Ideas for Teachers-
-create your own chart...listing drug names on the left column but mixing up their slogans in the right.
Have students match the slogan with the advertised drug.
-have students conduct research into how much these drugs cost; how much insurance might cover;
what alternatives (generics) might be on the market and their costs

Questions for students to consider:
Ask students if they remember having seen any prescription drug ads on TV
-what is the purpose of these ads?
-who is the 'target audience"? how can you tell?
-does the ad tell you everything you need to know? if no, why not?
-can students recall what condition the ad is aimed at?
-why would a particular drug maker choose a specific magazine or TV network for advertising?
-what is the purpose of a drug having its own website?
-after locating print ads, ask students to consider the images of the people portrayed in these ads:
what attributes do they display?
-if students were to produce their own prescription drug ad, what key words, phrases or images
would be seen or heard?

Student handout: analyzing prescription drug ads,
from the PBS Frontline web site

Written by Frank Baker ©2004