1. An Introduction to Political Propaganda Mrs. Skultety

2. Do Now: It’s Wednesday night, and you want to go see Catching Fire with your friends at 7pm. Your parents don’t usually let you go out on a school night, but you’ve already finished your homework, and there’s no other day soon that you can go. Write two arguments you could make in your favor. Picture from Lionsgate

3. Our main focus: Propaganda – a deliberate, biased spread of information, whether positive or negative Political propaganda – helps a government, cause, or leader “The function of propaganda is…not to make an objective study of the truth… and then set it before the masses with academic fairness; its task is to serve our own right, always and unflinchingly.” -Adolf Hitler

4. Your task With a partner, you will work to answer the following questions in your notebook: What is the overall message of this poster? List 2 pieces of evidence that support the message (part of the picture, words, etc) Loaded language? List as many examples as you can.

5. Loaded language – like loaded cheese fries, this language is “full of” something – instead of cheese and bacon, it’s emotion. “freedom” “love” “justice” “peace” “terrible” “regime” (instead of “government”)

6. A poster from World War II 1. What is the overall message of this poster? 2. List 2 pieces of evidence that support the message (part of the picture, words, etc.) 3. Loaded language? List as many examples as you can.

7. A poster from World War I 1. What is the overall message of this poster? 2. List 2 pieces of evidence that support the message (part of the picture, words, etc.) 3. Loaded language? List as many examples as you can.

8. A popular poster of Barack Obama during his first presidential campaign, 2008 (drawn by Shepard Fairey) 1. What is the overall message of this poster? 2. List 2 pieces of evidence that support the message (part of the picture, words, etc.) 3. Loaded language?

9. Wrapping It Up On the index card: – Write one statement YOU would have said at a rally during your political campaign from class – You must use at least one loaded word and explain why it evokes emotion. Example: If my party platform advocated for the constant eating of ice cream, I might have said, “Eat ice cream because everyone will want to be your friend!” “Friend” is loaded because most people consider friends important to them.