Advertising

Adverts on TV, the internet, radio, posters, magazines, billboards,

Functional Language
Talking about adverts

Language used when making an advert

The functional language at Creating can be used here.

Will it appeal to consumers?

Wouldn't it be better if...?

Language in infomercials

Introducing

In seconds you can...

personal, versatile, useful, dishwasher-safe

complete, 17-piece set

...with the 6 handy attachments

great for...

You'll receive...

It even....

And how about...?

But that's not all...

Order yours now...

You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Activities
.Advertising a Mundane Object - Something that goes down very well when the lesson focus is on the language used in selling something is to get students to sell a mundane object, but give it a new use. I use a boomerang which was lying around the school and in one lesson this became a universal chopping device and the 'poomerang', a handy and sanitary toilet-seat cover for public toilets. As a performance, the pressure is shifted away from creating a good advert for a real product and onto being funny and experimental. I've tried the serious way too, and it was much less satisfying.

.Meeting - Using a regular build-up for having a meeting, students can meet as members of a health board to discuss which advertising agency should get their contract, using the images below as the pitches from those advertising agencies. If students are already comfortable with meeting language, this becomes a good opportunity for lots of functions to do with attention and impact ("this image will really bring home to people the drawbacks ...", "I think this one will be eye-catching, but will the message get through ?"

Discussion Questions

 * What makes an advert memorable?
 * What are the different types of advertising? What types of companies choose each type?
 * Do you find advertising persuasive?
 * Why do you buy one product over another?
 * Should advertisers be allowed to advertise to children?
 * Should alcohol and tobacco companies be allowed to advertise? Why or why not?
 * What do you think of celebrities in adverts?
 * Should there be advertising-free zones?
 * What kind of advertisements attract your attention?
 * Why is it necessary to advertise?
 * Can you remember an advertising campaign that caught your attention?
 * Do you think that the internet is the best way to advertise?
 * What do you think is the best way of discovering the tastes and interests of teenagers?
 * How easy do you think it is to influence children with advertising?


 * When out walking or shopping in the city, do you accept advertising fliers or free samples that are offered to you? Why/why not?

Images
Anti-smoking campaign