Spot the Half-Truth: Free Printable Ad Checklist for Students
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half-truth sounds like a fact, but you can’t check it as stated. It leaves out, blurs, or only hints at the part that matters. Ads are full of them.
This free printable ad checklist gives students 6 quick checks to run on any ad before they believe it. It works for students in class, for teachers planning a lesson on advertising, and for parents at home. There’s no sign-up. Just download it, print it, and use it.
What Is a Half-Truth Advertisement?
A half-truth advertisement makes a claim that sounds like a fact but can’t be checked as stated. It compares against an unnamed rival, cites a study without saying who ran it, or leaves out the part that would change your mind.
3 Half-Truth Advertisement Examples
- “Top Breeze fans move a lot more air than the top brand.” At what speed settings, and compared how?
- “Studies show that the new Top Breeze ceiling fan outperforms the leading brand in laboratory tests.” Who ran the studies?
- “Every person in our company earns an average $1,000 a year bonus.” If a few people get big bonuses and most get $100, the average hides it.
Download the free printable ad checklist
A one-page checklist students can use on any ad, from a cereal box to a billboard.
Note: Includes: the 6-check Ad Detective Checklist, a practice sheet with 5 ads to investigate, and an answer key. Free to print and share for classroom and home use.
Go deeper!
Check out more half-truth advertising examples & Know Whom to Trust.
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