Day 12 of 30
Persuasive techniques: logical appeals
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Learning Objective
Students will explore persuasive techniques and logical appeals through guided practice and application.
In this lesson, we'll explore persuasive techniques: logical appeals. Strong literacy skills open doors to learning in all subjects.
Persuasive techniques influence beliefs or actions. Emotional appeals (pathos): stories, vivid language, images that evoke fear, hope, anger, or compassion. Logical appeals (logos): facts, statistics, expert testimony, logical reasoning. Ethical appeals (ethos): establishing speaker's credibility, fairness, and shared values. Logical fallacies are flawed reasoning patterns: Ad hominem (attacking the person, not the argument: "You can't trust her opinion—she's never succeeded at anything"), Straw man (misrepresenting the opposing argument to make it easier to attack), False dichotomy (presenting only two options when more exist: "You're either with us or against us"), Slippery slope (assuming one step leads inevitably to extreme consequences without sufficient evidence), Appeal to authority (citing an irrelevant authority). Recognizing fallacies in arguments—including your own—makes you a more effective thinker and communicator.
As you work through today's material, pay attention to the examples and try to identify the patterns or strategies being used. This will help you apply these concepts to new problems.
Take notes on key points and make connections to what you've already learned in previous lessons.
The process of decoding and comprehending written text
The process of composing text to communicate ideas
Instructions
Materials Needed
- Text passage
- Notebook
- Highlighter
Teaching Tip
For advanced learners: Encourage deeper analysis and real-world connections. Consider extension activities that allow students to apply persuasive techniques: logical appeals to novel situations.