Project: Truth and Propaganda

Not all propaganda is bad. Propaganda gets a negative representation. Remember, though, the reason propaganda gets its own category of persuasion. It's because propaganda is meant to further the cause of the person or group using it. In a lot of cases, that can be negative. Sometimes, it's positive or doesn't matter either way.

You have to evaluate every piece of propaganda and ask questions about it before you can determine if it's bad or good. Ask yourself, even if this is propaganda, is it true? The answer is not always clear-cut, so you have to do your best to evaluate each message! In this project, you'll practice doing just that.

Objectives

Assess the relationship between propaganda techniques and the truthfulness of a message.
Instructions:

Follow the directions for the activity below. It will help you to explore the relationship between truth, propaganda, and people's opinions.

Step 1:

Ask 10 people the following questions:

Do you believe in large apelike animals such as Bigfoot?

Why or why not?

If you answered that you do not believed in Bigfoot, what would make you believe that Bigfoot exists?
Step 2: Record their answers.

Step 3: Organize your data.

Step 4: Write a paper of at least 250 words about people's willingness to believe in sensational subjects. Did people who believed in Bigfoot more willing to answer your questions? Or was it the opposite? Explain the reasons why people believe or did not believe in Bigfoot.

Step 5: Spell check and proofread before submitting.