High School Projects on Propaganda

Teach high school students about propaganda so they can see through it.

Propaganda is the technique of spreading information about an individual or group with the intention of doing damage to their reputation. Students are confronted with propaganda constantly through the Internet, television and radio. Propaganda appears in the form of information, ideas or rumors. Teaching students how to identify propaganda helps teach them how to make choices based on their own beliefs.

Name Calling

Show your students a picture of a cartoon character. Ask them to call the character names. Avoid encouraging derogatory names but let them be creative. Write these names down on the board. Once you have enough names, begin going over them one after another. Discuss whether the names effectively represent the nature of the character or if they are meant to insult. Show your class how name calling does not demonstrate a true image of their focus.

Generalities

Ask your class to verbally define a superhero. Write the traits they describe on the board. Let them include specific super powers as well as elements of their personality. Lead a spirited discussion about their superhero. Discuss each of the traits you have written down. Ask students to define a few of the super powers and then ask them to define the personal elements such as heroic or noble. Discuss the problems inherent in using those generalities, even as a positive reference. Demonstrate how some are so general that they no longer have a real definition.

Transfer

Show your class a picture of a popular musician. Select a musician from your childhood but don't identify him or her yet. Let students define a few things about the pictured musician. Comment about how those elements are similar to the musician whom you chose. Show a picture of the musician you chose when finished and turn on some of his or her music. Discuss whether the two musicians are actually similar or if the attempt to transfer traits from one to the other was an attempt at propaganda.

Testimonial

Bring to class a quote by someone you know your class will disagree with, such as a quote saying that video games are bad for kids or that kids need more time in class. Read the quote to your students and ask for their feedback. Repeat the quote and stand by it as if it were fact if they disagree. Explain the method used by propagandists to utilize a statement by an individual and circulate it as fact or as the general opinion.

References

• George Mason University: Propaganda Techniques
• The J. Paul Getty Museum: Putting a Spin on Current Events (Advanced Level)