Science Fiction. Science fiction is imaginative literature based on scientific principles, discoveries, or laws. Science fiction allows writers to change certain elements of reality in order to create interesting and instructive alternatives. Science fiction stories are often set in the past, in the future, or on distant planets. As you read “Lose Now, Pay Later,” look for story elements that are grounded in reality and others that demonstrate a twist on reality.
Sensory Details. Sensory details are words and phrases that describe how things look, sound, smell, taste, or feel. Sensory details enhance description by revealing a variety of information that readers may react to in a positive way—such as with “the rich, cool, chocolatey ice cream”—or in a negative way—such as with “the hot, painful, swollen bee sting.” Look for sensory details in this story.
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- Psychology Connection. At some time or another, everyone has been convinced to think or act a certain way based upon little or no evidence supporting the action or way of thinking. Many of these situations involve propaganda—the use of misleading language to influence people’s thoughts and actions. Propaganda appeals to people’s emotions rather than to their use of logic.
- Advertisements often use forms of propaganda. For example, seeing a popular film star use a product in an advertisement may convince you to buy that product. Another type of propaganda—jumping on the bandwagon—appeals to people’s desire to belong to a group. Advertising that uses this approach tries to convince you that because everyone else is buying a certain product or service, you should too. Statements or arguments in advertising that appeal to your emotions should be considered with some criticism. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
- Health Connection. Advertising can affect the way people—especially young people—perceive their own bodies. Magazine and television ads often cause readers and viewers to believe they should be—but are not—as thin as the models they feature. Many people somehow associate being thin with being beautiful, popular, or happy. Society is always looking for new ways to become thin. The thousands of existing diet pills, diet drinks, and diet plans share a lot in common. The majority of them don’t work for most people, yet they constantly attract newcomers willing to try anything to become thin. A healthy lifestyle based on nutritious foods and plenty of exercise is the best way to achieve and maintain fitness.
What products have you seen advertised that sound “too good to be true”? Explain.
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