Propaganda techniques: Bandwagon by Dean Berry

Instructional lesson with great visuals and student questions embedded

1. Logical Fallacies : Band Wagon

2. The Band Wagon Fallacy A Common Core Lesson By Dean Berry, Ed. D. Gregg Berry, B. A. Common Core Curriculum Solutions www.commoncorecurriculum.info

3. Common Core Reading Standards Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

4. Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

5. Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and relevance and sufficiency of the evidence and identifying when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

6. Reading with Your Eyes and Your Brain Skillful readers learn how to read persuasive or opinionated text with a very critical eye. They realize that the author’s purpose is to convince the reader to believe what the author is saying and to consider the arguments given as valid even if they violate logical reasoning and lack supporting evidence. The author’s motive may be to get the reader to buy something, vote a certain way, change an attitude, or behave differently.

7. In order to avoid manipulation by the author, good readers learn how to detect poor reasoning and faulty arguments . They are able to identify the various logical fallacies such as begging the question, strawman, overgeneralization, slippery slope, and others. During this lesson, we will study logical fallacies.

8. Even huge tobacco companies have been able to use convoluted logic to confuse people about the safety of their products.

9. We know that we shouldn’t follow sheep off of a cliff. But the band wagon fallacy is often very successful in changing our behavior.

10. Appeal to the people: Bandwagon Fallacy The bandwagon fallacy, also known as the appeal to the people , uses the argument that if a sizable number of people , or perhaps even a majority, believe in something, that is enough evidence to support the idea or product. Fallacious arguments using the band wagon technique have impeded the widespread acceptance of innovative ideas or new concepts.

11. Damage Caused to New Scientific Knowledge Galileo, for example, faced ridicule from his contemporaries for supporting Copernicus’s model of our solar system. Scientists have often had to overcome the bandwagon effect in which old ideas, not supported by solid evidence, were difficult to change even in light of new scientific proof

12. Don’t be left out- Join the group Luring people into accepting that which is popular is a method frequently used in advertising and politics. For example,  All the cool kids use this hair gel; be one of them.   Although becoming a “cool kid” is an enticing offer, it does nothing to support the imperative that one should buy the advertised product. Politicians frequently use similar rhetoric to influence voters.

13. Politicians Love to Use the Bandwagon

14. We all hate to be left out . The   bandwagon  fallacy is seductive because it appeals to our desire to belong and to conform and to our desire for security and safety. It is a common appeal in advertising and politics. A clever manipulator of the masses will try to seduce those who unwittingly assume that the majority is always right.

15. Let’s examine how the bandwagon works . “If tanning beds were really unsafe , then millions of Americans would not be using them every week. Neither can the sun be all that harmful to your skin. Virtually everyone I know goes to the beach every year for one primary purpose—the sun. Do you know anyone who goes to the beach and then sits inside the hotel or beach house?”

16. The "Rachel" haircut that was wildly popular in the late nineties is a great example.  Women who watched  Friends  all of sudden had to have the same exact haircut. Since Jennifer Aniston “debuted this style as the character Rachel on  Friends  in the '90s, more than 11 million woman have tried the cut. Fifteen years later it's still a frequent request, making the "Rachel" one of the most popular hairstyles of all time”

17. “ I’m going to buy the new Prince CD. It’s been at the top of the charts for more than a month. It must be a good one .”

18. There must be something to astrology. Millions of Americans can’t be wrong.

19. Avoid peer pressure and jump on the bandwagon This line of "reasoning" has the following form: Deshawn says that he likes the idea that people should work for their welfare when they can. His friends laugh at him , accuse him of fascist leanings, and threaten to ostracize him from their group. He decides to recant and abandon his position to avoid rejection .

20. We Love to be Part of the Group

21. Where’s the Evidence? The Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an "argument ."

22. Is there evidence to support the claim? Arnold Killembetter’s movie " Tasty Garbage" is the greatest movie of all time. No movie has made as much money as it did. We should see it!

23. Is this a fair statement? Do people tend to follow the crowd? Why?

24. Does this claim use the bandwagon fallacy? I can’t believe you’re going to the library on a F riday night ! You don’t want people to think you’re a nerd , do you ?

25. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. I can’t believe you’re going to the library on a Friday night ! You don’t want people to think you’re a nerd , do you?

26. Does this claim use the bandwagon fallacy? The fact that the majority of our citizens support the death penalty proves that it is morally right.”

27. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. The fact that the majority of our citizens support the death penalty proves that it is morally right.”

28. Is this an example of bandwagon fallacy? Juan and Diego bought new Sony stereos and told Maria that their new stereo had a clear, beautiful sound and came with a great price. Maria and her friend went to Best Buy the next day and bought the same Sony stereo.

29. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. Juan and Diego bought new Sony stereos and told Maria that their new stereo had a clear, beautiful sound and came with a great price. Maria and her friend went to Best Buy the next day and bought the same Sony stereo.

30. Is this an example of bandwagon fallacy? Bill: "I like classical music and I think it is of higher quality than most modern music."  Jill: "That stuff is for old people."  Dave: "Yeah, only real woosies listen to that crap. Besides, Anthrax rules! It Rules!"  Bill: "Well, I don't really like it that much. Anthrax is much better."

31. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. Bill: "I like classical music and I think it is of higher quality than most modern music."  Jill: "That stuff is for old people."  Dave: "Yeah, only real woosies listen to that crap. Besides, Anthrax rules! It Rules!"  Bill: "Well, I don't really like it that much. Anthrax is much better."

32. Is this an example of the bandwagon fallacy? Leslie thinks that welfare is needed in some cases. Her friends in the Young Republicans taunt her every time she makes her views known. She has decided to acquiesce and agree with her friends on this issue.

33. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. Leslie thinks that welfare is needed in some cases. Her friends in the Young Republicans taunt her every time she makes her views known. She has decided to acquiesce and agree with her friends on this issue.

34. Is this an example of bandwagon fallacy? Since the new Sentra Nissan is very popular and is leading in overall sales, I decided to test drive one on Saturday. The ride was smooth and the gas mileage good at 32 MPG. I bought the car on the spot after the test drive.

35. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. Since the new Sentra Nissan is very popular and is leading in overall sales, I decided to test drive one on Saturday. The ride was smooth and the gas mileage good at 32 MPG. I bought the car on the spot after the test drive.

36. Does this ad use the bandwagon fallacy? Go to Next Frame

37. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question.

38. Is this an example of bandwagon fallacy? Fifteen scientific studies concur that eating a healthy diet leads to a longer life span. After reading that, I decided to change my diet and start eating healthier.

39. Pair Share Turn to your neighbor and discuss your answer to this question. Fifteen scientific studies concur that eating a healthy diet leads to a longer life span. After reading that, I decided to change my diet and start eating healthier.

40. Quick Write Think about the issues listed below and write an argument that uses the Band Wagon Fallacy to convince people that this product or idea should be accepted as the best. A special way to dress An idea related to the internet A food product Cell phones

41. Additional Common Core Standards Covered

42. Reading Standards Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

43. Writing Standards Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.

44. 44 Copyright Protected © 2015 Dean R. Berry All Rights Reserved No part of this document may be reproduced without written permission from the author