World War 1 Propaganda Poster Assignment



World War 1 Propaganda Poster Project

Wartime Propaganda

In April 1917 Woodrow Wilson formed the Committee on Public Information (CPI) to promote public backing for the war, a critical task given the lack of a strong national consensus on American participation. Professing lofty goals such as educating citizens about democracy, promoting national unity, Americanizing immigrants, and breaking down the isolation of rural life, the committee also indirectly acted as a nationalizing force by promoting the development of a common America.

The CPI touched the life of practically every American during World War I. It distributed 75 million pieces of patriotic literature. At local movie theatres before the feature presentation a volunteer called a “four-minute man” made a short speech supporting the war. Those speeches reached an audience estimated at more than 300 million – three times the population of the United States at the time.

Part of the job of any Social Studies student is to evaluate primary sources. In class we have learned about the different types of propaganda and have also used our knowledge to interpret World War 1 propaganda posters as well. Your task is to now apply the knowledge and create an original World War 1 themed propaganda poster.

Directions:

Your task will be to create a World War I themed propaganda poster. Using what you have learned from class, you must decorate the poster to be eye catching so that if a person were walking down the street it would get their attention. The poster may utilize computer applications, but the final product must be hand made. Create a rough sketch or design to be evaluated prior to your creation, to make sure it is on the right track. Use the guiding questions below to create a well crafted final product. Your poster must include one of the following topics listed below in its theme or scope.

Guiding Questions:

1. What topic will your poster be about?

2. What is this poster trying to get you to do?

3. How would this poster support the war efforts?

4. What historical facts are covered in this poster? What historical knowledge would the viewer need to fully understand your poster? Explain this part as thoroughly as possible.

5. What type of propaganda technique will you be using in your poster? How will your poster reflect this type of propaganda?

WW1 Propaganda Topics List

"No Man's Land"   

A peace without victory."   

War of Attrition   

Zimmermann Note   

The War to End all Wars!

Lusitania

Selective Service Act (1917)

"Dough Boys"

American Expeditionary- Forces (AEF)

General John "Black- Jack"Pershing

Eddie Rickenbacker

"Red Baron"

"shell shock"

War Industries Board

National War Labor Board

Work or fight!

I. W. W. ["Wobblies"]

"mustard" gas

nationalism

militarism

trench warfare

Kaiser Wilhelm II

On the back of each poster should be a mini report about your assigned topic. Your mini report should include the following information:

• Who or what is your topic about? Create a brief on it explaining the history of your topic and the role it played in World War 1.

• An analysis of your own propaganda poster. You should clearly explain the significance your slogan as well as why you included all of the images used.

• Indication of the type of propaganda you used to create the poster as well as an explanation of why your poster fits this propaganda type.

This mini report should be two full, well written paragraphs.

Grading Rubric for Propaganda Poster

| |5 |4 |3 |2 |1 |Score Received |

| |Excellent |Above Average |Average |Below Average |Needs Attention | |

| | | | | | | |

|Message: | | | | | | |

|The message of the poster is clear. | | | | | | |

|The written phrase and visual images | | | | | | |

|are relative to one another. | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | |

|Illustrations |Any visual elements| | | | | |

| |on the poster have | | | | | |

|* Images must be drawn, painted, |been created by | | | | | |

|colored etc. by hand. Collages of |hand. | | | | | |

|numerous pictures are accepted, but | | | | | | |

|must show creativity in composition. | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | |

|Historical Context: | | | | | | |

|Themes from WW1 are included | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | |

|The back of your poster contains a | | | | | | |

|typed report of the topic assigned to | | | | | | |

|you. You must research your topic and | | | | | | |

|write an approximately 2 paragraph long| | | | | | |

|summary of your topic. | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | |

|GUM : |GUM errors are not | | | | | |

|Grammatical |present. | | | | | |

|Usage | | | | | | |

|Mechanical | | | | | | |

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