Analysing persuasive text

Preparation and Planning

You will need to make enough copies of Student Worksheets 1-3 for every student. You will also need to provide A3 poster paper and glue for each student.

Depending on time and class abilities you may choose to remove Episode 4 and the moving image exercise in Episode 5. This is only included for higher ability students. If you do choose to study moving image then you will need ICT access to play the video to the class and access for higher ability students to watch the videos independently.

In the plenary, students are required to assess each others' work against an examination marking criteria so you will need to prepare this in advance.

About the MOD Topic

Today the internet, mobile and modern media provides a sophisticated vehicle that can be used by political parties or individuals to communicate propaganda messages to mass audiences all over the world. The MOD department responsible for providing Psychological Operations Support to the British Forces is called 15 Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) Group. 'PSYOPS are planned, culturally sensitive, truthful and attributable activities directed at approved target audiences within the Joint Operational Area in order to achieve political and military objectives by influencing attitudes and behaviour.'

During the World Wars propaganda was used as a psychological weapon against the enemy, to recruit men to the army and women into support roles, to bolster morale at home, to raise money and to increase the efficiency of the economy. Throughout the lesson there are a range of stimuli that students analyse. Brief background to each of these follows:

Slides:
'Women of Britain say - Go'
This is a direct message telling women to get their men to enlist but also targets men by showing vulnerable young women and children who need defending.

'Do your bit, save food'
This poster reminded viewers that saving food would not only prevent their own hunger, but also the danger that soldiers endured to get food into Britain.

'Lend your five shillings to your country'
This poster shows how the purchase of war bonds directly related to the outcome of war. The war cost £1 million per day and the Government had to take urgent action to raise funds. They issued war bonds which were paper tokens that were repaid at a later date with interest. This poster aimed to motivate people to buy war bonds.

Student Worksheets:
'Women of Britain, Come into the factories'
The female factory worker pictured in this poster looks almost as though the aeroplanes are being released out of her sleeves as if she was a magician. Her smile, clothes and posture convey a mixture of power and ease. The war dramatically changed attitudes towards women and their role.

'Britons wants you'
In August 1914, Lord Kitchener was appointed war minister. His immediate job was to recruit manpower. Kitchener's authoritative image became one of the most iconic posters of all time. His unnerving stare, huge pointing finger and moustache gave the poster a powerful sense of personal appeal.

'Men of Britain! Will you stand for this?'
Some posters drew attention to the alleged German atrocities. They incited moral outrage and justified Britain's part in the war. This poster appeals to peoples' fear and pride simultaneously. It injects fear that a similar attack may happen in the future and that British bricks may be amongst the first thing to crumble unless more men enlist. It overtly appeals to patriotism, creating a sense of standing together.

'Never was so much owed by so many to so few'
The quotation used on this poster is adapted from Churchill's famous Battle of Britain speech in which he said 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'. Posters used Churchill speeches and imagery as a way of inspiring British civilians and military personnel to keep going and to share a common purpose.

Videos:
'London can take it' (9mins)
http://tinyurl.com/5qrbpx
In this film an American journalist, Quentin Reynolds, pays tribute to London and conveys the spirit and atmosphere of the 1940 blitz on the capital. Its impact at the time, especially in U.S.A. makes it historically one of the most important of the war films. It was used to boost morale and to promote a common purpose and sense of survival.

'Special Invasion' (7mins)
http://tinyurl.com/6cd37l
This includes commentary over actual footage of aerial attacks on Hitler's West Wall coastal defences before and after D-Day. Dramatic scenes include the shooting down of a Luftwaffe plane, the destruction of coastal defences, carpet-bombing and allied weapons and other supplies being brought ashore by tanks and trucks. The end sequence features shots of Admiral Ramsey (in charge Naval Operations) on deck, Air Chief Marshal Tedder, General Montgomery, General Eisenhower and Winston Churchill.

'Salvage with a smile' (7mins)
http://tinyurl.com/6bjlkh
A serious appeal in light form to housewives to save paper, bones and metal which can provide the raw material for tanks, battleships and guns etc.

'Hitler assumes command' (3mins) http://tinyurl.com/8mfhq
Cleverly edited montage footage taken from German propaganda films, including Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph Des Willens, which shows Hitler and his marching Soldiers of the Reich, synchronised to the tune of 'The Lambeth Walk'.

Useful links:
National archives:
The Art of War exhibition: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/theartofwar/
Public information films: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/
Imperial War Museum: http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/qryMain.asp
BBC history: http://tinyurl.com/5luyod

Further Opportunities for Learning

'Selection' task: Students view a series of images taken from one of the propaganda newsreels. They must select at least 4 of these images and write a voice over narrative which links these 4 images and presents them in a specific way.

'Compression' task: Students review a speech/testimony from a member of the enemy. Their task is to selectively delete sections of the text in order to compress it and leave only those elements which create a desired effect.
Research and analyse how propaganda is used today.

Citizenship lessons that debate and discuss the use of propaganda to achieve political objectives. Study how media is used.

History lessons on the World Wars.
Research propaganda techniques used by different foreign countries.

Produce a poster, video story board or speech that uses propaganda to influence the beliefs or actions of other students in your class, relating to a particular issue or topic in your school.

Student worksheet answers

Download the teachers notes PDF to access the answers for this lesson.