Bias and Propaganda

Aims:
1. IWBAT define bias and propaganda.
2. IWBAT identify bias and propaganda in images and nonfiction articles.

Tasks:

1. Read about propaganda:

Authors sometimes use techniques that are meant to persuade you to act based mainly on your emotions without considering all the facts. This type of reasoning is called propaganda: information used to change the way other people think or act.

We studied propaganda during our Holocaust unit. We can find propaganda in many different forms, including images, videos, books, and brochures. Here are a few reminders:

2. Now, you will analyze some examples of propaganda that are or were used in the United States:

President Barack Obama's campaign posters

World War II-era Poster Warning
Against Sexually-Transmitted Infections

World War I U.S. Army Recruiting Poster

New York City Public Service Anti-Smoking Public Service Announcements

Magazine Advertisement in 1960

 

3. Choose three of the five images to analyze. You will answer three questions about each image using a Google form: click here.

• What do you see in the image?
• What is the purpose of the image?
• What may be misleading (or one-sided) about this propaganda?

4. Read about bias:

One reason we read is to learn about other people's ideas. Sometimes, though, an author's strong feelings about a subject can cause his or her reasoning to be flawed. The author may see things from only one side, rather than thinking clearly about all the facts. This called having bias.

For example, imagine that your little brother has just seen a Spiderman movie. You ask him whether it was good, and he replies, "Wow! It was just awesome--the best movie ever!"

Do you trust his opinion? You remember that he said basically the same thing about the last Spiderman movie. He owns a zillion Spiderman comic books, and Spiderman posters cover the walls of his room. He even wears Spiderman pajamas and underpants. It is safe to say that your brother has a bias toward all things Spiderman. His opinion of a Spiderman movie might not be completely trustworthy.

When you read, try to figure out whether the author might have a biased view toward the topic.

5. Read and analyze a short article from a newsletter: click here.

6. Participate in a table group challenge to answer the analysis questions.

• One person in your group will go to Socrative, enter the room number kba, and click Join Room. This person will enter the group's answer.
• You will work together as a team to correctly answer each question.
• One point will be awarded for each correct answer.
• The winning team will receive a prize.

7. Complete an exit ticket to show Mr. T what you have learned today:

• Go to Socrative.
• Enter the room number: kba. Then click Join Room.
• Enter your last name, then your first name. (example: Twarek, Bryan -- not Bryan Twarek)
• Answer how well you understood the material today.
• State something new you learned today.
• Last, answer the question that Mr. T shows you on the screen. Be sure to give a thorough answer.

Homework: Prepositions & Sentences