Speak Up: Persuasion! Script

Warm-Up: Persuasion Power (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays the Persuasion Power Warm-Up prompt or on the board/slide)

"Good morning, class! To kick things off today, I want you to think about a time recently when you tried to persuade someone to do or believe something. Maybe you tried to convince your parents to let you stay out later, or convinced a friend to watch a particular movie, or even tried to get a teacher to extend a deadline. It could be anything!"

"On your paper, or silently to yourself, write down what you tried to persuade someone of, and whether you were successful. More importantly, think about how you tried to persuade them. What words did you use? What reasons did you give? I'll give you about three minutes for this."

(After 3 minutes)

"Alright, who'd like to share a brief example? What did you try to persuade someone of, and what approach did you take? Don't worry if it wasn't successful – we're here to learn!" (Call on 2-3 students).

"Great examples, everyone! It sounds like we all have some experience with trying to convince others. And that's exactly what we're going to dive into today: the art of persuasion."

Introduction to Persuasion & Techniques (10 minutes)

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Persuasion?)

"So, what is persuasion? At its core, persuasion is about influencing someone's beliefs, attitudes, intentions, motivations, or behaviors. It's about convincing others to see things your way, or to take a specific action. Why do you think this is an important skill to develop, especially for you as 10th graders?" (Allow for 1-2 student responses).

"Exactly! Whether you're writing an essay, debating with friends, applying for a job in the future, or even just explaining your side of a story, being able to persuade effectively is a superpower. It helps you make your voice heard and your ideas understood and accepted."

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 3: The Pillars of Persuasion)

"Now, when we talk about persuasion, there are three main pillars, or types of appeals, that speakers and writers use to make their arguments stronger. These come from ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, and they're still incredibly relevant today: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos."

"Let's break them down. Who has heard of any of these before?"

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Ethos: Building Trust)

"First up is Ethos. Think of 'ethics' or 'credibility.' Ethos is about convincing your audience that you are a credible source. Why should they trust you or believe what you're saying? You establish ethos by showing you're knowledgeable, reliable, and fair."

"For example, if your science teacher tells you the best way to study for a biology test, you'll probably listen, right? Why? Because they're the teacher, they have expertise. Or, if a student who always gets A's in math shares their study tips, you'd likely trust their advice because of their track record. That's ethos in action. Can anyone think of another example of someone using ethos to persuade?" (Allow for 1-2 student responses).

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 5: Pathos: Connecting Through Emotion)

"Next, we have Pathos. This relates to 'emotions' or 'sympathy.' Pathos is about appealing to the audience's emotions. How does your message make them feel? Do you want them to feel happy, sad, angry, excited, or empathetic?"

"Think about commercials for animal shelters, often showing sad animals with somber music. They want you to feel sympathy and donate. Or, if you're arguing for a later school start time, you might talk about how tired students are and how it affects their mental health and well-being. That's using pathos. Where else do you see pathos being used?" (Allow for 1-2 student responses).

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Logos: Using Logic & Reason)

"Finally, there's Logos. This comes from 'logic.' Logos is about appealing to your audience's sense of logic and reason. It's about using facts, data, statistics, and clear arguments to convince them. What are the facts and reasons behind your claim?"

"For instance, if you're trying to convince someone that regular exercise is good for them, you'd present scientific studies showing improved health outcomes and increased energy levels. You're giving them logical reasons. Or, if you want a new crosswalk near the school, you'd present statistics about pedestrian safety or traffic patterns. That's logos. Why is using logic important when you're trying to persuade someone?" (Allow for 1-2 student responses).

Activity: Persuasive Pitch (10 minutes)

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 7: Your Turn: Persuasive Pitch!)

"Alright, it's time to put these powerful tools into practice! We're going to do a 'Persuasive Pitch' activity. I want you to prepare a short, 1-2 minute persuasive pitch. You can choose from one of these topics, or if you have a great idea of your own that's appropriate, you can run it by me:

• Convince the principal to add a new elective (e.g., Coding, Advanced Art, Debate Club).
• Argue for a longer lunch period.
• Persuade your classmates to read a specific book.

"Your goal is to use at least two of the persuasive techniques we just discussed – Ethos, Pathos, or Logos – in your pitch. Think about which ones would be most effective for your chosen topic and audience."

"You can work individually or quickly pair up with someone next to you to brainstorm, then each prepare your own pitch. I'll give you about seven minutes to prepare your pitches, and then we'll have a few volunteers share."

(Circulate and provide support)

"Okay, who's ready to share their persuasive pitch? Don't be shy!" (Call on 2-3 volunteers to share their pitches. Provide brief positive feedback, highlighting good use of persuasive techniques).

Cool-Down: Persuasion Reflection (5 minutes)

(Teacher displays Speaking Up: Persuasion! Slide Deck - Slide 8: Reflect & Connect or distributes Persuasion Reflection Cool-Down)

"Fantastic work, everyone! To wrap up our lesson today, I want you to take a moment to reflect. On your paper, or silently in your head, consider these two questions:

1. What was the most important thing you learned about persuasion today?
2. How can you use persuasive language more effectively in your daily life, starting now?

"If you wrote your answers, you can hand them in as you leave class. If not, just hold onto those thoughts! Thank you all for your active participation today. I hope you feel more equipped to 'Speak Up' with confidence and impact!"

Persuasion Power Warm-Up

Instructions: Think about a time recently when you tried to convince someone to do or believe something. It could be a big deal or something small, like persuading a friend to watch a movie or your parents to let you stay out later.

1. What did you try to persuade someone of?
   
   
   
   

2. Were you successful? Why or why not?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Briefly describe how you tried to persuade them. What was your strategy?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Persuasive Pitch Activity

Goal: Create a short (1-2 minute) persuasive pitch where you try to convince an audience about a specific idea or action.

Instructions:

1. Choose ONE of the topics below. If you have another appropriate idea, check with your teacher first.

   • Convince the principal to add a new elective (e.g., Coding, Advanced Art, Debate Club, Photography).
   • Argue for a longer lunch period.
   • Persuade your classmates to read a specific book (fiction or non-fiction).
   • Convince your city council to install a new public park or art installation.

2. Develop your argument: Think about your main claim and the reasons you will use to support it.

3. Incorporate at least TWO persuasive techniques we discussed today:

   • Ethos (Credibility): How can you show you are trustworthy or knowledgeable on the topic?
   • Pathos (Emotion): How can you appeal to your audience's feelings?
   • Logos (Logic): What facts, reasons, or evidence can you use?

4. Practice your pitch! Think about what you will say and how you will say it. You can make brief notes below.

My Chosen Topic: ____________________________________________________________________

My Persuasive Techniques (at least two):

Key Points/Outline for My Pitch:

Persuasion Reflection Cool-Down

Instructions: Take a few minutes to reflect on what you learned about persuasion today. Your honest thoughts are valuable!

1. What was the most important or interesting thing you learned about persuasive language today?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Think about your own communication. How can you use persuasive language more effectively in your daily life, in school, or with friends and family?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Is there anything you found challenging or confusing about persuasive techniques?