PROPAGANDA TERMS

Pronounced:Prop-uh-gan-duh

DefinitionProp.a.gan.da:

-Noun1. Ideas or information spread to promote

or injure a cause/nation/person etc.2. The spreading of such ideas

Sometimes considered “untruthful” or only telling one side of a story.

Types of PropagandaThere are 11 Types of Propaganda

1. Assertion2. Bandwagon3. Card Stacking4. Glittering Generalities5. Lesser of Two Evils6. Name Calling7. Pinpointing the Enemy8. Plain Folks9. Simplification (Stereotyping)10. Testimonials11. Transfer

Assertion Common in advertising and modern

propaganda Enthusiastic or energetic statement presented

as fact, although not necessarily true. They often imply statement needs no

explanation or back up Should be accepted without question E.g.. Anytime an advertiser states that their

product is the best without providing evidence

ASSERTION See “Mac vs PC” Video

Bandwagon An appeal for the subject to follow the

crowd Convince people one side is winning

because more people have joined it They will be left out if they do not do

something or buy a certain product Everyone wants to be a winner So many people are on the side,

winning is inevitable.

BANDWAGON

Card Stacking Selective omission Only presenting positive information and

omitting information contrary to it Tells you all the good stuff and none of

the side effects Best way to deal with Card Stacking is

to obtain more information

CARD STACKING

Glittering Generalities Positive words being used to link the

subject to highly valued concepts Words that demand approval without

thinking E.g. Freedom, honour, glory, patriot They want you to think a subject is

linked to these words

GLITTERING GENERALITIES

Lesser of Two Evils Convince us of an idea by presenting it

as the least offensive despite being bad itself

Blaming someone else comes with this Depicted as the only option or path to

take

LESSER OF TWO EVILS

Name Calling Not often done in advertising Derogatory language or words that carry

a negative connotation when describing an enemy

Arouse prejudice among the public by labelling the target something that the public dislikes

Sarcasm or ridicule

NAME CALLING

Pinpointing the Enemy Simplify a complex situation by

presenting one specific group or person as the enemy

You are asked to view the situation as a clear cut right and wrong

Other factors are left out

PINPOINTING THE ENEMY

Plain Folks Convince the public that a leaders views

reflect that of the common people Always working for the benefit of the common

person A speaker will try to use the accent of the

audience or specific jokes/sayings A speaker might use imperfect pronunciation

or stutter and use small words This impresses to the audience sincerity Often used with glittering generalities

PLAIN FOLKS

Simplification (Stereotyping) Similar to Pinpointing the Enemy Reduces a complex situation to a clear

cut good and evil situation This technique is used in swaying

uneducated audiences

SIMPLIFICATION/STREOTYPING

Testimonials Quotations or endorsements in or out of

context, connecting a famous or respectable person to a product/idea

Connect an agreeable person to an item

TESTIMONIALS

Transfer Connected to Testimonials An attempt to make people view a

certain item in the same was as they view another item

Transfer negative feelings from one object to another

Also can be used for positive things

TRANSFER

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!!

Propaganda Techniques