Propaganda Terms AP Lit

Name-Calling/Stereotyping

giving a person or an idea a bad label by using an easy-to-remember pejorative name.  This is used to make us reject and condemn a person or idea without examining what the label really means. 

Examples: "Republican", "Tree-Hugger", "Nazi", "Environmentalist", "Special-Interest Group

Testimonial

When some respected celebrity (or alternatively someone generally hated) claims that an idea or product is good (or bad).  This technique is used to convince us without examining the facts more carefully.

Examples: Taylor Swift with coke, Sidney Crosby with gatorade

Euphemism

when the propagandist attempts to increase the perceived quality, credibility, or credence of a particular ideal

Fear

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.

Bandwagon

This common propaganda method is when the speaker tries to convince us to accept their point of view or else we will miss out on something really good.  The Band-Wagon technique is often used in advertising. 

Examples: "This is the wave of the future", "Be the first on your block", "Act Now!".   You might ask yourself "What if I was the only one on my block because no one else was interested (duped)?

Glittering Generalities

These words are used to dupe us into accepting and approving of things without examining the evidence carefully. 

Examples: "Natural", "Democratic", "Organic", "Scientific", "Ecological", "Sustainable".

Transfer

transfer is when a symbol that carries respect, authority, sanction, and prestige is used along with and idea or argument to make it look more acceptable. 

Examples: American Flag, University Seal, Medical Association Symbol (or something that looks like it).  This method is also called GUILT- or VIRTUE-BY-ASSOCIATION.

Plain Folks/Common Man

This is a way that a speaker convinces an audience that an idea is good because they are the same ideas of the vast majority of people like yourself. 

Examples: "This is the will of the People", "Most Americans...".  Another example would be when the speaker tells a story about a family or people that are "just like you" to reinforce the speaker's point of view.

Card Stacking/Cherry Picking

Choosing to make selective choices among competing evidence, so as to emphasize those results that support a given position, while ignoring or dismissing any findings that do not support it

Ad Nauseum

repeating a claim or message over and over until it becomes ingrained in the audience’s mind, creating an illusion of truth through sheer repetition.