Rhetorical Strategies
Appeals to Authority, Emotions, Ethics and Logic

Overview
Using current events, students think of controversial topics about which they can practice using persuasive writing techniques.

Objective
Students will be able to identify different persuasive techniques for writing.

Standards Addressed
Language Arts — Writing

Writing Applications — Benchmark E

Grades 8, 9 and 10

05. Write persuasive compositions that:

• Establish and develop a controlling idea.

• Support arguments with detailed evidence.

• Exclude irrelevant information.

• Cite sources of information.

 

Writing Process, Prewriting — Benchmark A

Grades 8, 9 and 10

01. Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.

Procedure

1. Distribute the Controversial Topics handout.

2. Have students think of and list two or three controversial topics at the international, national, local and school levels and list them on the handout.

3. Once they have finished, have them share their topics and list them on the board.

4. Students can then pick one topic of interest from their own lists or the lists on the board. As an option, select one topic as a whole class. Have groups work on the same topic.

5. Provide a model for the writing of brief persuasive arguments for the various types of appeal for a controversial topic.

6. Allow the students to conduct minor research on their topics of choice.

7. Instruct the students to write brief persuasive arguments for appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, appeal to emotion, appeal to ethics and appeal to logic.

8. Collect the handouts for grading. As an option, students can share their persuasive arguments with the class or in their groups.

9. Option: Have students share their persuasive arguments with the class or in their respective groups.

10. Extra practice: Use the handout The Voice of Authority.

Evaluation