Students will improve their ability to interpret advertising critically, identify persuasive techniques, employ intellectual defenses against persuasive techniques, create a mock advertisement employing at least three persuasive techniques, investigate advertising in a local newspaper, recognize and analyze product placement in film, and create an advocacy position on advertising. 

I am offering this class because I believe students need to be more aware of the techniques used to persuade them to buy products. This knowledge will help them develop skills as informed consumers and avoid purchasing items that do not meet their expectations or needs. As a language arts specialist, I have taught media literacy many times over my 33-year teaching career. During that time, I never experienced a student who was not interested in learning more about advertising techniques and the psychological approach used to entice buyers. 

Homework Offered
Session one homework assignment: Use an advertising technique to design an ad for one of the following. An ad for a pair of jeans that targets teenagers, an ad for a soup that targets adults, or an ad for a bicycle that targets children ages 10-12.

Session two homework assignment: Design an envelope that uses the four most common tactics of mail advertisers.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Learner progress will be assessed by in-class participation, completion of in-class work and assignments, and an end-of-the course multiple-choice evaluation of the media literacy concepts covered in the course. 
Grades Offered