Informational Media

1
Informational Media
2
What is Informational Media?

• I.M. presents information, facts, and
  explanations of topics that are of interest to
  the public. Magazines, newspapers, billboards,
  radio, TV, webpages, bulletins, advertisements,
  pamphlets, telephone, mail, yard signs, and
  marquees are all examples of I.M.

3
Parts of Informational Media Articles

1. Head The title
2. Deck The small words under the head, but before
   the article
3. Lead The first few sentences or paragraphs of
   an article before the first subhead
4. Subhead Smaller titles that divide the article
   into sections
5. Photograph A photo that supports or clarifies
   the article
6. Illustration A drawing that supports or
   clarifies the article
7. Caption The words of explanation under the
   photo or illustration

4
Types of evidence used in info. media

1. Statistics Numbers and percentages
2. Expert Opinions The educated beliefs of a
   person who has studied a subject carefully or is
   part of a profession important to the subject
3. Results of Studies Conclusions based on
   research
4. Compare/contrast Compare means to show how
   things are alike, and contrast shows how things
   are different
5. Problem/Solution Presents a problem, but also
   suggests a solution to the problem
6. Anecdote A brief, entertaining story based on a
   single, interesting or humorous incident, often
   intended to reveal a persons character

5
About the Author

• 1. Authors Purpose The writers intention to
  persuade, entertain, inform, describe, warn
• 2. Authors Credentials The qualifications that
  put the author in a position of authority on a
  topic.
• 3. Authors Bias When an author has an unfair
  preference for a against something or someone,
  thereby preventing him from being objective
• 4. Authors Tone When you can hear the
  authors attitude in what hes saying (his tone
  of voice)

6
Types of reading

1. Previewing Looking over something to see how it
   is organized and what content will be learned
2. Skimming Reading quickly for the main idea.
   This is accomplished by reading only the topic
   sentence and clincher sentence of each paragraph
   in expository and persuasive writing.
3. Scanning Looking for specific information
   (details) such as in fill-in-the-blank worksheets
   or when reading a posters looking for the date a
   new movie premieres.

7
Persuasive techniques

1. Semantic Slanting Vocabulary words the author
   chooses purposefully in order to create a bias in
   the reader or to create a strong reaction in the
   reader. For example, Junk food will make our
   school children grossly obese. They will be too
   ugly to get dates, too lazy to hold a job, and
   their medical bills will selfishly drain
   insurance companies and unnecessarily spike
   premiums for those of us who practice self
   control.
2. Connotation Vocabulary words the author
   purposefully uses that have a positive or
   negative spin on them. For example, My wife is
   frugal has a positive connotation, but My wife
   is cheap has a negative connotation even though
   frugal and cheap are synonyms.

8
Types of Persuasive Appeals

1. Logos Appeal to Reason/Logic Evidential
   appeal When the author attempts to sway the
   reader using impressive, rational evidence such
   as statistics and research. This type of appeal
   is allowed in scientific research and courts of
   law.
2. Pathos Emotional Appeal When the author
   attempts to sway the audience by eliciting an
   emotional response through the use of metaphors,
   anecdotes, and imagery.
3. Ethos Ethical Appeal - When an author tries to
   sway the readers opinion based on whats right
   and wrong. Ethical appeal can also be based on
   the character, credibility, or reliability of the
   writer.

9
Propaganda

1. Propaganda - Information, especially of a biased
   or misleading nature, used to promote or
   publicize a particular political cause or point
   of view.
2. Propaganda Techniques Methods of persuasion
   that are not based on facts or solid arguments.

10
Propaganda Techniques

• Testimonial An expert or a famous person
  supports a product, an idea, or a person. The
  famous person actually says he uses it or
  endorses it.
• Ex Basketball player Will Lang says,
  I never go on a road trip without my Jiffy
  compact hair dryer!
• 2. Transfer A famous or glamorous person and a
  product are associated in order to persuade you
  to transfer your positive image of the person to
  the product. Unlike testimonial, transfer does
  not quote the person.
• Ex An ad shows Alison Graves, a famous
  actress, washing her face with Silky. The ad
  says, Look like a movie star. Use Silky Soap.

11
Propaganda Techniques cont.

• 3. Bandwagon The reader is urged to do
  something just because everyone else supposedly
  is doing it.
• Ex Everyones talking about Charge!
  Dont be the last to see this years best movie!
• 4. Name Calling The speaker criticizes a person
  or a product with little or no reason or
  evidence. (used by political campaigns and by
  competing stores/restaurants commercials)
• Ex Gina Sheraton would make a terrible
  senator. How could anyone with that ridiculous
  hairstyle be trusted?

12
Propaganda Techniques cont.

• Overgeneralization/ Hasty Generalization A
  statement about someone or something that is too
  broad or based on very little evidence.
• Ex When the Feline was compared with
  two other cars, it came out the winner in
  economy, traction, and general performance.
  Drive the best car of all. Drive the Feline!
  (Problem What cars was the Feline compared with
  and how were they tested?)
• 6. Faulty Cause and Effect The reader is led to
  believe that one event caused another just
  because it happened first.
• Ex Since Jim Bennett has been mayor,
  traffic accidents have increased by five percent.
  We need a new mayor one who is concerned about
  our safety.

13
Propaganda Techniques cont.

• 7. Either-Or The reader is told that there are
  only two extreme possibilities when actually
  there are many choices in between.
• Ex If you are not in favor of a new
  teen center, then you must dislike young people.
• 8. Reasoning in a Circle The reader is told
  something is so just because it is so. The reason
  is simply another way of saying the same thing.
• Ex Nutribread is nourishing because it
  provides nutrients.

14
Propaganda Techniques cont.

• 9. Emotional Words Words are chosen to appeal
  to the readers emotions rather than to his
  common sense.
• Ex Dont settle for tired old outfits.
  Look and play like a professional athlete in
  elegant, stylish Jessama sports attire.
• 10. Card Stacking The advertisement only talks
  about the positive things about the product, not
  the negative aspects about it.
• Ex This previouslyowned car is just
  right for your newly-driving 16-year-old. It is
  an Accord, which has one of the most respected
  safety records of the last 15 years. (However,
  the speaker fails to mention that this particular
  car has been in a terrible wreck, therefore, is
  NOT in the same condition as a new Accord.)

15
Propaganda Techniques cont.

• 11. Plain Folk The opposite of transfer and
  testimonial. The ad uses average people to sell
  the product to average people in order to give it
  credibility and to validate its accessibility.
• Ex The father and son play ball (and
  make life-long memories) with a Louisville
  Slugger
• Glittering Generalities - An emotionally
  appealing phrase so closely associated with
  highly valued concepts and beliefs (such as love
  of country and home, and a desire for peace,
  freedom, glory, and honor) that it carries
  conviction and general public approval without
  supporting information or reason.
• Ex A large American flag waves
  beautifully behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken
  sign in a commercial.