Download Propaganda Webquest – Animal Farm

Name: ______________________________________________
Date: ______________
Period: ______
Propaganda & Media Literacy Webquest – Animal Farm
Part 1: Understanding Propaganda
OBJECTIVE - This WebQuest will help you to understand PROPAGANDA,
as it exists in our current world and how it exists in Orwell's Animal
Farm. Follow the directions below to complete this activity.
INTRODUCTION What are you reading, watching on television, or listening to on the radio? Are you always being given the facts,
or are people trying to convince you of their opinions? This is a question that plagues consumers across the
globe, and one that is addressed in Orwell's Animal Farm. As we progress further into the text, you will notice
how the animals on Animal Farm are being manipulated by the farm's leaders, specifically Napoleon and
Squealer. To better help you understand how and why their manipulation is effective, you will begin to research
some common types of propaganda.
What is propaganda?
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Why think about propaganda?
http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/intro.why.html
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Media Literacy:
"It is essential in a democratic society that young people and adults learn how to think, learn how to
make up their minds. They must learn how to think independently, and they must learn how to think
together. They must come to conclusions, but at the same time they must recognize the right of other men
to come to opposite conclusions. So far as individuals are concerned, the art of democracy is the art of
thinking and discussing independently together." – Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA)
Media literacy is about exercising the ability to critically analyze the information you see
and hear, and becoming proficient at reading the messages you are sent everyday through
the media surrounding you.
Name: ______________________________________________
Date: ______________
Period: ______
Research different types of propaganda techniques.
http://www.propagandacritic.com/
http://www-tc.pbs.org/weta/reportingamericaatwar/teachers/pdf/propaganda.pdf
List and describe six different propaganda techniques you discovered. In addition, describe a
modern-day example of propaganda that demonstrates each technique.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Name: ______________________________________________
Date: ______________
Period: ______
Part 2: Analyzing Propaganda
The word “propaganda” has existed since the 17th century and can be used to refer to the spreading of a faith, seeds, or
ideas. Propaganda can be positive or negative, and the context in which it appears is very important. How we view certain
elements of propaganda today may be different from how they were viewed in the 1920’s, 30’s, or ‘40’s. Information can
be accurate or inaccurate but, because we are humans, it cannot be unbiased. There is always a point of view. Use the
media literacy questions to guide your analysis of propaganda.
Choose two Soviet propaganda posters and analyze them using the media literacy questions.
http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/chairman/sovintro.php
Poster title: ______________________
Poster title: ______________________
Media Literacy Questions:
Media Literacy Questions:
1.
1.
Who created this message and who was the intended
audience?
2.
What is the purpose/message of this piece of
audience?
2.
propaganda?
3.
What creative techniques were used to attract and hold
How might different people/audiences have understood
3.
What values, lifestyles, and points of view are
What creative techniques were used to attract and hold
attention?
4.
this message differently?
5.
What is the purpose/message of this piece of
propaganda?
attention?
4.
Who created this message and who was the intended
How might different people/audiences have understood
this message differently?
5.
represented in this piece?
What values, lifestyles, and points of view are
represented in this piece?
6.
What is omitted from this message?
6.
What is omitted from this message?
7.
Which emotion(s) does this piece target?
7.
Which emotion(s) does this piece target?
8.
Which propaganda technique from your research is the
8. Which propaganda technique from your research is the
BEST description of the intent of this piece? Why?
BEST description of the intent of this piece? Why?
Name: ______________________________________________
Date: ______________
Period: ______
Part 3: Evaluating Bias in News Stories
Research a top news story of the day from two different media outlets (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC, etc.). Fill out
the outline below to analyze the news stories that you chose:
What is the main idea of this story?
What biases, if any, do you bring to this
subject? (political, religious, moral, or
other life experiences that color your
perception)
Which two news sources were used?
Source 1:
What similarities exist in how the stories
are reported? What main facts are the
same? What conclusions are the same?
What differences exist in how the stories
are reported? Different facts or opinions
presented?
Which source do you believe is more credible? Why?
Source 2:
Name: ______________________________________________
Part 4: Language in Animal Farm
Date: ______________
Period: ______