Analyze the appeals with which you disagree

1.Name-calling (substitutes arguing about an idea’s merit)

2.Generalities (slogan, catchphrases, often without evidence)

3.Transfer (claiming the approval of someone/thing as their doing)

4.Testimonial (like the halo effect)

5.Plain folks (just a ‘regular lady, guy, etc.’)

6.Bandwagon (claim widespread support w/o evidence)

7.Card-stacking (maintain messaging about +/- of issue to prevent actually reaching an informed decision)

working on your own, consider the seven propaganda techniques and apply them to a controversial contemporary issue. Take a position in that debate and analyze the appeals with which you disagree. Then, subject your side’s appeals to the same analysis. Present your findings to the rest of us.

(For example, let’s say the issue you pick is ‘climate change’, one which you might also personally support and/or agree with. Now, analyze those appeals about climate change with which you disagree – such as that science often makes mistakes in analysis. What technique might be at work here? [Hint: sounds to me like a combination of name-calling and generalities].

Then, take a look at the appeals that support your side of the issue. Here, many often cite that a majority of scientists agree that clime change is real and potentially catastrophic. The other side might understand that view — one you agree with — as nothing more than an example of the bandwagon technique).

If you need more support on this topic, take a look at these text- and video-based examples: https://www.cleverism.com/7-propaganda-techniques-for-students-to-understand/ (Links to an external site.)

Those real-world examples should help you if any of the 7 techniques are not clear. If you need to talk any of the 7 over with me, please let me know.