Question

Choose the propaganda style that best fits the statement below.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is c.

Explanation:

Propaganda styles are commonly used as techniques to attract, convince or change the target public mind. Although sometimes can be seen as unethical, they are very effective to convince and spread an idea to the public.

• Option A is not correct. Glittering generalities is a technique meant to express a lot without saying anything through appealing words to people, like nation, love, peace, patriotism, among others. People fall for them without even questioning the discourse or the message conveyed.

Even when the statement appeals to America and its best interest, it is not using moving words or expressions, and it has a message to communicate, even if it is a half-truth.

• Option B is incorrect as well. Name-calling implies discredit a character or stance through aggressive propaganda by making a relation between negative words and the idea or character. This is commonly used in politics with candidates, for example, or even against political parties and ideologies.

There is not any sign of aggresively attacking someone or something in this statement to gain sympathy. It is more the opposite: there are promises and apparent goodwill expressed.

• Option D is also incorrect. Plain folks technique is a style used to reach common people through simple language and imagery, like a medium-class family or a country person, for example. People then empathize with this and they are likely to agree, buy or consume the idea or product proposed by this technique.

Even when the statement proposes something positive aimed at American people, it does not show a relatable discourse to convince a specific social group. It clearly states something ambitious and ideal no matter the status of the public target. Also, the vocabulary used is not simple and friendly for all kinds of people.

• The one that best fits the statement above is option C. Card stacking is a propaganda style consisting of emphasize and exaggerate an idea, mostly an advantageous one, leaving behind the less interesting or negative one to manipulate audience perception and attracting them with something too good to be true. It is used in food and product advertisements mostly.

The speaker in the statement make promises to the public to make America the best country in the world if they are elected, without facing the actual issues behind them. It is a common strategy in politics to attract potential voters to their party. Therefore, card stacking is the correct answer.