Description
Propaganda is a key theme in George Orwell’s 1984 and a valuable lesson to explore with students, especially as it relates to advertising! Teach students to identify common elements of propaganda and apply these concepts to create their own book advertisement for the novel 1984.
Included with this Propaganda in 1984 Book Advertisement Lesson and Assignment:
- Propaganda and Advertising Slideshow Lesson – Google Slides®, Microsoft PowerPoint®, and PDF
- Define key concepts and explore common elements of propaganda, including bandwagon, testimonials, glittering generalities, card stacking, name calling, and more
- Explore popular slogans in commercial advertising and political campaigns
- Identify characteristics of persuasive language
- Propaganda and Advertising Informational Handout
- Propaganda and Advertising Guided Note – Digital & Print
- 1984 Book Advertisement Assignment Instructions – Editable & Ready-to-Print
- 1984 Plot Diagram Worksheet – Digital & Print
- 1984 Character Profiles Worksheet – Digital & Print
- Themes in 1984 Worksheet – Digital & Print
- Book Advertisement Planning Template – Digital & Print
- Book Advertisement Peer Evaluation Form – Digital & Print
- 4-Level Rubric – Editable & Ready-to-Print
- Differentiated Handouts and Worksheets
- Detailed Answer Keys
- Teacher Instructions for using this resource
How to use this Propaganda in 1984 Lesson and Assignment:
This lesson on Propaganda in 1984 provides students with an opportunity to analyze how persuasive techniques and manipulative language shape public perception, both in Orwell’s dystopian world and in real life. By examining different propaganda strategies, students will gain a deeper understanding of the novel’s central themes and the ways in which totalitarian regimes manipulate truth and control society. This activity bridges the gap between literature and media literacy, encouraging students to critically evaluate the power of language and its role in shaping beliefs and behaviors. By creating their own book advertisement for 1984, students will not only reinforce their comprehension of the novel but also develop essential skills in persuasive writing, media analysis, and creative expression.
You can start with the Propaganda and Advertising Slideshow Lesson, which introduces students to the fundamental elements of propaganda in 1984 and real-world advertising. This lesson breaks down various propaganda techniques, including bandwagon, testimonials, glittering generalities, card stacking, and name-calling, providing clear definitions and engaging examples. Through this slideshow, students will analyze how these techniques are used in both fictional and real-world contexts, drawing comparisons between the Party’s control over information in 1984 and modern-day advertising, media, and politics. Additionally, the lesson covers key characteristics of persuasive language, helping students recognize the rhetorical strategies that make propaganda effective. By examining famous slogans from commercial advertisements and political campaigns, students will see firsthand how language can be used to persuade, manipulate, and even deceive.
To support student comprehension, a Propaganda and Advertising Informational Handout has been included. This resource serves as a reference tool, ensuring that students have access to key terms and concepts from the slideshow as they engage with the lesson. Additionally, students can complete the Propaganda and Advertising Guided Notes to actively process and organize their learning. This guided note-taking activity reinforces the information covered in the lesson, allowing students to engage with the content more deeply while improving their ability to analyze different propaganda techniques. These resources ensure that students retain key concepts and apply them effectively when creating their book advertisements.
Students can then apply their knowledge from both the slideshow lesson and propaganda in 1984 by creating their own book advertisement for Orwell’s novel. This activity challenges students to think like advertisers, using propaganda techniques to “sell” the novel to a target audience. The Book Advertisement Assignment Instructions provide clear expectations and step-by-step guidance, while the Book Advertisement Template offers a structured format for students to design their persuasive ads. Through this project, students will explore how propaganda and persuasive language can influence perception, making direct connections to the themes of 1984 while also refining their own persuasive writing and design skills.
To deepen students’ literary analysis, additional worksheets are included to explore the core elements of 1984. The Plot Diagram Worksheet allows students to break down the novel’s structure, identifying key events that shape Winston’s rebellion and ultimate downfall. The Character Profiles Worksheet helps students analyze major figures like Winston, Julia, O’Brien, and Big Brother, focusing on their roles in the Party’s oppressive system and their relationship to Orwell’s warnings about propaganda and control. The Theme Worksheet prompts students to connect 1984’s central themes—surveillance, censorship, reality control, and resistance—to their book advertisement, ensuring that they grasp the broader implications of the novel. These worksheets provide a well-rounded approach to understanding the novel’s complex ideas while reinforcing the significance of propaganda in 1984.
For assessment purposes, a 4-Level Rubric has been provided to evaluate students’ book advertisements. This rubric, available in both editable and ready-to-print formats, allows teachers to customize the assessment criteria to fit their specific classroom goals and curriculum standards. The rubric assesses key elements such as understanding of propaganda techniques, creativity, persuasive writing, and clarity of message, ensuring that students are graded on both their analytical skills and their ability to apply what they’ve learned in a meaningful way.
A Peer Evaluation Form has also been included to facilitate peer feedback and encourage collaborative learning. This form allows students to evaluate their classmates’ book advertisements in multiple categories that align with the assignment’s success criteria. By engaging in peer assessment, students gain valuable insights into their own work while refining their ability to critique and analyze persuasive techniques effectively. This step fosters a deeper understanding of propaganda in 1984 by encouraging students to reflect on how different approaches to persuasion impact an audience.
To accommodate diverse learning needs, differentiated resources have been provided. These include a Plot Diagram Handout, additional Character Profiles, a Novel Synopsis, and Key Vocabulary Terms related to 1984 and propaganda. These materials support students who may need extra scaffolding, ensuring that all learners can engage with the lesson and successfully complete their book advertisement projects. By offering differentiated instruction, teachers can provide a more inclusive learning experience that meets the needs of students at different levels of comprehension and ability.
Finally, to consolidate the activities included in this lesson, detailed answer keys have been provided for the worksheets. These answer keys offer guidance on expected responses and help streamline the grading process. By using this comprehensive set of resources, teachers can ensure that students not only understand propaganda in 1984 but also recognize its relevance in contemporary society. This lesson fosters critical thinking, media literacy, and creative engagement, making Orwell’s novel more accessible and meaningful for students.
✨ Kindly note that due to copyright restrictions, this resource is not editable. This is a common practice within the online marketplace in order to protect the clipartists and software providers that have authorized their intellectual property for the development of this resource.
⭒ For classrooms utilizing Google Classroom® ⭒
To access the digital version of these worksheets, simply follow the instructions within the resource to copy the files directly to your Google Drive®.
