Advertising Gimmicks: The job of an advertiser is to promote a product in a way that makes it sound appealing. The strategies used by advertisers are called gimmicks. Some gimmicks are simple elaborations. However, some advertising gimmicks deceive or trick people. We will be watching a video about advertising called “I don’t Buy It”. While you watch it, try to pay attention to any advertising gimmicks you notice in the video.

Video: “I Don’t Buy It” At the start of this video, we will see a young girl who has tried cigarettes. She probably fell for some of the gimmicks advertisers use. She might even think that lots of kids smoke cigarettes. Actually, fewer than one in four teenagers use tobacco. Most kids want to be healthy and obey the law, so they don’t smoke or chew tobacco. Let’s see what happens. (Show video)

Discuss the video using the following questions: What did Amy do at the end of the video? She quit smoking. It is difficult to quit smoking once a person starts. What do you think is a better idea? Never start smoking. What are some of the gimmicks the advertisers used? They make using drugs look like fun. They make it look cool. They don’t tell about the irritating smoke, bad smell, cancer risk, potential for car crashes, risk of alcoholism or other harmful effects associated with drug use. They only show good-looking and rich people using drugs.

What three things can we do to get the whole truth about the products in ads? Ask questions Get the facts Think about the consequences Sometimes other forms of media glamorize the use of tobacco and other drugs. In some movies and television shows, the main character, the one you are supposed to like or admire, is shown smoking or drinking alcohol. The risks and dangers of drug use are rarely mentioned in these shows.

Advertisement Posters Students are going to create, share, and display advertisements showing the whole truth about specific drugs. Using art supplies, design an advertisement that shows the whole truth about one of the following topics: Effects of secondhand smoke Alcohol use Tobacco use Students will share with class their advertisements. They will be on display throughout the school, so others can learn about the dangers of these drugs.

Advertising Examples:

Videos What’s in a cigarette? re=related re=related Tar in Cigarettes. Still want to smoke? A great look at what tar build up would look like in your body! DbFBu_I_lA&feature=related DbFBu_I_lA&feature=related