Animal Farm - Propaganda Workshop

🐷 Animal Farm Propaganda Workshop 🐷

By Vaishali Bhatia

Poll

Scenario: Your friend wants to borrow your phone but you know they drop everything.

Which of these would work best on you?

You must choose one

• Your friend says:

  "Everyone lets me borrow their phone!"

• Your friend says:

  "You don't trust me? I thought we were friends!"

• Your friend says:

  "What if something happens and I can't call for help?"

📢 What is Propaganda?

Propaganda is information designed to influence people's opinions, often using emotions rather than facts to persuade.

​Key Features:
-Appeals to emotions not logic
-Has a specific agenda
-Tries to persuade you to think/act a certain way
-Often one-sided

Multiple Choice

🎯 Your Turn: Spot the Propaganda!

Look at these statements. Which ones sound like propaganda?

• Studies show that 9 out of 10 doctors recommend this medicine

• The temperature today is 75 degrees

• Real Americans support our troops!

• The meeting is scheduled for 3 PM in Room 101

Scaring people into agreement

Animal Farm Example:

"Do you want Jones to come back? Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?"

Why it works: Animals remember how bad life was under Jones

SCARE TACTICS

Words chosen for emotional impact

Animal Farm Examples:

"Comrade" instead of just names (creates unity)

"Leader" instead of Napoleon (shows respect)

"Traitor" for Snowball (creates hatred)

LOADED LANGUAGE

"Everyone else is doing it, so you should too"

Animal Farm Examples:

Sheep chanting "Four legs good, two legs bad!"

"All animals agreed" statements

Mass voting without real discussion

BANDWAGON EFFECT

"Trust the expert/leader because they know better"

Animal Farm Examples:

"Napoleon is always right" (Boxer's motto)

Pigs are "brainworkers" so they deserve privileges

Complex "files" and "reports" other animals can't understand

​​APPEALS TO AUTHORITY

Match

Match the following propaganda from the hook!

• "Everyone lets me borrow their phone!"

• "You don't trust me? I thought we were friends!"

• "What if something happens and I can't call for help?"

Bandwagon Effect

Loaded Language

Fear Tactics

• Bandwagon Effect

• Loaded Language

• Fear Tactics

Multiple Choice

The slogan "Don't let dangerous bacteria harm your family" is an example of:

• Fear Tactics

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Effect

• Appeals to Authority

Multiple Choice

"Everyone is buying the new iPhone"

• Fear Tactics

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Effect

• Appeals to Authority

Multiple Choice

"Revolutionary breakthrough in skincare"

• Fear Tactics

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Effect

• Appeals to Authority

Multiple Choice

"Join millions of satisfied customers!" is an example of:

• Fear Tactics

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Effect

• Appeals to Authority

Multiple Choice

"Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?" - What technique is this?

• Fear Tactics

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Effect

• Appeals to Authority

Multiple Choice

"All animals were in complete agreement on this point." - What technique?

• Fear Tactics

• Loaded Language

• Bandwagon Effect

• Appeals to Authority

Open Ended

Why does calling Napoleon "Leader" instead of just "Napoleon" work as propaganda?