How to Teach Propaganda to Junior High Students

Junior high students are constantly bombarded by advertisements that use propaganda techniques.

Junior high students are constantly exposed to propaganda. Advertising, public relations specialists and media often use propaganda techniques to persuade their audience, and students who do not understand the techniques behind the message are more likely to be influenced by media and the so called spin doctors. In addition, using propaganda judiciously enables students to be more effective in their own persuasive writing. Many states include understanding of propaganda and its techniques in their standards of learning for junior high students.

Things You'll Need

• Examples of propaganda

Instructions

1. Analyze examples of propaganda. Give students examples of propaganda such as advertising, political or military propaganda. Using group activities or class discussion, have students examine the propaganda and define the techniques it uses to send its message. Help them distinguish accurate, misleading and false information.

2. Have students find examples of propaganda in their own environment and identify the techniques it uses ((testimonial, bandwagon, repetition, transfer, etc.). Have them collect examples of advertisements from television and magazines. Ask each students to find examples of several different propaganda techniques.

3. Let students create their own propaganda. Ask students to choose an issue they care about that others disagree with. It could be an issue that is personal, school-related or society-wide. Students should identify the audience they want to persuade and create an advertisement or letter attempting to persuade their audience, using the techniques they studied in examples.

References

• Mr Donn: Propaganda Techniques
• University of Tennessee Virtual K-12 Learning Community: Propaganda Techniques
• Teachers.net: Propaganda Collage