Activity 1.8 - Presenting the product

Learning Aims:

    Students are expected to:

    • Use creative and critical thinking when producing a commercial.
    • Present the produced commercial to the other groups.
    • Analyse critically and put forward suggestions for improving the commercials made by the groups.
      Materials:
      Sources
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising
      Overview of different types of advertising; effects; criticism and ethical issues related to advertising.
      The equipment needed for this activity depends on the chosen format of commercial: from paper and pencils to video cameras and digital media.
      Suggestions for use:

      In this activity, students will develop an advertisement: a booklet or an advertisement in the style of “TV Shop“: the product is introduced by a specialist (cosmetician, dermatologist, scientist), or a consumer; the scientific content is strongly emphasised.

      The advertisement should include the description of both the target audience as well as the effect of the product, its ingredients and their function. Furthermore, it would be good to think about what kind of advantages to emphasise in the given cosmetic product (see Appendix 2).

      For example:

      • Are the ingredients natural (from so called clean nature)
      • Bring forth the advantages of the product compared to other products that might include preservatives such as parabens, triclosan or sodium lauryl sulfate e. SLS.

      After producing the advertisement (this may take 1-2 lessons or more, depending on the format), the rest of the class could be the judges, giving their opinions about how convincing the presentation of the product was: what was done well, but also giving suggestions for any improvements that could be done.

      Moreover, the ethical issue (were the ways, in which a possible consumer was influenced, ethical?) could be posed and discussed after watching a presentation.
      Possible questions:

        What may be the causes why labels indicated below have been used in marketing cosmetics (see Appendix 2):

        • No animal ingredients (vegetarian ingredients or Vegan)
        • No animal testing (also known as Cruelty free products)
        • No artificial colors, sweeteners or flavours
        • Containers are recyclable
        • Fair trade
        • Certified organic ingredients
        • Biodegradable
        • Paraben free
        • Mineral oil free (Petroleum free)
        • Free of chemical preservatives

        In your opinion, which of these qualities are important for you? Explain!