Propaganda - 2025/26

Emotional Terms

Uses words it stir emotions "glorious, slimy, vile, marvelous, etc."

Metaphor and Simile

"I hate Joe; he's a snake in the grass."

Emphasis

Heavy Emphasis and stress on a particular word.

Quotation Out of Context

Misquote by omitting certain details.

Abstract Terms

The speaker uses terms they clearly do not understand.

Vagueness

Speaker uses words which have many interpretations (some, a little, most)

Ambiguity

Speaker uses words which have only two interpretations.

Shift of Meaning

Begins with terms which can be interpreted one way and changes the meaning of the terms by the end of their statement to something totally different.

Appearance

Judgement based solely on the way something or someone looks.

Manor

Judgement based solely on something or someone's behavior.

Degrees and Titles

Unrelated degrees and titles used to strengthen an argument.

Numbers

Uses very large or very small numbers

Status

Associates with the rich and famous (well known celebrities)

Repetition

Redundant use of words.

Slogans

Catchy phrases

Technical Jargon

The speaker uses terms they clearly understand but the listener does not.

Sophistical Formula

Proverbs and bromides and cliches

Appeal to Pity

"Help me or something bad will happen to me (the speaker)"

Appeal to Flattery

Unsolicited compliment or pat on the back

Appeal to Ridicule

To make fun of, to joke about, always an attempt at humor

Appeal to Prestige

Offers the listener a chance to become "somebody"

Appeal to Prejudice

Appeals to a perceived prejudice in the listener

Bargain Appeal

Get a deal, save a buck

Folksy Appeal

"One of the boys", "member of the family", "Buddy-pals-homies"

Join the Bandwagon Appeal

Monkey see, monkey do. Don't be left out.

Appeal to Practical Consequences

"Help me or something bad with happen to you (listener)"

Passing from the Acceptable to the Dubious

Begins with an acceptable statement and ties it to an unrelated argument or statement

Diversion

To successfully change the subject of a conversation

Disproving a Minor Point

To disprove only the weakest of several arguments

Ad Hominem

Make a personal attack on the man not the argument

Appeal to Ignorance

"You can't prove him wrong or prove you are right" usually ends with a question

Leading Question

Leans toward a desired response or makes the listener uncomfortable

Complex Question

A series of leading questions why only one answer expected

Inconsequent Argument

Offers evidence or statistics which is unrelated to the original argument

Attacking a Straw Man

Puts words in your mouth, "Oh you mean..."

Victory by Definition

Can't be proven wrong because counterexamples don't fit the real definition of what is being argued.

Begging the Question

Argue in circles. Evidence to support their argument is only a restatement of the argument itself.

No Technique

Statements that are a) not propaganda b) propaganda from a different section c)