Overview  In this lesson, students will understand and analyze how bias, symbolism, and propaganda are used in media and political communication. Essential Questions  What types of communication techniques and methods are used in the media and political communication? How can these techniques impact public opinion? NGSSS Benchmark  SS.7.C.2.11 Analyze media and political communications (bias, symbolism, propaganda). Learning Goals/Benchmark Clarifications  Students will use scenarios to identify bias, symbolism, and propaganda.  Students will evaluate how bias, symbolism, and propaganda can impact public opinion.

 Brainstorm: What is one of your favorite commercials/advertisements that you have recently seen?  Why do you like the commercial?  How did it make you feel?  Did it convince you to buy the product?

 Why do you think candidates use the colors red, white, and blue and stars and stripes in their logos?  What message do you think they are trying to convey by using these colors and images?  Is there a feeling or emotion that the logos convey?

Campaig n CandidateSlogan 1840William Henry Harrison Tippecanoe and Tyler Too 1844James K. Polk54-50 or Fight 1844James K. PolkReannexation of Texas and Reoccupation of Oregon 1844Henry ClayWho is James K. Polk? 1848Zachary TaylorFor President of the People 1856John C. FremontFree Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men, and Fremont 1860Abraham LincolnVote Yourself a Farm 1864Abraham LincolnDon't swap horses in the middle of the stream 1884Grover ClevelandBlaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine 1884James BlaineMa, Ma, Where’s my Pa, Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha 1888Benjamin HarrisonRejuvenated Republicanism 1896William McKinleyPatriotism, Protection and Prosperity 1900William McKinleyA Full Dinner Pail 1916Woodrow WilsonHe Kept us Out of War 1920Warren G. HardingReturn to Normalcy 1920Warren G. HardingCox and Cocktails 1924Calvin CoolidgeKeep Cool with Coolidge 1928Herbert HooverA Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage 1952Dwight EisenhowerI Like Ike 1956Dwight EisenhowerPeace and Prosperity 1960Richard NixonFor the Future 1964Lyndon JohnsonThe Stakes are Too High for you to Stay Home 1964Barry GoldwaterIn your Heart you Know He’s Right 1968Richard NixonNixon’s the One 1976Gerald FordHe’s Making us Proud Again 1976Jimmy CarterNot Just Peanuts 1976Jimmy CarterA Leader, For a Change 1980Ronald ReaganAre you Better off Than you Were Four Years Ago? 1984Ronald ReaganIt’s Morning Again in America 1984Walter MondaleAmerica Needs a Change 1988George BushKinder, Gentler Nation 1992Bill ClintonDon’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow 1992Bill ClintonPutting People First 1992Ross PerotRoss for Boss 1996Bill ClintonBuilding a Bridge to the 21 st Century 1996Bob DoleThe Better Man for a Better America 2000Al GoreProsperity and Progress 2000Al GoreProsperity for American’s Families 2000George W. BushCompassionate Conservatism 2000George W. BushLeave no Child Behind 2000George W. BushReal Plans for Real People 2000George W. BushReformer with Results 2000Ralph NaderGovernment of, by, and for the People…not the Monied Interests 2004John KerryLet America be America Again 2004George W. BushYes, America Can! 2008John McCainCountry First 2008Barack ObamaHope 2008Barack ObamaYes We Can! 2012Barack ObamaForward 2012Mitt RomneyBelieve in America 1992Ross PerotRoss for Boss 1996Bill ClintonBuilding a Bridge to the 21 st Century 1996Bob DoleThe Better Man for a Better America 2000Al GoreProsperity and Progress 2000Al GoreProsperity for American’s Families 2000George W. BushCompassionate Conservatism 2000George W. BushLeave no Child Behind 2000George W. BushReal Plans for Real People 2000George W. BushReformer with Results 2000Ralph NaderGovernment of, by, and for the People…not the Monied Interests 2004John KerryLet America be America Again 2004George W. BushYes, America Can! 2008John McCainCountry First 2008Barack ObamaHope 2008Barack ObamaYes We Can! 2012Barack ObamaForward 2012Mitt RomneyBelieve in America

 The following are news headlines by Newsweek, a magazine publisher. What kind of media is this? How does Newsweek portray Mitt Romney in the first magazine? How does Newsweek portray Barack Obama in the second magazine?

 Bias - a preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another  Almost everyone is biased about something. What are you biased about?

 Let’s look at a couple of news sources  How do they create bias?  How do they persuade the viewers to think a certain way?

What is going on in this political cartoon? How does the artist depict Bush’s stance on foreign policy? How does the artist depict Obama’s stance on foreign policy?

What do these posters tell you? How do they make you feel?

 Get into groups. You will move through stations to analyze propaganda posters and one additional political cartoon. Use the cartoon and poster analysis worksheets to guide you. Answers for stations should be written on your own paper. See example on board.

 Select one of the following prompts to write a well constructed response. Prompt 1  Using what you have learned from this lesson, explain how bias, symbolism, and propaganda can be used to impact public opinion. Prompt 2  Explain how bias, symbolism, propaganda impact how information is used in media and political communication and why it is important to be aware of these techniques.

Word/TermPart of SpeechDefinition bandwagonnounpropaganda technique encouraging the viewer to like something or someone because everyone else does biasnouna preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another card stackingnounpropaganda technique involving the use of showing one-sided information glittering generalitiesnounpropaganda technique using short phrases or words to promote positive feelings or emotions medianounplural form of the word “medium,” refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies name callingnounpropaganda technique using negative words to associate with a product or person plain folksnounpropaganda technique conveying that a candidate is a “regular” person, just like everyone else political communication nounthe use of media to convey messages or information related to government issues, campaigns or public offices propagandanounthe method of spreading ideas or information for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person symbolismnounthe use of something to represent ideas or qualities testimonialnounpropaganda technique involving the use of a celebrity or spokesperson to speak on behalf of a product of candidate transfernounpropaganda technique involving the use of symbols to convey a message or feeling