Download Propaganda and Persuasive Techniques

How do people
influence you?
Sherwood Brooks
Driftwood Middle School
2010
A means of convincing people:
 to buy a certain product
 to believe something or act in a
certain way
 to agree with a point of view
Persuasive Techniques

False Analogy – compares two
things that do not have
enough similarities to be a
valid comparison
Persuasive Techniques

False premise – begins with
a statement that is not true
People who wear glasses are smart.
Naomi wears glasses, so she is smart
Persuasive Techniques

Red Herring – a reason that distracts from the
argument
Persuasive Techniques

Either/or Fallacy – assumes that there are only
two alternatives.
Either go to college or forget about getting a good job.
Common propaganda techniques often
used in advertising
 Slogan
 Repetition
 Bandwagon
 Testimonial
 Emotional Appeal
 Expert
Opinion
Repetition:
The name of a product is repeated many times
HEAD ON Apply
directly to the
forehead
HEAD ON Apply
directly to the
forehead
HEAD ON Apply
directly to the
forehead
Slogan: “Can you hear me now?”
A catchy phrase or statement often used
to sell a service or a product.
Bandwagon
A statement suggesting that everyone is
using a specific product, so you should too
 Persuading people to do something by
letting them know others are doing it
 Gives impression that you will be left out if
you don’t do what you are being persuaded
 Example: “See why so many women have
switched” (Shampoo advertisement)

Why are these examples of
Bandwagon?
Testimonial
A well-known person supports a product or
service
Emotional
Appeal
A person is made to have strong feelings
about a situation or product
 Using the words of a famous person to
persuade you “Got Milk?”
 Loaded words that make people feel
strongly - love/hate,
 Sports figures promoting athletic gear,
sports drinks, or shoes.

Testimonial
Experts approve this product, so you should
use it
“Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless
gum for their patients who chew gum”
Testimonial works because you feel
like you can trust the words of an
expert or someone who is famous.
Expert Opinion
Ads using scientific sounding language
to make a product seem more effective.
 Appeals to the audience’s intellect
 “Four out of five dentists recommend
this toothpaste….”
 “Studies show that….”

Quick Review
 Slogan
 Repetition
 Bandwagon
 Testimonial
 Emotional
Appeal
 Expert Opinion
Homework
Bring to school magazine and
newspaper ads, pictures printed
from the Internet, movie posters,
videotaped commercials, or other
materials that attempt to persuade
people in some way.