Social Studies
World War II Propaganda and Selling Your Own Agenda
In this course, Learners will discover different types of propaganda from World War II, have the opportunity to create their own propaganda, and learn how to persuade others.
There are no upcoming classes.
12-17
year olds
3-12
learners per class
$40
Charged upfront
$10 per class
Meets 1x per week
Over 4 weeks
45 minutes per class
There are no open spots for this class.
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Description
Class Experience
In this class, we will discuss different types of propaganda, and how have been used since the start of World War II. We will discuss posters and pamphlets, as well as their purposes during the war. Students will have the opportunity to create their own piece of propaganda and present it to the class. Week one will be a lecture and discussion based class. We will look at examples of propaganda, talk about the history of it, discuss the importance of colors in propaganda, and discuss the...
Students will learn about World War II, marketing, the impact of persuasive arguments and their impact on the outcome on the war. Students will also practice their public speaking skills, graphic design skills, and learn how to craft arguments to influence people.
I have a background in politics and campaigns. I have worked for presidential candidates, local politicians and political candidates, and for an international political party. I have seen first hand the affect of propaganda on populations.
After week 1, students will create their own propaganda poster to present to the class. Students may choose any age appropriate topic that is relevant to them, or they may make a piece of World War II propaganda. They will also write a one page synopsis on their piece, discussing their use of color, characters, text and font. Students will use this synopsis as the basis for their presentation in class. Students may not use any swear words or derogatory language in their poster. Students may not create propaganda on subjects having to do with illicit substances, sexuality or of a sexual nature, or other subjects that are not age appropriate. Students, please be aware of this when choosing your topic. Things to think about when creating your propaganda poster: - Do you want to sell a product (something people can buy) or a belief (voting for a president) - How do you want to persuade your audience? (Colors, photos, phrases, etc.) Things your piece of propaganda needs: 1. A clear promotion or element of persuasive propaganda 2. Color, graphics, and artwork 3. A phrase to pull in the reader, whether it’s one word or a slogan.
Learners will need access to a computer to create their piece of propaganda and write their synopsis. I recommend Learners use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, or Canva.com. Canva is a free graphic design website.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Students will be assessed on how well their argument is crafted, and how well they thought out their propaganda.
45 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 2 - 4 hours per week outside of class.
We will be discussing World War II, as well as emotionally and racially charged propaganda. Racial slurs may be used in some images, but will only be discussed in relation to that picture and how the word or phrase may have impacted the public's opinion of that demographic. These words and phrases will not be used to refer to any demographic in any type of derogatory way, outside of discussing them empirically in regards to the propaganda discussed in class. Images used in the presentation have been carefully chosen to minimize the racial content presented. This class primarily focuses on propaganda created by the US, and does not go very far into German propaganda. This is so that we do not have to worry about translation issues, or understanding the cultural implications of each piece of propaganda. The most outwardly racial poster we will discuss uses the word "Jap," with what appears to be an intimidating caricature of Emperor Hirohito combined with Hideki Tojo. I have taken special care to choose the most age appropriate content for this class.