*Example

The following link shows a cartoon starring a very famous rabbit who is selling war bonds for the United States during World War II. This cartoon is similar to the commercials we have today in the way that they use famous characters we know and trust to sell us things.

Watch the [|Cartoon] and then go over to the Example page to check out an analysis of this cartoon as a piece of propaganda.

Analyzing a World War II Poster
2/20/2010
 * Student Name:** Student Sample
 * ===Choose a Poster=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What poster have you chosen? What is the description of the poster on the Web site? ||
 * 2. || What is the URL (Web address) for the poster that you have chosen? ||
 * **Web site(s)** ||
 * 1. || Posters on the American Home Front (1941-45) ||
 * 2. || Powers of Persuasion ||
 * 3. || World War II Poster Collection, from Northwestern University ||
 * 4. || World War II Posters, from University of North Texas Libraries ||
 * ===Purpose, Audience, and Author=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What is the poster's purpose? What is the message that this poster communicates? ||
 * || In this cartoon starring Bug's Bunny, the message is that citizens of the United States should buy war bonds. ||
 * 2. || Why is it important for this message to be delivered to this audience at this moment in time? ||
 * || It is important for this message to be delivered at this time because war bonds were used to help fund the war. The American people purchased the war bonds, which the government were able to use to buy supplies for soldiers. ||
 * 3. || How does the document communicate its message? Think about its use of language, color, space, and symbols. ||
 * || The most visible symbol in the cartoon is Bugs Bunny. He is a symbol of free speech and he seems to act and say as he pleases. He has an attitude that is carefree and full of spirit. The entire cartoon os full of bright colors and in the background, there is a picture of George Washington, the first president of the United States. He represents the American ideals of freedom from the oppression of British rule. ||
 * 4. || Who is the audience for this poster? ||
 * || The audience is the American people. Cartoons were often used before movies, making this cartoon a useful way to appeal to a broad range of people, including both women and men. ||
 * 5. || What does the poster suggest about the audience's beliefs and values? How accurate are these beliefs? ||
 * || The poster suggest that the audience is patriotic or supports America. Evidence of this idea can be found in the statement "Here comes the freedom man" as stated by one of the cartoon characters. ||
 * 6. || Who is the author of this poster? ||
 * || The author is not stated in this cartoon. ||
 * 7. || What are the author's motives for creating this message? How might the writer personally benefit from the audience's acceptance of the message? ||
 * || There are several motives for the author. First, the author gets a chance to continue to show his cartoons to a large American audience, which could spread the popularity of such characters as Bugs Bunny. Second, money may be a motive for the author because he may be receiving payment from the American government to produce this cartoon. ||
 * ===Evidence, Support, and Outcomes=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What facts and specific details does the poster use? Are the facts verifiable and believable? ||
 * || A fact is that the American government is selling war bonds. The cartoon does not list the price for each bond though. You can verify that the government sold those bonds by searching a database on the internet or by contacting your local librarian. ||
 * 2. || What emotions does the document use to communicate its message? How is the audience likely to feel when they read this message? ||
 * || The emotion used by the cartoon to communicate its message is joy. Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig sing in an upbeat manner. ||
 * 3. || What ethical or moral values does the poster use to communicate its message? What relevant values are not supported by this message? ||
 * || The ethical values communicated by the message is that the Americans should buy war bond if they want to truly support the cause of freedom. The cartoon speaks of freedom but does not mention that during this time, African Americans faced racial discrimination in the United States and in the military. The cartoon states, "Here Come the Freedom Man," but some people in the country do noy enjoy all of these freedoms. ||
 * 4. || What are the possible outcomes of this message? What will happen if the audience accepts this message? ||
 * || If the audience accepts the message, then they will but war bonds. Some of these people may belive that they are helping make the world more free, but fail to see the inequalities in their own country. ||
 * 5. || What would happen if everyone in the world accepted this message? ||
 * || If everyone in the world accepted this message, then they would all but war bonds. They would also believe that buying these bonds in the United States supports freedom everywhere, which would not be true. ||
 * ===Overall Impression and Conclusions=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What is the overall impression of this message? Summarize the details that you have gathered in your analysis. ||
 * || My overall impression is that the author thinks that the American people will buy something if they believe that it makes them strong supporters of freedom. ||
 * 2. || How would you categorize this poster—argument, persuasion, or propaganda? Explain your choice. ||
 * || I would categorize this argument as propaganda because it uses a famous character to sell something to the American people. ||
 * ===Evidence, Support, and Outcomes=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What facts and specific details does the poster use? Are the facts verifiable and believable? ||
 * || A fact is that the American government is selling war bonds. The cartoon does not list the price for each bond though. You can verify that the government sold those bonds by searching a database on the internet or by contacting your local librarian. ||
 * 2. || What emotions does the document use to communicate its message? How is the audience likely to feel when they read this message? ||
 * || The emotion used by the cartoon to communicate its message is joy. Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig sing in an upbeat manner. ||
 * 3. || What ethical or moral values does the poster use to communicate its message? What relevant values are not supported by this message? ||
 * || The ethical values communicated by the message is that the Americans should buy war bond if they want to truly support the cause of freedom. The cartoon speaks of freedom but does not mention that during this time, African Americans faced racial discrimination in the United States and in the military. The cartoon states, "Here Come the Freedom Man," but some people in the country do noy enjoy all of these freedoms. ||
 * 4. || What are the possible outcomes of this message? What will happen if the audience accepts this message? ||
 * || If the audience accepts the message, then they will but war bonds. Some of these people may belive that they are helping make the world more free, but fail to see the inequalities in their own country. ||
 * 5. || What would happen if everyone in the world accepted this message? ||
 * || If everyone in the world accepted this message, then they would all but war bonds. They would also believe that buying these bonds in the United States supports freedom everywhere, which would not be true. ||
 * ===Overall Impression and Conclusions=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What is the overall impression of this message? Summarize the details that you have gathered in your analysis. ||
 * || My overall impression is that the author thinks that the American people will buy something if they believe that it makes them strong supporters of freedom. ||
 * 2. || How would you categorize this poster—argument, persuasion, or propaganda? Explain your choice. ||
 * || I would categorize this argument as propaganda because it uses a famous character to sell something to the American people. ||
 * || If everyone in the world accepted this message, then they would all but war bonds. They would also believe that buying these bonds in the United States supports freedom everywhere, which would not be true. ||
 * ===Overall Impression and Conclusions=== ||
 * **Question(s)** ||
 * 1. || What is the overall impression of this message? Summarize the details that you have gathered in your analysis. ||
 * || My overall impression is that the author thinks that the American people will buy something if they believe that it makes them strong supporters of freedom. ||
 * 2. || How would you categorize this poster—argument, persuasion, or propaganda? Explain your choice. ||
 * || I would categorize this argument as propaganda because it uses a famous character to sell something to the American people. ||
 * || My overall impression is that the author thinks that the American people will buy something if they believe that it makes them strong supporters of freedom. ||
 * 2. || How would you categorize this poster—argument, persuasion, or propaganda? Explain your choice. ||
 * || I would categorize this argument as propaganda because it uses a famous character to sell something to the American people. ||
 * || I would categorize this argument as propaganda because it uses a famous character to sell something to the American people. ||