _____________
Melts in your mouth, not in your hands
They’rrrre GR-R-REAT!
My bologny has a first name, it’s _____. My bologny has a second name it’s
_______. Oh! I love to eat it every day and if you ak me why, I’ll say…Cause
______ has a way with B O L O G N A.
I don’t want to grow up, I’m a ___________ kid.
Give me a break, give me a break! Break me off a piece of that ____bar.
The Uncola.
Answers to
“Do You Buy It” Quiz
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Campbell’s Soup
McDonald’s
Nike
Rice Crispies
State Farm
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Band-Aid
Burger King
Eggo Waffles
M & Ms
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes
Oscar Mayer
Toys R’ Us
Kit Kat Candy Bar
7-Up
Technique
Definition
Example
1. Name Calling –
Using negative words, usually in
politics, to turn you against a
competing person without
giving evidence or facts
“My opponent didn’t tell you the truth!”
2.Plain Folks Appeal –
Trying to show that a person or
product is good for
“ordinary” people, because a
person is “just like you” and
understands you
An ordinary looking family sits together at a
table to eat a certain brand of
macaroni.
OR
Politicians show pictures of themselves
playing with a dog or with their
children, wearing casual clothing.
3.Glittering Generality –
Telling only positive things about
something or someone,
without giving evidence or
facts
“Pure, fresh, mountain spring
water. Bottled especially for you in
Utah from only our purest
mountain springs.”
4. Bandwagon –
Convincing us to accept someone
or something because of its
popularity
Commercials that show everybody’s got one,
or everyone’s doing it!
5. Testimonial –
Using a famous person to try to
make you buy or support
something or someone
Tiger Woods wears Nike clothing, and if you
want to be like him, then you should,
too!
OR
A famous actor is voting for a candidate, so
you should, too.
6. Hidden Fears –
Suggesting that a person or
product will protect you
against something
unpleasant or dangerous
If you don’t want “ring around the collar,”
use a particular detergent.
OR
This person will protect America against
terrorism.
7. Snob Appeal –
Suggesting that association with a
person or product can make you
special
The people who drive this kind of car
wear fancy clothes, live in mansions, or
go to great places.
OR
8. Facts and Figures –
Using tests, statistics or
information that sounds “scientific”
to prove that one product or person
is better than another
“Four out of five dentists recommend this
toothpaste.”
OR
“73% of Americans believe this
candidate will do a better job – can they
all be wrong?”
9. Unfinished Comparisons –
Comparing a product or person to
another, without providing the
other half of the comparison.
“This soap cleans better!” – better than
what?
OR
“This politician works harder for
America.” – harder than whom?
10. Repetition –
Repeating a name, slogan or product
over and over in the same
advertisement
“Buy it for less at Jamisons” repeated at
least four times in the same
advertisement
OR
“He says he didn’t know” repeated over
and over about a politician in the same
advertisement.
11. Weasel Words, or
12. Empty Phrases –
Using broad promises or phrases
that don’t really mean anything
“With this diet, you can loose up to 100
pounds.”
OR
“Vote for this politician. He’s a real
American!”
Test Your Knowledge
Name the Technique Used in these
Advertisements
• Name Calling
• Bandwagon
Snob Appeal
Hidden Fears
Plain Folks Appeal
Unfinished Comparisons
Propaganda or Persuasive
Techniques on Television
• Television Commercials are typically
geared toward a select group of viewers;
therefore, businesses will wisely purchase
time slots during the airing of particular
television shows in order to reach their
perspective buyers.
Your Assignment
• You are to watch 1 hour of television on
a major network broadcast station and
record your findings using the handout
as a guide. Pay close attention to the
target audience section. (teens,
adolescents, families with small
children, elderly, etc.)
Select a Friend to Work With on the
Next Assignment
Magazine Advertisements
• Choose a magazine to evaluate. Each
couple working together should have two
different magazines.
• Count the number of pages with
advertisements and then count the
number of pages without advertisements.
• Next, you and your partner will make a
spread sheet using Excel to show your
findings.
Using Excel
1. Make a header:
Go to View on the toolbar. Click “Header
and Footer”. Click on “Custom Header”.
Next, you should type in the heading
“Magazine Data” and then type in both of
your names in the Center section. Click
“ok” when you are finished
Label the Columns
• Column A: Name of Magazine
• Column B: Number of Pages with Ads
• Column C: Number of Pages without Ads
• Column D: Total Number of Pages
• Column E: Percentage of Pages with Ads
(You may make the columns wider by
dragging your cursor over the adjoining
vertical lines.)
Column D and E
• When typing in Column D for the first
magazine line: you should type in
=SUM(B2,C2)
• When typing in Column E for the second
magazine line: you should type in
=B2*100/D2
• When you type in information for the
second magazine you should adjust the
line and column numbers accordingly.
BEFORE YOU PRINT
• GO TO FILE AND SELECT PRINT SETUP.
SELECT A “LANDSCAPE” PRINT
• GO TO FILE AND SELECT PRINT PREVIEW.
• DO YOU HAVE A HEADING WITH BOTH OF
YOUR NAMES?
• ARE BOTH MAGAZINES ON THE SHEET?
• If “yes” go ahead and print.
Your Next Assignment
• After drawing numbers, you and your partner will
create an advertisement using the prompt and
the technique given to you.
• Your advertisement is due: Tuesday, March 1st.
• You and your partner will present the
advertisement to the class as you demonstrate
the persuasion technique used and the prompt.
• Don’t waste class time allotted and Good Luck!