Minds On

Exploring advertisements

Products can be marketed in many different ways in order to influence the intended audience.

Consider how the marketing of a product may change depending on the intended audience. What types of features might be used? Whose perspectives might be presented in the advertisement?

Explore the following description and image to identify the different ways a product could be marketed.

Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Press ‘Reveal’ to see the description.

There is a busy city street with various billboards and signs. The signs are advertising different products. There is sign for fast food, clothing, sunglasses, and technology. Some of the signs are videos playing on loop, while others are photographs, written text, or images.

Understanding perspectives

Consider what perspective means. How could you define it? Can you think of examples of different perspectives? Think about movies or books, how do they incorporate different perspectives? Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Action

Sorting

Explore and research different advertisements and identify whose perspectives are presented or included. Select and analyze a variety of media texts such as TV commercials, magazine advertisements, radio commercials, etc. Consider the following questions:

  • What do you notice?
  • Are some perspectives included a lot in the advertisements?
  • What other perspectives should be included?

You may use the following graphic organizer to keep track of your observations, or another method of your choice. Be sure note of the source of the advertisements you explored. For example, did the ad come from a website, the radio, or was it found in a newspaper?

Consider the following as you explore:

  • What observations can you make about the persepectives being presented in these advertisements?
  • Try grouping the advertisements by the product that is being sold. Do you notice any similarities or differences in the perspectives featured in these ads?

Complete the Advertisement Sort in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document to help you organize your advertisement analysis.

Advertisement Sort
Advertisement source Product type Findings/ Observations
1. Example: YouTube Example: video game
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Complete Advertisement Sort in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Advertisement Sort.

Once you have sorted the advertisements you explored, review your results. Choose one (1) of your findings/consistent patterns and decide how you wish to explore that finding further. In the Consolidation section, you will be creating a presentation based on your main findings.

Consider the following questions as you review your results:

  • What similarities or differences did you notice about the ads?
  • Whose perspectives were included/present?
  • How can these ads be changed to include more perspectives?

Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Consolidation

Report / infographic

Applying understanding

Your next step is to create a presentation to discuss any patterns that emerged through your sort. You can use a method of your choice to report your findings. It can take the form of a slideshow, podcast, infographic, or a written report. Just be sure that your report includes all the considerations in the following Report Presentation Checklist.

Your report will include a combination of your findings (from the sort) as well as additional research.

Quick tip:Be sure your report includes information about the media source you reviewed as well as the total number of commercials or advertisments.

Use the following Report Presentation Checklist to prepare for your presentation.

Report Presentation Checklist

Press the Actvity button to access the Report Presentation Checklist.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Presentation Checklist

I have included…

Self-reflections

Reflect on your learning, and respond to the following questions:

  • Why is it important to include various persepectives in media texts?
  • What are different factors that might influence a person's choice or opinion of a product?

Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.