Propaganda and Fallacies

1. Propaganda and Fallacies Mrs. Orso Reading Intervention

2. Propaganda • An author may not always use logic and argument to persuade the reader. • An author may instead use propaganda. • PROPAGANDA- uses emotional tactics to sway the reader’s opinion and to convince the reader to do something he or she might not ordinarily do.

3. Propaganda (cont.) • A writer will use propaganda to encourage the reader to react emotionally instead of logically. • It can be aimed at getting you to vote for a particular candidate, or support a cause or belief, or to buy a special product. • It can also be used to persuade you not to support a certain cause or belief, not to vote for a particular candidate, or not to buy a particular product.

4. Propaganda Techniques • There are several techniques, but the ones that follow are the main types. • LOADED LANGUAGE • BANDWAGON • TESTIMONIAL

5. Loaded Language • In using loaded language, a writer uses words with specific implied or exaggerated meanings to sway the reader’s emotions.

6. Example of Loaded Language • Our competition’s product is disgusting at best. They take chicken parts, mush them together, fry them in lard, and then deep freeze them before finally disposing of them into stores. • This author obviously thinks the competitions product is horrible, but instead of using objective facts, the writer strings together words with negative meanings.

7. Bandwagon Example of Bandwagon • Bandwagon uses peer pressure to convince the reader to “join the crowd” because “everybody’s doing it” and “don’t be left behind.” • Smart shoppers insist on Clean-n-Fresh laundry detergent. It’s the smart choice for you and your family. • This is saying that if you consider yourself a smart shopper, then you will buy the Clean-n-Fresh brand.

8. Testimonial • Testimonials use a famous person to convince you to buy a product. • The person endorsing the product is not necessarily an expert on the product.

9. Example of Testimonial • Hi, I’m Mark Ingram, Heisman trophy winner and Running Back for The Crimson Tide. I use DentiWhite toothpaste. My teeth are super white, and my breath stays fresh all day long.

10. Guessing Game????? • “Mr. Smith, my name is Jim Potts, and I’m calling on behalf of the Eagle’s Landing Charity Fund. Your neighbor’s have already donated a total of $2,450 to date. With your added donation of only $50, you will help your neighborhood reach the gold level. Your family’s names, along with those of your neighbors, will be engraved on our Honor Wall of Pride. Mr. Smith, can I count on your donation of $50, or would you like to increase that amount to $100 or more? • Mr. Potts is using ___________to try to get Mr. Smith to donate money to a charity. • He is using peer pressure.

11. Guessing Game????? • Acne Treatment - Proactiv® Acne Solution. • This was the use of ___________. • Testimonial

12. Guessing Game????? • Williamson High School is the greatest high school ever built! The students are talented and highly motivated, the teachers are brilliant, and the principal and staff are true visionaries and leaders. • What type of propaganda is this? • Loaded Language • What words help prove your choice? • Greatest; talented; highly motivated; brilliant; visionaries; and leaders

13. Fallacies • Our world is full of logical fallacies, or false ideas, that tend to blur our logic and cause us to make mistakes in our reasoning. • Fallacies occur when we use inductive reasoning based on incorrect assumptions • Instead of using strong evidence and facts, authors may use the following fallacies to support a viewpoint:

14. Fallacies • Loaded Language- propaganda technique to use emotionally charged words to sway the emotion of the reader instead of using evidence or facts. • False Authority- the author uses a famous person’s name (with or without the person’s permission) to promote a viewpoint. The famous person is not an authority on the product, but the famous person’s name is used to “sell” the product.

15. Fallacies • Conformity- the author uses bandwagon propaganda to give the reader false idea that there is safety strength in numbers. The argument that “everybody is doing it” is rarely a valid one. • Stereotyping- the author uses the false assumption that something or someone always conforms to a general pattern • Examples: blondes are dumb, lawyers are crooks

16. Rationalization- very common fallacy that uses excuses instead of facts to support a viewpoint. When an author rationalizes, he or she starts with the desired opinion and uses any kind of reasons and excuses to support why that opinion is true. • Example: We might rationalize that the shoes we bought on sale were too good a deal to pass up even though we didn’t really need another pair of shoes.