Media Literacy Lab — Critical Thinking Series
Propaganda Identifier
Decode the techniques. Expose the manipulation.
INTRO
Classified Exercise

Can You Spot the Propaganda?

Propaganda is one of the oldest tools of persuasion — and one of the most dangerous. It works by bypassing your critical mind and targeting your emotions, your fears, and your sense of belonging. In this exercise, you will examine three real historical propaganda images and identify the techniques being used to manipulate the viewer.

How it works: Click anywhere on an image to place a tag, then select which propaganda technique that part of the image represents. Find as many as you can. After each image, you'll see how you did.

The 7 Propaganda Indicators You're Looking For
Hasty GeneralizationSweeping claims from little evidence
ScapegoatingBlaming one group for all problems
Ad Populum / Fear of ExclusionEveryone believes & does this; will you?
In-Group vs. Out-GroupUs vs. Them, tribal belonging
Fear / Doubt About the FutureCatastrophe awaits if you don't act
Sentimentalization of the PastThe old ways were better, purer
Glorifying / Vilifying FiguresHero worship or monster-making
Mission Complete

Now It's Your Turn

You've analyzed three historical propaganda images. Now go find one on your own — and bring the analysis to class.

Find Your Own Propaganda
Media Literacy Lab — Student Field Assignment
Step 01 — Find a Historical Propaganda Image
Search the internet for a historical propaganda poster, advertisement, or political image. Good places to look include the Library of Congress (loc.gov), Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org), or a web image search for "WWI propaganda poster," "WWII propaganda poster," or "Cold War propaganda." Choose one that you find interesting or surprising.
Step 02 — Print or Download the Image
Print the image, or if you're working digitally, paste it here. Leave room in the margins to write your labels.
[ Paste or tape your propaganda image here ]

Title / Source: ___________________________
Step 03 — Identify the Propaganda Indicators
On the image itself (or in the margins), draw arrows and label each propaganda technique you can find. Check off every indicator present in your image below:
Hasty Generalization
Scapegoating
Ad Populum / Fear of Exclusion
In-Group vs. Out-Group
Fear / Doubt About the Future
Glorifying / Vilifying Key Figures
Step 04 — Write Your Analysis
In 2–4 sentences, explain why this image is effective propaganda. What emotion does it target? Who is the intended audience?
Step 05 — Turn It In
Print this worksheet with your labeled image attached (or stapled). Bring it to class and be ready to share your image and explain your findings to a partner or the group.