Curated OER
TV ATTACK ADS AND THE VOTER
Learners read about the history of negative political advertisements in U.S. elections. In this politics lesson, students view several ads for opposing candidates and analyze and discuss the content. Learners write scripts for candidates...
Curated OER
Hillary Clinton's Voting Record Distorted
Learners examine how political advertisements can be used to deliver messages and stir emotions. Using a political ad from the 2006 Senate election, students generate questions based on the claims in the ads. They research information to...
Curated OER
John McCain's Tax Stand Misrepresented
Students examine how political advertisements can be misleading. Using a political ad against tax reform, students generate questions based on the claims in the ads. They research information to support or refute the claims in the ad and...
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image: Living Room Candidate (Campaign Ads)
Online exhibition of presidential campaign ads, 1952-2008, organized by election year, theme, and political issue. Audio/video presentations of ads can be viewed alongside written transcripts, making Living Room Candidate particularly...
PBS
Pbs: The :30 Second Candidate
Great PBS site for the Democracy Project. This site is all about televisions role in political advertising. There is a timeline, step-by-step process of commercials, and a look at tricks of the trade.
Other
Annenberg Classroom: Flack check.org
FlackCheck.org is the political literacy companion site to the award-winning FactCheck.org. We provide resources to help students recognize flaws in arguments in general and political ads in particular. Explore politics, science and health.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Politics and Media 4: Message War
Through a variety of resources and external links, students gain an understanding of the language of political ads.
Education Development Center
Tune in to Learning: Truth in Advertising
Interactive lesson and activities for learning to look critically at the persuasive techniques of advertisements promoting political candidates and products.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Political Commercials Lesson Plan
Students will have the opportunity to analyze political commercials for truths and misconceptions, then make one of their own.