Find each of the words bolded in the article (there are ten) and then write a sentence to show you understand what the words mean. Use your dictionary to help you.
Write out the four underlined phrases and idioms from the article in your own words.
In small groups discuss the following questions. 1. SPEAK
2. 3.
‘Cynics criticised Hall’s innovation, suggesting that it was just another manipulative marketing ploy by the greeting card industry to pressurise people to buy cards …’ Do you think people were right to be cynical?
Top Tip
An idiom is a phrase or sentence that has a different meaning to its literal meaning, e.g. ‘I’m over the moon!’
How does the greeting card industry manipulate people? Should we boycott days like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day?
Name three other industries/companies that you think manipulate young people through their marketing campaigns.
CREATE
In preparation for English Week in school, your class has decided to do a media-awareness campaign. You are going to write tips for the school’s student body to help them to think more critically about marketing campaigns by large organisations such as soft drink companies, fast food
outlets, technology companies, etc. For example, ‘Check the sugar content’. The tips will be printed on posters and brochures and given to students during English Week.
In groups, write three tips and suggest one image that could accompany your tips. Give reasons for your choice of tips and image. Swap your work with another group and get their feedback.
Reflect: Write a paragraph explaining how you edited your work to make it better for a reader.
