Identifying Propaganda Techniques | Worksheet for Civics & American Government

In this Identifying Propaganda Techniques Worksheet, students examine a picture of a political candidate giving a campaign speech and hunt for evidence of propaganda techniques. A really fun activity that can be done individually, in pairs, or in small groups, this serves as great practice for Middle and High School Civics, American History, and American Government students!

Nearly every line from the speech utilizes a different propaganda technique, and don’t forget to check the slogan on the podium and the flag hanging behind the candidate — you might find Glittering Generalities and Transfer hard at work! Students circle or underline every type of propaganda they can find in the image, draw arrows, and identify the technique in the margins of the page. 

Aligned to the Florida State Standard for 7th Grade Civics, SS.7.CG.2.9 Bias, Symbolism, and Propaganda,

This Identifying Propaganda Techniques resource includes:

A graphic and political speech with several different examples of the following propaganda techniques hidden throughout:

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

Some examples of the propaganda hiding in the campaign speech include:

• I grew up in a small town just like this one (Plain Folks)
• There’s a reason I’ve been endorsed by unions across the country, from teachers and autoworkers to farmers and small businesses. (Testimonial)
• Join the tens of thousands of your fellow countrymen, your friends and neighbors, who have already volunteered their time or their money to this campaign. (Bandwagon)

This is such a fun enrichment activity to practice propaganda techniques. Your kids will have so much fun searching for every last bit of propaganda and marking up the page! 

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

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