Propaganda techniques in literature and online political ads
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=405
A lesson plan for Grades 10–12 English II, English III, and English IV
Students improve visual literacy and analysis skills in this lesson designed to introduce techniques of propaganda found in literature and multi-media in popular culture. After developing an understanding of the methods authors and advertisers use to produce specific messages, students write a persuasive essay explaining their position on the effectiveness of a democratic society to produce individual and collaborative thinking. Teachers will need to do some research to provide links to current online election campaign advertisements.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 10 — English II
- Goal 1: The learner will react to and reflect upon print and non-print text and personal experiences by examining situations from both subjective and objective perspectives.
- Objective 1.02: Respond reflectively (through small group discussion, class discussion, journal entry, essay, letter, dialogue) to written and visual texts by:
- relating personal knowledge to textual information or class discussion.
- showing an awareness of one's own culture as well as the cultures of others.
- exhibiting an awareness of culture in which text is set or in which text was written.
- explaining how culture affects personal responses.
- demonstrating an understanding of media's impact on personal responses and cultural analyses.
- Objective 1.03: Demonstrate the ability to read, listen to and view a variety of increasingly complex print and non-print expressive texts appropriate to grade level and course literary focus, by:
- selecting, monitoring, and modifying as necessary reading strategies appropriate to readers' purpose.
- identifying and analyzing text components (such as organizational structures, story elements, organizational features) and evaluating their impact on the text.
- providing textual evidence to support understanding of and reader's response to text.
- demonstrating comprehension of main idea and supporting details.
- summarizing key events and/or points from text.
- making inferences, predicting, and drawing conclusions based on text.
- identifying and analyzing personal, social, historical or cultural influences, contexts, or biases.
- making connections between works, self and related topics.
- analyzing and evaluating the effects of author's craft and style.
- analyzing and evaluating the connections or relationships between and among ideas, concepts, characters and/or experiences.
- identifying and analyzing elements of expressive environment found in text in light of purpose, audience, and context.
- Objective 1.02: Respond reflectively (through small group discussion, class discussion, journal entry, essay, letter, dialogue) to written and visual texts by:
- Goal 2: The learner will evaluate problems, examine cause/effect relationships, and answer research questions to inform an audience.
- Objective 2.01: Demonstrate the ability to read, listen to and view a variety of increasingly complex print and non-print informational texts appropriate to grade level and course literary focus, by:
- selecting, monitoring, and modifying as necessary reading strategies appropriate to readers' purpose.
- identifying and analyzing text components (such as organizational structures, story elements, organizational features) and evaluating their impact on the text.
- providing textual evidence to support understanding of and reader's response to text.
- demonstrating comprehension of main idea and supporting details.
- summarizing key events and/or points from text.
- making inferences, predicting, and drawing conclusions based on text.
- identifying and analyzing personal, social, historical or cultural influences, contexts, or biases.
- making connections between works, self and related topics.
- analyzing and evaluating the effects of author's craft and style.
- analyzing and evaluating the connections or relationships between and among ideas, concepts, characters and/or experiences.
- identifying and analyzing elements of informational environment found in text in light of purpose, audience, and context.
- Objective 2.01: Demonstrate the ability to read, listen to and view a variety of increasingly complex print and non-print informational texts appropriate to grade level and course literary focus, by:
- Goal 3: The learner will defend argumentative positions on literary or nonliterary issues.
- Objective 3.03: Respond to issues in literature in such a way that:
- requires gathering of information to prove a particular point.
- effectively uses reason and evidence to prove a given point.
- emphasizes culturally significant events.
- Objective 3.03: Respond to issues in literature in such a way that:
- Goal 4: The learner will critically interpret and evaluate experiences, literature, language, and ideas.
- Objective 4.04: Evaluate the information, explanations, or ideas of others by:
- identifying clear, reasonable criteria for evaluation.
- applying those criteria using reasoning and substantiation.
- Objective 4.04: Evaluate the information, explanations, or ideas of others by:
- Goal 5: The learner will demonstrate understanding of selected world literature through interpretation and analysis.
- Objective 5.01: Read and analyze selected works of world literature by:
- using effective strategies for preparation, engagement, and reflection.
- building on prior knowledge of the characteristics of literary genres, including fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry, and exploring how those characteristics apply to literature of world cultures.
- analyzing literary devices such as allusion, symbolism, figurative language, flashback, dramatic irony, situational irony, and imagery and explaining their effect on the work of world literature.
- analyzing the importance of tone and mood.
- analyzing archetypal characters, themes, and settings in world literature.
- making comparisons and connections between historical and contemporary issues.
- understanding the importance of cultural and historical impact on literary texts.
- Objective 5.01: Read and analyze selected works of world literature by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
- employing varying sentence structures (e.g., inversion, introductory phrases) and sentence types (e.g., simple, compound, complex, compound-complex).
- analyzing authors' choice of words, sentence structure, and use of language.
- using word recognition strategies to understand vocabulary and exact word choice (Greek, Latin roots and affixes, analogies, idioms, denotation, connotation).
- examining textual and classroom language for elements such as idioms, denotation, and connotation to apply effectively in own writing/speaking.
- using correct form/format for essays, business letters, research papers, bibliographies.
- using language effectively to create mood and tone.
- Objective 6.02: Edit for:
- subject-verb agreement, tense choice, pronoun usage, clear antecedents, correct case, and complete sentences.
- appropriate and correct mechanics (commas, italics, underlining, semicolon, colon, apostrophe, quotation marks).
- parallel structure.
- clichés, trite expressions.
- spelling.
- Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
Grade 11 — English III
- Goal 3: The learner will demonstrate increasing sophistication in defining issues and using argument effectively.
- Objective 3.01: Use language persuasively in addressing a particular issue by:
- finding and interpreting information effectively.
- recognizing propaganda as a purposeful technique.
- establishing and defending a point of view.
-responding respectfully to viewpoints and biases. - Objective 3.02: Select an issue or theme and take a stance on that issue by:
- reflecting the viewpoint(s) of Americans of different times and places.
- showing sensitivity or empathy for the culture represented.
- supporting the argument with specific reasons. - Objective 3.03: Use argumentation for:
- interpreting researched information effectively.
- establishing and defending a point of view.
- addressing concerns of the opposition.
- using logical strategies (e.g., deductive and inductive reasoning, syllogisms, analogies) and sophisticated techniques (e.g., rhetorical devices, parallelism, irony, concrete images).
-developing a sense of completion.
- Objective 3.01: Use language persuasively in addressing a particular issue by:
- Goal 4: The learner will critically analyze text to gain meaning, develop thematic connections, and synthesize ideas.
- Objective 4.03: Assess the power, validity, and truthfulness in the logic of arguments given in public and political documents by:
- identifying the intent and message of the author or artist.
- recognizing how the author addresses opposing viewpoints.
- articulating a personal response to the message and method of the author or artist.
-evaluating the historical significance of the work.
- Objective 4.03: Assess the power, validity, and truthfulness in the logic of arguments given in public and political documents by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of language by:
- decoding vocabulary using knowledge of Anglo-Saxon, Greek, and Latin bases and affixes.
- discerning the relationship of word meanings between pairs of words in analogies (synonyms/antonyms, connotation/denotation).
- revising writing to enhance voice and style, sentence variety, subtlety of meaning, and tone in considerations of questions being addressed, purpose, audience, and genres.
- contrasting use of language conventions of authors in different time periods of United States literature.
-analyzing the power of standard usage over nonstandard usage in formal settings such a job interviews, academic environment, or public speaking events. - Objective 6.02: Discern and correct errors in speaking and writing at a level appropriate to eleventh grade by:
- reviewing and refining purposeful use of varying sentence types with correct punctuation.
- reviewing and refining correct pronoun usage, antecedents, and case.
- refining subject/verb agreement and choice of tense.
- extending effective use of phrases and clauses. - discussing parts of speech as they relate to writing.
-editing for correct spelling and mechanics.
- Objective 6.01: Demonstrate an understanding of the conventions of language by:
Grade 12 — English IV
- Goal 3: The learner will be prepared to enter issues of public concern as an advocate.
- Objective 3.02: Organize and deliver an argument so that an intended audience respects it by:
- wording the claim clearly.
- specifying reasons in support of the claim that are likely to be convincing.
-- adopting an appropriate tone and stance toward the issue.
- Objective 3.02: Organize and deliver an argument so that an intended audience respects it by:
- Goal 5: The learner will deepen understanding of British literature through exploration and extended engagement.
- Objective 5.01: Explore British literature by:
- recognizing common themes that run through works, using evidence from the texts to substantiate ideas.
- relating the cultural and historical contexts to the literature and identifying perceived ambiguities, prejudices, and complexities.
- making associations between historical and current viewpoints.
-understanding how literary movements influence writers. - Objective 5.02: Extend engagement with selected works of British literature by:
- observing how the imaginative experience of literature broadens and enriches real life.
- relating style, meaning, and genre (including fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry).
- applying literary, grammatical, and rhetorical terms of literature.
- demonstrating in various print and non-print media the significance of works.
-discerning the effect of interpreting literature from various critical perspectives.
- Objective 5.01: Explore British literature by:
- Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
- Objective 6.01: Apply knowledge of literary terms, grammar, and rhetoric in order to write clearly, succinctly, and accurately by:
- understanding how to use and apply grammatical, metaphorical, or rhetorical devices.
- recognizing how to use different language conventions (such as loose or periodic sentences, effective use of passive voice, or the importance of strong verbs).
- revising writing to enhance voice and style, sentence variety, subtlety of meaning, and tone in considerations of questions being addressed, purpose, audience, and genres.
- contrasting use of language conventions of authors in different time periods of British literature.
- analyzing the power of standard usage over nonstandard usage in formal settings such a job interviews, academic presentations, or public speaking events. - Objective 6.02: Discern and correct errors in speaking and writing by:
- reviewing and refining purposeful use of various sentence types.
- editing for correct punctuation, spelling, mechanics, and standard edited American English.
- using appropriate transitional words and phrases.
- Objective 6.01: Apply knowledge of literary terms, grammar, and rhetoric in order to write clearly, succinctly, and accurately by:



