Persuasion in Action

Grade Level: 10th Grade

Curriculum Standards:

California Common Core Standards for English Language Arts (CA CCSS ELA-Literacy):

• RI.9-10.6: Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how rhetoric (e.g., ethos, pathos, logos) advances their argument.
• SL.9-10.2: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

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Objective

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Analyze different scenarios and commercials to identify the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos).
2. Understand how these rhetorical strategies are used to influence an audience.
3. Apply their knowledge to construct arguments using ethos, pathos, and logos.

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Assessment

Students will complete a worksheet that evaluates their ability to identify and interpret ethos, pathos, and logos in scenarios and commercials. Results will reflect their understanding of rhetorical techniques and their functions in persuasion.

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Materials

• A printed worksheet titled "Which Appeal?" (included below).
• Short video clips of commercials (projected in class).
• Whiteboard or chart paper for brainstorming.
• Markers, pens, and sticky notes.

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Lesson Plan

1. Warm-Up: Setting the Foundation (10 mins)

• Start with a Discussion: Write the words ethos, pathos, logos on the board. Ask students:
  • "What do you think these mean?"
  • "Where do you see persuasion in your everyday life?"
  • "How do people or companies get you to believe, feel, or take action?"
• Introduce and briefly explain the concepts:
  • Ethos: Credibility or trustworthiness.
  • Pathos: Appealing to emotions.
  • Logos: Use of logic or reason.
  • Provide easy-to-digest examples for each:
    • Ethos: "I’m a doctor, so I recommend this medicine."
    • Pathos: "Look at this puppy in distress—act now to save him!"
    • Logos: "Studies prove this product is 98% effective."

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2. Interactive Activity: Commercial Dissection (15 mins)

• Play two short commercials (pre-selected, age-appropriate examples such as a sports drink ad or a charity PSA).
• After each ad, hold a group discussion using these prompts:
  • "What emotions did the commercial make you feel?" (Pathos)
  • "What logical arguments or facts do they use to convince you?" (Logos)
  • "Were there any figures or brands in the ad that made you trust it?" (Ethos)
• As students share their thoughts, list their responses under the respective column on the board ("Ethos," "Pathos," "Logos").

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3. Group Work: Matching Appeals (15 mins)

Activity Setup:
Divide the class into 5 groups of three. Hand each group 3 scenario cards (see examples below). On each card is a short persuasive scenario. Students must decide whether each example is ethos, pathos, or logos, and explain their reasoning.

Example Scenario Cards:

1. "Over 100 doctors recommend this toothpaste for healthier teeth."
2. "If you don’t act now, this opportunity will be gone forever!"
3. "Our company has been helping families with money management for over 50 years."

Teacher's Role:
Circulate through the groups, listening to discussions and challenging groups to clearly justify their decisions.

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4. Independent Activity: Worksheet Completion (15 mins)

Distribute the "Which Appeal?" worksheet to each student. This worksheet includes:

1. 5 short descriptions of real-world ads/scenarios to identify as ethos, pathos, or logos. (Examples included below.)
2. A reflective question: "Which rhetorical strategy do you think is most effective? Why?" (Open-ended to assess critical thinking and personal viewpoints).

Example Worksheet Items:

1. "This cleaning product is 99.9% effective at killing germs in your home."
2. "As a mother of three, I know how important safety is for a family."
3. "Imagine a world where your loved ones are safe and protected for life."

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5. Wrap Up and Reflection (5 mins)

• Conduct a quick think-pair-share exercise:
  • Think: What is one ad or speech you’ve seen recently that used ethos, pathos, or logos?
  • Pair: Discuss with a partner which type of appeal it used.
  • Share: Invite a few students to share their examples with the class.
• Reinforce the idea that understanding rhetorical appeals gives them a powerful tool to critically assess media and craft effective arguments of their own.

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Worksheet: "Which Appeal?"

Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________

Instructions:

1. Read each scenario below.
2. Identify whether the appeal is ethos, pathos, or logos.
3. Justify your answer with 1-2 sentences.

Exercise 1:

Scenario: "Studies reveal that students who use colour-coded notes increase retention by 63%."

• Your Answer: _________________
• Justification: ___________________________________________

Exercise 2:

Scenario: "Our brand has been the trusted leader in skincare for over 20 years."

• Your Answer: _________________
• Justification: ___________________________________________

Exercise 3:

Scenario: "If these innocent animals don’t get the help they need, their future is in your hands."

• Your Answer: _________________
• Justification: ___________________________________________

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Homework (Optional Extension)

Ask students to find one advertisement or speech online or on TV that uses ethos, pathos, or logos. They should write a short paragraph describing the ad and identifying the rhetorical appeals used, with evidence. This will prepare for the next lesson on crafting their own persuasive arguments.

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Differentiation Strategies

1. For Visual Learners: Use images from print ads along with commercials to visualise rhetorical concepts.
2. For Struggling Learners: Provide simplified definitions of ethos, pathos, and logos with sentence starters to scaffold their thinking.
3. For Advanced Learners: Challenge them to identify combinations of appeals (e.g., when a commercial uses more than one).

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Teacher's Notes

This lesson balances critical analysis and creativity while building students' skills to evaluate media critically. Holding space for discussions keeps the lesson dynamic and fosters collaborative thinking.