Rhetoric Revealed! Script

Warm-Up: What's Your Angle? (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To kick us off today, I want you to think about a time you really wanted something – maybe to convince a friend to see a certain movie, or to get your parents to extend your curfew, or even a teacher to give you an extension on an assignment. How did you try to persuade them? What 'angle' did you take? Please take a few minutes to respond to the prompt on your Rhetoric Warm-Up sheet."

(Teacher says): "Alright, let's hear a few examples. Who's willing to share a strategy they've used to persuade someone? What worked well, or maybe what didn't?" (Allow 2-3 students to share and briefly discuss.)

Introduction to Rhetoric (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Excellent! What you've just described – those strategies you use to convince others – that's essentially what we're going to dive into today. We're talking about rhetoric."

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Rhetoric?)

(Teacher says): "Rhetoric, simply put, is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. It's how we use language to convince people, to influence their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Think about it: every day, you're exposed to rhetoric. Advertisements try to convince you to buy something. Political speeches try to convince you to vote a certain way. Even your everyday conversations use rhetoric when you're trying to explain your point of view. Today, we're going to 'reveal' some of the key techniques that make rhetoric so powerful."

Key Rhetorical Techniques (10 minutes)

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 3: Ethos: The Trust Factor)

(Teacher says): "First up, we have Ethos. When a speaker or writer uses ethos, they are appealing to your sense of trust or credibility. They want you to believe them because they seem reliable, ethical, or knowledgeable. Think about it: if a doctor recommends a certain brand of toothpaste, you're probably more likely to trust that recommendation than if a random person on the street tells you about it, right? That's ethos at work. The doctor has credibility. Why should I believe you? Because you're a trustworthy source."

(Teacher asks): "Can anyone think of an example of ethos they've seen recently, maybe in an advertisement or a public figure's speech?" (Allow 1-2 students to share.)

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Pathos: Heartstrings & Emotions)

(Teacher says): "Next, we have Pathos. This technique aims to appeal to your emotions. Pathos is all about making you feel something – joy, sadness, anger, fear – to persuade you. Think about those commercials for animal shelters with sad music and images of animals. They're trying to evoke your sympathy to encourage you to donate or adopt. Pathos can be very powerful because emotions often drive our decisions. How does this make me feel?"

(Teacher asks): "What are some ways advertisers use pathos to try and get you to buy their products?" (Allow 1-2 students to share.)

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 5: Logos: Logic & Reason)

(Teacher says): "Then there's Logos. This is all about logic and reason. When someone uses logos, they're trying to convince you with facts, statistics, evidence, and clear, rational arguments. They want you to think, 'Does this make sense? Is there evidence to back it up?' If a politician tells you that a new policy will create 10,000 jobs and provides economic data to support that claim, they are using logos. It's about presenting a well-reasoned argument. Does this make sense? Is there evidence?"

(Teacher asks): "Why is logos important in a debate or an essay?" (Allow 1-2 students to share.)

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Figurative Language: Metaphor & Simile)

(Teacher says): "Beyond these three main appeals, rhetoric also uses specific language techniques. Two common ones are Metaphor and Simile. You've probably heard of these before! A metaphor directly compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.' For example, if I say, 'The classroom was a zoo,' I'm not saying it literally was a zoo, but I'm comparing its chaos to a zoo. A simile, on the other hand, compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.' So, if I said, 'The student was as busy as a bee,' I'm using a simile to compare their industriousness to a bee's."

(Teacher asks): "Can someone give me an example of a metaphor or a simile?" (Allow 1-2 students to share.)

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 7: Rhetorical Question: Think About It!)

(Teacher says): "Finally, let's look at the Rhetorical Question. This is a question asked merely for effect, with no expectation of an actual answer from the audience. It's designed to make you think, or to emphasize a point the speaker is trying to make. For instance, if I say, 'Are we going to stand by and let this injustice happen?' I'm not actually expecting someone to shout 'No!' I'm trying to make everyone in the audience consider the injustice and feel motivated to act."

(Teacher asks): "When might you use a rhetorical question to make a point?" (Allow 1-2 students to share.)

Practice Time! (7 minutes)

**(Teacher gestures to Rhetoric Revealed! Slide Deck - Slide 8: Time to Practice!)

(Teacher says): "Great job listening and participating, everyone! Now that we've explored these key rhetorical techniques – ethos, pathos, logos, metaphor, simile, and rhetorical questions – it's your turn to spot them in action. I'm going to hand out the Rhetoric Practice Worksheet. You'll see several short examples, and your task is to identify which rhetorical technique is being used. You can work individually or with a partner for the next few minutes. I'll be walking around to answer any questions you might have."

(Distribute worksheets. Circulate and assist students as needed.)

Cool-Down: Spot the Skill (3 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Alright, bring your attention back up here for a moment. We're running out of time, but I want to give you a quick opportunity to reflect. I'm handing out a Rhetoric Cool-Down sheet. Please take one, and answer the question on it. This is your exit ticket for today. What's one rhetorical technique you found most interesting or useful today, and why?"

(Teacher says): "As you finish, please turn in your cool-down on your way out. Great work today, everyone! You've taken the first step in 'revealing' the power of rhetoric. See you next time!"

Rhetoric Warm-Up: What's Your Angle?

Think about a time you tried to persuade someone (a friend, parent, teacher) to do or believe something. Maybe you wanted them to agree with your opinion, buy something for you, or let you do something.

1. Who were you trying to persuade?
   
   
   
2. What were you trying to persuade them to do or believe?
   
   
   
3. What strategies or techniques did you use to try and convince them? (e.g., did you use facts, try to make them feel guilty, bring in an expert, make a comparison?)
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Was your attempt successful? Why or why not?
   
   
   

Rhetoric Practice Worksheet

Directions: Read each statement or scenario below. Identify the rhetorical technique being used (Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Metaphor, Simile, or Rhetorical Question) and briefly explain your reasoning.

1. Statement: "As a veterinarian with 20 years of experience, I highly recommend this brand of dog food."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

2. Statement: "If you don't support this charity, thousands of innocent children will suffer from hunger. Please, open your hearts and give generously."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

3. Statement: "Our new phone has a 25% faster processor and a battery life that lasts 10 hours longer than the leading competitor, as proven by independent lab tests."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

4. Statement: "The assignment was a mountain I had to climb."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

5. Statement: "Her smile was like sunshine on a cloudy day."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

6. Statement: "Do you really want to live in a world where creativity is stifled and new ideas are never explored?"
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

7. Statement: "My opponent's plan is just too expensive; it will raise taxes by 15% and cut essential services, leaving our community vulnerable."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

8. Statement: "After years of research and countless experiments, we can conclude that this new formula is 99% effective."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

9. Statement: "The politician spoke with the fervor of a preacher, his words igniting hope in the crowd."
   • Rhetorical Technique:
     
     
     
   • Reasoning:
     
     
     

10. Statement: "Are you going to sit there and let bullying continue in our school?"
    • Rhetorical Technique:
      
      
      
    • Reasoning:
      
      
      

Rhetoric Cool-Down: Spot the Skill

Directions: Briefly answer the question below.

1. Out of the rhetorical techniques we discussed today (Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Metaphor, Simile, Rhetorical Question), which one did you find most interesting or useful, and why?