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The Techniques of Propaganda

Propaganda is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

• Propaganda is designed to persuade.

• Its purpose is to influence your opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior.

• It seeks to “guide your choice” or manipulate you.

Some of the techniques used to persuade us

• Bandwagon

• Name-calling

• Testimonial

• Glittering Generalities

• Plain-Folks

• Transference or Transfer

• Card Stacking

Bandwagon -Everybody is doing this.

If you want to fit in, you need to “jump on the bandwagon” and do it too.

Name Calling - A negative word or feeling is attached to an idea, product, or person.

Testimonial - A famous person endorses an idea, a product, a candidate.

If someone famous uses this product, believes this idea, or supports this candidate, so should we.

Glittering Generalities - A commonly admired virtue is used to inspire positive feelings for a person, idea, or product.

Words like truth, democracy, beauty, timeless are examples of those general terms.

Plain Folks - This idea, product, or person is associated with normal, everyday people and activities. Frequently a candidate is depicted with sleeves rolled up or not formally dressed.

Transfer - Symbols, quotes, or images of famous people are used to convey a message.

The message may not necessarily be associated with them.

Card Stacking - This technique is used to make the best case for one side and the worst for the competitor. It only uses facts that support one side of the argument while attempting to lead the audience into accepting the facts as a conclusion. In other words, it stacks the cards against the opponent or the truth.

Card stacking is the most difficult technique to detect because it does not provide all of the information necessary for the audience to make an informed decision. The audience must decide what is missing.

DIAGRAM/ GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION

[pic]

McClenaghan, William, A., Magruder’s American Government, 1997, Prentice Hall.

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