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6th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 11 of 12

Media Techniques

How messages persuade and why we react

What your child practices

Children name persuasion techniques such as bandwagon, testimonials, fear and scarcity, notice camera angles, music and what is left out, and think about why people react to the same message differently.

Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 6.RI.6; 6.SL.2 · an author's purpose and the techniques media messages use

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Bandwagon: everyone is doing it. Testimonial: a famous person says so. Scarcity: only a few left.
  2. Music, camera angles and what is left out all shape the message.
  3. People react differently to the same message because of their own experiences.

Example: A video plays slow, sad music while showing a lost puppy. What reaction does it aim for? Sad music sets a feeling. A lost puppy makes people feel sorry for it. Answer: sympathy

Media Techniques in Arizona

In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 11 of 12 in 6th grade English Language Arts, after Check the Source and before Spelling: Endings and Sound-Alikes.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Arizona Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What is the “bandwagon” technique in ads?

    • using a famous expert
    • saying everyone is doing it, so you should too
    • giving many facts
    • comparing prices fairly

  2. Question 2

    What does “what is left out” mean when analyzing media?

    • the advertiser's logo
    • the end credits
    • the title
    • information the maker chose not to show

  3. Question 3

    How can the music in a movie trailer affect viewers?

    • it builds excitement or tension
    • it has no effect
    • it lists the cast
    • it gives the run time

  4. Question 4

    An ad shows a famous athlete wearing a brand of shoes. What technique is this?

    • bandwagon
    • plain facts
    • testimonial or celebrity endorsement
    • cause and effect

  5. Question 5

    What does a toy commercial's fast cutting between shots aim to do?

    • make it calm
    • create excitement and energy
    • explain the price
    • show the rules

  6. Question 6

    How can a person's past experiences affect how they read a news story?

    • they may notice different details or feel more strongly
    • they read the same as everyone
    • they cannot understand it
    • they forget it instantly

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