Online Propaganda and the Proliferation of Hate - Lesson

Lesson Plan

Level: Grades 10-12

Author: Jeff Gagnon, Media Education Specialist, MediaSmarts

Duration: 2 to 4 hours

Overview

In this lesson students learn about the ways that propaganda techniques are used to promote hatred and intolerance online. The lesson begins with a class discussion about what propaganda is and how it works. Students will review various types of propaganda deployed for a variety of purposes and explore how propaganda can be used as a tool for promoting hatred. For homework, students analyze examples of propaganda techniques found online and identify the rhetorical devices used.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

• develop an awareness of how propaganda is used in everyday society
• develop an understanding of the ways in which propaganda is used to misinform, anger, and incite people to hatred or xenophobia
• learn to adopt a skeptical approach to truth claims made by propaganda

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit:

Lesson_Online_Propaganda_Proliferation_of_Hate.pdf