Distinguish Facts from Propaganda Devices

As previously discussed, fact means that something has actual existence. It is one that can be proven by evidence. On the other hand, propaganda means the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Propaganda device is the method, way, or technique by which this is achieved.
The following are some comments of known people on propaganda. These comments strengthen the point that we should always be watchful and critical about the things we see and hear.

"Today the world is the victim of propaganda because people are not intellectually competent. More than anything the United States needs effective citizens competent to do their own thinking." —William Mather Lewis

"Some of mankind's most terrible misdeeds have been committed under the spell of certain magic words or phrases." —James Bryant Conant

"Propaganda must not serve the truth, especially insofar as it might bring out something favorable for the opponent." —Adolf Hitler
Common Propaganda Devices

The Institute of Propaganda Analysis (IPA) identified a number of basic propaganda devices. These are:

1. Name calling

The name-calling technique links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol. The propagandist who uses this technique hopes that the audience will reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative symbol, instead of looking at the available evidence (Delwiche, 2002). In deciding whether something uses name calling, these questions from the IPA are enlightening:

a.What does the name mean?

b.Does the idea in question have a legitimate connection with the real meaning of the name?

c.Is an idea that serves my best interests being dismissed through giving it a name I don't like?

d.Leaving the name out of consideration, what are the merits of the idea itself?

Examples of name calling: dictator, fascist, stingy, “promdi”, “barriotic” and many others

Practice

Write NC if name calling is used and F if the statement is factual.

1.He is a cut-throat.
2.That brand of shirt is for crackpots.
3.Ferdinand Marcos imposed Martial Law.
4.Big countries are modern day imperialists.

5.According to CNN.com, “there have been 4,523 coalition deaths -- 4,209 Americans, two Australians, one Azerbaijani, 176 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, five Georgians, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvians, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of December 8, 2008.”

6.With almost five parties for elite figures that she pays out of her own pocket every two weeks, she is a true-blue squanderer and social climber.
7.The titans of boxing meet today to discuss upcoming fights.
8.He was a fascist; so he deserved his fate.
9.The chaos in Iraq is a “war for oil”. It should stop now.
10.One who believes a convict is a fool.

2. Glittering generalities

“When someone talks to us about democracy, we immediately think of our own definite ideas about democracy, the ideas we learned at home, at school, and in church. Our first and natural reaction is to assume that the speaker is using the word in our sense, that he believes as we do on this important subject. This lowers our 'sales resistance' and makes us far less suspicious than we ought to be….

The Glittering Generality is, in short, Name Calling in reverse. While Name Calling seeks to make us form a judgment to reject and condemn without examining the evidence, the Glittering Generality device seeks to make us approve and accept without examining the evidence. In acquainting ourselves with the Glittering Generality Device, therefore, all that has been said regarding Name Calling must be kept in mind..." (Institute for Propaganda Analysis, 1938, as cited by Delwiche) To help you decide if something is mere glittering generality, the IPA suggests these questions:

1.What does the “virtue” word really mean?
2.Does the idea in question have a legitimate connection with the real meaning of the word?
3.Is an idea that does not serve my best interests being "sold" to me merely through its being given a name that I like?
4.Leaving the “virtue” word out of consideration, what are the merits of the idea itself?

Examples of words that may be used in this propaganda device: freedom, nationalism, patriotism, motherhood, science among others

Practice

Write GC if the statement is a propaganda and X if not.

1.We know what’s best for this country because we are true freedom lovers.
2.You should follow us because we are righteous and patriotic.
3.“Come to where the flavor is. Come to Marlboro country.”
4.Vote for me. I’m your hope for a better future.
5.All we need is love.
6.The road to chaos is misunderstanding; but the way to prosperity is strengthening our military.
7.Justice is what we stand for; and we would like you to go with our crusade.
8.The Da Vinci Code is a New York Times bestseller.
9.We want you to taste the sweetness of fame and glory so try our brand.
10.Calibrated Preemptive Response or CPR is the best way to free our roads disturbances.

3. Euphemisms

Euphemism is a propaganda technique that uses pleasant or neutral terms to hide the negative side of something. Simply put, it’s the way of saying a bad thing.

Examples:

1.“Post-traumatic stress disorder” for “war shock”
2.“Mentally handicapped” for “mentally ill” or “insane”
3.“The Peacekeeper” for the MX Missile

Practice

Encircle all the numbers corresponding to the statements that use euphemisms.

1.She has legal incapacity even if she’s already 40 years old.
2.The shooting incident was just a minor operation setback. I’m sure we can fix this.
3.The soldiers had operational exhaustion; so we had to pull them out of the hostile zone.
4.Rejoice! We have just neutralized our target.
5.We deeply apologize for the collateral damage that this pacification initiative caused.
6.The reclaimed water can now be used to support life.
7.The casualty was due to a friendly fire.
8.Military aggression is for peace.
9.He died two years ago.
10.The police shot the suspect.

Adverb Clause

An adverb clause functions much like an adverb. It has a subject (implied or explicit) and a predicate; and it modifies a verb. It is a dependent clause and as such cannot stand on its own.

John Sinclair summarizes the Kinds of Adverb Clauses as follows:

1. Time clauses- used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.

Example: Her father died when she was young.

2. Conditional clauses- used to indicate a condition upon which another part of the sentence is predicated or connected.

Example: If they lose weight during an illness, they soon regain it.

3. Purpose clauses- used to indicate the purpose of an action.

Example: They had to take some of his land so that they could extend the churchyard.

4. Reason clauses- used to indicate the reason for something.

Example: I couldn't feel anger against him because I liked him too much.

5. Result clauses- used to indicate the result of something.

Example: My suitcase had become so damaged on the journey home that the lid would not stay closed.

6. Concessive clauses- used to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising.

Example: I used to read a lot although I don't get much time for books now.

7. Place clauses- used to talk about the location or position of something.

Example: He said he was happy where he was.

8. Clauses of manner- used to talk about someone's behavior or the way something is done.

Example: I was never allowed to do things the way I wanted to do them.

FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT, WRITE TEN SENTENCES WITH ADVERB CLAUSES. UNDERLINE THE ADVERB CLAUSE AND INDICATE ITS KIND. USE ONE-HALF CROSSWISE.