Lesson Plan
Power of Persuasion Lesson Plan
Students will learn to identify and apply ethos, logos, and pathos to strengthen their claims and craft more persuasive arguments.
Mastering rhetorical appeals empowers students to write compelling essays and excel in debates by making their arguments more credible, logical, and emotionally resonant.
Audience
10th Grade Honors Students
Time
40 minutes
Approach
Model, practice, and apply rhetorical appeals
Materials
- Powerful Persuasion Slide Deck, - Rhetorical Appeals Practice Sheet, - Persuasion Exit Ticket, - Whiteboard and Markers, and - Student Notebooks
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Powerful Persuasion Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with definitions and examples of ethos, logos, and pathos.
- Print enough copies of the Rhetorical Appeals Practice Sheet for pairs of students.
- Print the Persuasion Exit Ticket for each student.
- Set up the whiteboard and markers to display key terms and student responses.
Step 1
Introduction & Hook
5 minutes
- Project a short persuasive video clip or compelling quote using the Powerful Persuasion Slide Deck.
- Ask students: “What made this message convincing?”
- Introduce today’s objective: learning to use ethos, logos, and pathos to enhance claims.
- Record student responses on the whiteboard.
Step 2
Teach Ethos, Logos, Pathos
10 minutes
- Define each appeal on separate slides in the Powerful Persuasion Slide Deck:
- Ethos: credibility or character of the speaker.
- Logos: logical reasoning and evidence.
- Pathos: emotional connection with the audience.
- Show one real-world example of each appeal and discuss why it works.
- Ask students to identify the appeal type in additional brief examples displayed on the slide deck.
Step 3
Modeling
5 minutes
- Display a simple claim on the slide: e.g., “Our school should adopt later start times.”
- Think aloud while enhancing the claim with each appeal:
- Ethos: reference authoritative studies or expert endorsements.
- Logos: include statistics about improved student performance.
- Pathos: share a relatable student anecdote.
- Annotate the revised claim on the whiteboard.
Step 4
Guided Practice
10 minutes
- Distribute the Rhetorical Appeals Practice Sheet.
- In pairs, students label the appeals used in sample statements and suggest one way to strengthen each statement using a different appeal.
- Circulate to offer support and prompt deeper thinking.
- Invite a few pairs to share their analyses with the class.
Step 5
Independent Practice
5 minutes
- Ask each student to write their own persuasive claim on a given topic (e.g., school uniform policy) in their notebooks.
- They must incorporate at least one example of ethos, logos, and pathos within their claim.
- Encourage concise, clear language and check for balance among appeals.
Step 6
Cool Down & Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Hand out the Persuasion Exit Ticket.
- Students respond to prompts:
- Define one appeal (ethos, logos, or pathos) in your own words.
- Explain how you’ll use that appeal in your next essay or debate.
- Collect exit tickets as students leave to inform future instruction.
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Slide Deck
Power of Persuasion: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
• Understand how to use ethos, logos, and pathos
• Strengthen your persuasive claims
• Prepare for debates and essays
Welcome students and introduce today’s lesson on rhetorical appeals. Highlight that mastering ethos, logos, and pathos will make their arguments more credible, logical, and emotionally resonant.
Play a short persuasive video clip (e.g., commercial, speech excerpt) that clearly uses one or more appeals. Invite students to watch for what makes it convincing.
What Made That Message Convincing?
• Who was speaking?
• What evidence was used?
• How did it make you feel?
Ask students to call out observations. Record responses on the board under categories like speaker credibility, facts/statistics, and emotions.
Ethos
• Definition: Credibility or character of the speaker
• Builds trust and authority
Example: A physician endorsing a health product
Explain that ethos is about the speaker’s credibility. Discuss how a trustworthy source increases audience confidence.
Logos
• Definition: Logical reasoning and evidence
• Appeals to the audience’s rationality
Example: Citing statistics on improved student performance
Highlight how logos relies on facts and logical structure. Show how clear data can sway a rational audience.
Pathos
• Definition: Emotional connection with the audience
• Appeals to feelings and values
Example: Sharing a student’s personal struggle story
Emphasize that pathos connects emotionally. Discuss why personal stories or vivid imagery tug at feelings.
Identifying Rhetorical Appeals
- “With 20 years of experience, I assure you…”
- “The report shows a 30% increase in success rates.”
- “Imagine the joy of achieving your dreams.”
Label each as Ethos, Logos, or Pathos.
Have students work with a partner to label each statement. Then discuss why each example fits its category.
Modeling: Enhancing a Claim
Claim: “Our school should adopt later start times.”
• Ethos: Reference expert sleep studies
• Logos: Show data on improved grades
• Pathos: Share a relatable student anecdote
Think aloud as you demonstrate adding each appeal. Emphasize how each element strengthens the original claim.
Guided Practice
Use your Rhetorical Appeals Practice Sheet:
• In pairs, label sample statements
• Suggest one way to strengthen each using a different appeal
• Be ready to share your ideas
Guide students through the practice sheet. Prompt deeper reasoning: “How else could you make this argument stronger with a different appeal?”
Independent Practice
Write a persuasive claim on the topic:
“School Uniform Policy.”
Include examples of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos within your claim.
Circulate to support students as they craft their claims. Encourage clarity and balance among the three appeals.
Exit Ticket
- Define one appeal (Ethos, Logos, or Pathos) in your own words.
- Explain how you will use it in your next essay or debate.
Collect these exit tickets to gauge student understanding and plan follow-up instruction.
Activity
Rhetorical Appeals Practice Sheet
Side A: Label & Strengthen
For each statement below:
-
Label the original appeal (Ethos, Logos, or Pathos).
-
Rewrite the statement to include a different appeal (choose one you didn’t label).
-
“With 20 years of experience, I assure you this device is safe.”
- Original Appeal: ____________
- Rewritten using a different appeal:
-
“Statistics show that 9 out of 10 students improve their grades with daily reading.”
- Original Appeal: ____________
- Rewritten using a different appeal:
-
“Imagine the pride you’ll feel when you achieve your goals.”
- Original Appeal: ____________
- Rewritten using a different appeal:
-
“The latest research from Harvard University confirms this diet plan works.”
- Original Appeal: ____________
- Rewritten using a different appeal:
Side B: Mini-Edit Task
Read the paragraph below. It relies heavily on Logos but lacks emotional resonance and speaker credibility.
"According to a recent survey, schools that implement mindfulness programs see a 25% decrease in student stress levels and a 15% boost in academic performance. Data from multiple studies over the past five years consistently supports these findings."
Your task:
- Add one sentence to establish speaker credibility (Ethos).
- Add two to three sentences that build an emotional connection (Pathos).
Rewrite the paragraph below:
Cool Down
Persuasion Exit Ticket
-
In your own words, define one rhetorical appeal (Ethos, Logos, or Pathos).
-
Write an example sentence using that appeal in a persuasive claim on a topic of your choice.
-
Reflect: How will you incorporate all three appeals (Ethos, Logos, and Pathos) in your next essay or debate?