Types of Propaganda Techniques Article & Review | Civics & American Government

This Types of Propaganda Article and Review introduces students to seven propaganda techniques commonly used by the media, social media influencers, and political candidates. Perfect for middle or high school Civics, American History, and American Government students, this resource includes a 4-page article, a note-taking chart, a review worksheet, and a really fun internet activity, in which students view three historic presidential campaign ads and try to spot which types of propaganda are being used! 

Aligned to the Florida State Standard for 7th Grade Civics, SS.7.CG.2.9 Bias, Symbolism, and Propaganda, this resource not only introduces students to propaganda techniques in a clear, understandable way, with plenty of real-life examples for them to connect with, but it provides ample review opportunities for them to practice what they have learned. 

This resource includes:

✯ The 4-page Types of Propaganda Article that uses images, examples, and detailed explanations to include students to the topics of propaganda and bias, and how they relate to advertising, social media influencers, and political campaigns. 

The propaganda techniques covered are:

• Bandwagon
• Card-Stacking
• Glittering Generalities
• Name-Calling
• Plain Folks
• Testimonial
• Transfer

Students can read the article independently, or you can read it aloud to the class, stopping to give more details, explanations, and answer questions as you move from one technique to the next. 

✯ In the Types of Propaganda Note-Taking Chart, students use the article to:

• Identify and the seven propaganda techniques
• Create an example of each technique. This example can be a written example, an illustration, or even a picture pasted in from the Internet. This provides a great opportunity to both show their comprehension of the material and get creative.

✯ The Types of Propaganda Review makes sure students comprehended the key concepts and vocabulary from the article. The review worksheet includes:

• Definitions
• A test prep question with picture analysis
• Seven example scenarios they must match to the different propaganda techniques they’ve just learned about. 

Questions include:

• Define bias.
• What are the seven types of propaganda?
• Which type of propaganda is being used in this image?
• (Identify the type of propaganda being described.) A politician gives a speech in front of an American Flag. 

✯ Finally an optional Internet Activity has students use QR codes or included URLs to view 3 different historical presidential campaign ads and list all the types of propaganda they can identify. They’re then asked whether they think the ad was effective, and if they would have voted for the candidate based on it.

The campaign ads included are:

• The John F. Kennedy Jingle campaign ad
• Reagan’s “It’s Morning Again in America” campaign ad
• Eisenhower’s “We Like Ike” campaign ad. 

This internet activity is optional and requires both internet access and district access to YouTube. (Hunting down the different types of propaganda are really fun — I recommend viewing the campaign ads on your whiteboard or big screen with the class afterward, rewinding and pausing in places to discuss all the different examples of techniques like Transfer, Bandwagon, and Plain Folks they can spot!) If you don’t have internet access, this activity is optional and can be skipped!

This resource is a pretty comprehensive dive into the seven types of propaganda techniques; I hope it gives your Civics and American Government students plenty of practice and really helps them nail down the concepts! 

This entire resource comes as a non-editable, printable PDF and includes an Answer Key. There are also digital versions available through TPT Easel, which can be assigned directly to Google Classroom or shared with your students via a link!

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