In groups of two, prepare presentations on conspiracy theories.

Explain the conspiracy you have chosen, tell us why some people believe in it (what are the believers’ evidence) and show the facts that state that this isn’t real.

This should last about 2mn per participant involved.

QUESTIONS:

1/ Introduce the document

2/ What are two conspiracy theories she mentions?

3/ Why does our brain believe such stories?

4/ What is illusory pattern perception?

5/What hormone is linked to conspiracy theories?

6/ What is a confirmation bias?

7/Why is it linked to powerlessness?

Here is a list of magic suffixes to help you use and understand english more:

Turn a verb into a noun with -ing !

Spread → Spreading, COme → COming, COLLECT → collecting, Meet → Meeting

TURN AN ADJECTIVE INTO A NOUN with -ness

truthful → Truthfulness, Ill → Illness, Deaf → Deafness, mad → madness

TURN A NOUN INTO AN ADJECTIVE WITH -FUL or -Less

Power → powerful/Powerless, harm → harmful/harmless, Hope → hopeful/hopeless

TURN A VERB INTO AN ACTOR WITH -er/-OR

Speak → Speaker, Teach → Teacher, Make → Maker, work → WORKER

Bonus ones : -LY & -ISH

Step 1. What are most conspiracy theories based on? 

The truth. What is real & known.

It can be a pandemic, an election, a scientific discovery, a famous person’s death.

Step 2. The official explanation or claim has to be shown as ‘incomplete’ or ‘false’ 

Using sentences like : We are not told the whole truth, something doesn’t add up, why would they lie? 

Step 3. Who is usually the enemy? 

There is often somebody to blame like...

Governments, scientists, big corporations, the media, ‘elites’...

it’s important to use vague terms here! ‘they’ or ‘secret group’

Step 4. When it comes to evidence, it’s important to use cherry-picking. 

This strategy means to select weak or fake evidence, isolated facts, coincidences or blurry photos that would only validate your point. 

Step 5. Use emotional language! 

Logic comes second, emotions come first.

Use fear (your life is in danger!), anger (they are manipulating you!!) or pride (you are one of the few that know the truth!)

Make people feel, not think!

Step 6. Claim special treatment! 

Any conspiracy theory will have you feel special and unique.

Make the reader feel superior with words like ‘wake up’, ‘they don’t want you to know this’...

Step 7. Make the theory impossible to disprove 

If someone disagrees with you... Say that they are brainwashed... they are part of the system or that the proof has been deleted!