Warm – Up Within your groups, brainstorm about your favorite commercial on television or advertisement in a magazine or online. Why do you like this commercial? How does it make you feel after viewing it? Does the commercial convince you to buy the product? Why or why not? Be ready to share out!

SS.7.C.2.11 – Analyzing media and political communications (bias, symbolism, propaganda). Essential Question: What types of communication techniques and methods are used in the media and political communication? Answers will vary on essential question. Groups use propaganda in many different ways advertising, creating internet ads, commercials on television and much more. Their hope is that people will see their advertisements and be persuaded to act.

We Do – Student Note Taking Political and Media Communication

Bias Bias is a preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another. Bias affects how people see events and people around them. Many biases come from an individual’s personal experiences or lack of experiences.

Words or Ideas Represented by the Symbol Symbolism Symbol Words or Ideas Represented by the Symbol Uncle Sam, bald eagle, American flag, Capitol building, White House U.S. government red, white, blue, stars and stripes American flag, patriotism Statue of Liberty, torch, Liberty Bell freedom and democracy U.S. Supreme Court building, scales Justice Donkey Democratic Party Elephant Republican Party dove, olive branch, peace sign Peace Symbolism is the technique of using images or pictures to convey a certain message.

Propaganda is media that uses carefully-crafted messages to manipulate people’s opinions and beliefs – it has one purpose – to persuade - therefore, it is biased!

Types of Propaganda Testimonials Bandwagon Name-Calling Glittering Generalities Card Stacking Plain Folks Transfer Review definitions with students

You Do – Gallery Walk Can you spot the propaganda techniques that are influencing you every day? They are everywhere – today you will be the detective and will be visiting multiple stations around the room to evaluate and assess the propaganda at work. Watch out! These methods can be tricky, and sly, but if you have the right tools and knowledge, you can spot them. Complete the handouts as you visit each station. Make sure that your are matching the station pictures to the correct questions on the handout. 5 minutes per station is all you get so you will have to work quickly. Ready… Set… Go find the propaganda!

Let’s Review!

Station 1 – Name Calling

Station 2 - Testimonials

Station 3 - Transfer

Station 4 – Glittering Generalities

Station 5 – Plain Folks

Station 6 - Bandwagon

Station 7 – Card Stacking

Station 8 - Challenge

Exit Questions (3 minutes) The poster below was created in 1917 What type of communication is shown in this poster? Accurate Biased Informational Propagandized Source: Public Domain/Library of Congress

Bell Ringer Questions (3 minutes) The poster below was created in 1917 What type of communication is shown in this poster? Accurate Biased Informational Propagandized D is the correct answer. Source: Public Domain/Library of Congress