Students create their own ad based

on advertising techniques they

have studied. Includes everything

you need to get started right away!

Create Your Own Ad

Media Literacy Activity

© Addie Williams

Create Your

Own Ad!

Part 1—Advertisement

Your job is to create a new product (it can be whatever you like, as long as it’s

appropriate for school). You must then design a magazine or newspaper ad for your

product. Keep in mind your “target audience” (who are you selling to?) and use the

appropriate colors, language and pictures.

Your product and advertisement must…

Have a unique name and look (you can’t use a product that already exists)

Use at least two advertising techniques

Be persuasive—your job is to encourage someone to buy this product

Be eye-catching and colorful

Have correct spelling / grammar

Due Date:

_________________

Part 2—Written Explanation

You must also hand in a short written explanation of your ad that includes the

following details and information.

Why did you invent this product?

What two advertising techniques did you use?

Why did you choose these techniques?

What magazine or newspaper would you put the ad in? Why?

Who is your target audience?

Why would your ad appeal to the target audience?

Remember to check for spelling and

grammar errors before handing in your work!

© Addie Williams 2012

Common Advertising Strategies

1. Celebrity Sightings

- Movie stars, singers, sports stars and TV actors are all used to sell an idea or a

product.

- Can you think of an TV ad or magazine that uses a celebrity to sell a product?

- Why do you think that this technique works?

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

2. Catchy Slogans

- Are you “lovin’ it”? Does it “melt in your mouth and not in your hands”?

- How many advertising slogans can you think of? Can you come up with over 25!

- A catchy slogan helps people remember the product or store.

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

3. Music / Theme song

- How many of you sing along to ads on the radio or TV?

- How many hit songs have you heard used to advertise a product?

- When people hear that song on the radio, it makes them think of the product.

- Music can also add excitement or drama to an ad.

- Why do you think this is an effective advertising strategy?

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

4. Beautiful People

- Everyone and everything in an ad is perfect! Nobody has a hair out of place, a

pimple, frizzy hair or even a messy house.

- The message being sent is “If you buy our product, you can look this beautiful and

fabulous.” Or “If you use this product your house will look perfect.”

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

5. Cute Mascots

- Mascots are mostly used to target kids and create a sense of fun.

- Just think of all the mascots used to sell breakfast cereal!

- How many can you come up with?

- Companies hope that children will encourage their parents to buy food / toys that

look fun and have a friendly cartoon character associated with them.

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

© Addie Williams 2012

Advertising Techniques Con’t

6. Heart Strings

- We’ve all seen ads that bring a smile to our face or even make us cry.

- By appealing to our emotions, companies hope we’ll remember the good

feelings, happy reunions, wedding proposals, family fun and more, that

happened with their product.

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

7. Humor

- Everyone likes to laugh and humor is a sure-fire way to grab people’s attention.

- Why does humor sell products?

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

8. Statistics / Testimonials

- “4 out of 5 dentists recommend this toothpaste”

- “Johnny Smith says his back pain was cured by Magic Pill after only 3 weeks!!”

- Statistics and testimonials give a product or company credibility.

- Why do people listen to statistics or testimonials?

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

9. Wahoo! Excitement!

- Take a sip of this drink and your whole life turns upside down… you’re

whisked away to a colorful world of fun and excitement!

- Companies use bright colors and enthusiasm to sell their product. Not only are

they selling a product, but they are selling the idea of FUN!!

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

10. Put Downs

- “Better than the other leading brand!”

- “Teenagers love Koca Kola more than Bebsi!”

- Companies often compare themselves to their competitors and put down or

insult their competition.

- Does this technique work? Why or why not?

EXAMPLE: __________________________________________________

11. Can you think of any more techniques advertisers use?

© Addie Williams 2012

Brainstorming Sheet / Writing Planner

Before beginning your ad and your written explanation, make a few quick notes to help you create a

creative, eye-catching and fabulous assignment.

What product are you going to try to sell? What brand name are you going to create?

Why did you invent this product?

What two advertising techniques will you use?

Why did you choose these techniques?

What magazine or newspaper would you put the ad in? Why?

Who is your target audience? Why did you pick this age group?

Why would your ad appeal to this audience?

© Addie Williams 2012

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© Addie Williams 2012

Not Quite Yet

(Not yet within expectations)

2 marks

Good Start

(Meets expectations)

3 marks

You did it!

(Meets Expectations)

4 marks

Wow!

(Exceeds expectations)

5 marks

Advertising

Techniques

Box X 2

= 10 marks

I did not use an advertising technique.

I did not use color or creativity.

I used two advertising techniques satisfactorily

I used some color and my ad is moderately eye-catching

I clearly used two ad-vertising techniques.

I have an eye-catching and creative ad.

I effectively used two or more advertising techniques.

My ad is creative, unique and very eye-catching.

Paragraph

Content

Box X 2

= 10 marks

My answers are point form or incomplete.

I am missing key ideas or concepts.

I did not answer all of the questions.

I answered all the questions, but briefly.

I am missing some of the mains ideas or concepts.

I fully answered all of the questions.

I did a good job of covering all of the main ideas or concepts.

I fully answered all of the questions.

I did an excellent job of covering all of the main ideas or concepts.

I added extra details to my answer.

Conventions

Spelling /

Grammar

Box X 1

= 5 marks

I have frequent spelling / grammar mistakes.

I have frequent run-on sentences or sentence fragments.

I needed to edit my work.

I have noticeable spelling or grammar errors in basic words and sentences.

I have a few run-on sentences or sentence fragments.

More editing would improve my work.

I only have a few minor errors in spelling and grammar.

I do not have run-on sentences or sentence fragments.

I have occasional errors in more complicated language and sentence structure.

I made good use of an editor.

Create Your Own Ad Rubric Name:

Comments:

© Addie Williams 2012

Copyright Information Copying any part of this product and placing it on the internet in any form (even a per-

sonal / classroom website) is forbidden and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copy-right Act (DMCA). These items can be picked up in a search and downloaded for free.

This product is meant for single classroom / teacher use only—please do NOT distribute to others. Thanks so much for respecting copyright. ~ Addie

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Media Literacy Unit—Over 15 Activities

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