Propaganda Techniques Lesson 4: Wrapping Up False Advertising With Claims
Objective
Big Idea
Lesson Introduction
There are many ways that companies mislead consumers into buying their products. Over the past three days, students have interacted with examples of how posters, cartoons, and ads persuade a larger crowd of people to believe in a movement, idea, or lifestyle. In this last lesson on persuasion techniques, students will look (1) into ways false advertising is seen in store and TV bargains and (2) consequences assigned to each intentional act.
Warm-Up: Pros vs. Cons Conversation
To hook students into the lesson, the following prompt is on the whiteboard:
What are the pros and cons of false advertising? Which impacts companies the most? Why?
Students will work in pairs of four to respond to the prompt on a sticky note. I allow students to pick their groups since the lesson topic is not new. Once groups have thier ideas on paper, a share-out will occur to hear similarities and differences in responses. It is amazing how many opinions of pros & cons will come from this activity.
Building Knowledge: Notes on False Advertising
There are different ways that individuals see false advertising in stores. While still sitting in groups, each student will use the false advertising sheet to take notes independently from the advertising power point. Once notes are written on paper, students will use the information on slides 12-17 to discuss ways we see false advertising outside of school. As a group, we will record thier opinions of what is seen on each slide. Because of time, I will pick one group to share thier thoughts on the advertising techniques viewed in the power point.
Independent Practice: Misleading Signs & Claims
It is now time to put these notes into real-life examples. Students will work in thier same groups to read 14 False Advertising Scandals that Cost Brands Millions. Each group will select a recorder to fill out the chart. Groups work on the handout to organize information about the company, product, claim, and consequence of the falsely advertised product. Because students can use evidences of each article to select the best answers, no share-out will be done on the conclusions discovered in this activity. Here are the answers to the front and back side of the handout used in the group activity!
Closure: Pros vs. Cons
I will end this lesson by discussing what new information is learned about the pros and cons of false advertising. In order to gain students' perspective about this topic, I will ask students:
Does the pros and cons of false advertising create a "deal" for companies?
Despite a student' deal with false advertising, this closure activity allows students to understand how companies see an inflation of products being sold to increase revenue while misleading consumers into driving up thier popularity and business.
