Quick Guide
- Keywords: Speaking, writing, opinions, facts, persuasion
- Learner level: Intermediate and above
- Preparation time: 20 minutes, depending on familiarity with topic
- Activity time: 50–90 minutes
- Learner maturity level: Secondary to university
- Materials: Writing materials and worksheets
Using the Rhetorical Triangle, this activity aims to encourage students to use more persuasive language in their writing and speaking activities, therefore, making their comments or opinions stronger.
Preparation
The teacher should have a clear understanding of the Rhetorical Triangle: Ethos, Pathos and Logos (see Appendix for worksheet and resources). Also, prepare worksheets with various examples of each technique.
Procedure
Step 1: Explain rhetoric: The art of persuasion.
Step 2: Ask students to give examples of when rhetoric is used and which various professions may use it (politicians, lawyers, speeches in movies, advertisements, arguments, etc).
Step 3: Show students a picture of Aristotle and ask if they know who he was, or why he was famous.
Step 4: Give a short introduction about Aristotle and his book, Rhetoric. Emphasize, the book is still being used to teach students how to be persuasive.
Step 5: Tell the students that the Rhetoric Triangle includes three methods to persuade: Pathos, Logos and Ethos.
Step 6: Explain the first technique, Pathos: Uses emotions to persuade.
Step 7: Give an example, including who the speaker is, the audience, and the example of Pathos. Elicit further possible examples.
Step 8: Have a worksheet ready with three examples of Pathos and three examples of Logos. In pairs, students have to identify the Pathos examples.
Step 9: In pairs, students write another two examples of Pathos, including who the speaker is and the audience.
Step 10: Ask students to read out their examples.
Step 11: Explain the second technique, Logos: Uses logic like facts and statistics to persuade.
Step 12: Give an example including who the speaker is, the audience, and the example of Logos. Elicit further possible examples.
Step 13: Have a worksheet ready with three examples of Logos and three examples of Ethos. In pairs, students have to identify the Logos examples.
Step 14: In pairs, students write another two examples of Logos, including who the speaker is and the audience.
Step 15: Ask students to read out their examples.
Step 16: Explain the third technique, Ethos: Uses a person’s credibility and trustworthiness to persuade.
Step 17: Give an example including who the speaker is, the audience, and the example of Ethos. Elicit further possible examples.
Step 18: Have a worksheet ready with three examples of Ethos and two examples of Pathos and two examples of Logos. In pairs, students have to identify the Ethos, Pathos and Logos examples.
Step 19: In pairs, students write another two examples of Ethos, who the speaker is and the audience.
Step 20: Ask students to read out their examples.
Step 21: Individually, students have to write a short political manifesto to be elected as Prime Minister.
Step 22: In small groups, students read out their manifestos. Then they decide the best in the group.
Step 23: The winner of each group, goes to the front of the class and reads out their manifesto.
Step 24: On a piece of paper, each student writes who they would vote for.
Step 25: Announce the winner.
Conclusion
This activity aims to get students using more persuasive language in writing and speaking activities, creating more confidence when speaking, and emphasizing the importance of giving support to comments or written sentences.
Appendix: Persuasive Language Worksheet
The full appendix is available below.
1. Below are three examples of Pathos and three examples of Logos. Circle the examples of Pathos.
Speaker: nation leader / Audience: the nation
“It is better to fight and die for our nation than be ruled by the barbaric, authoritarian enemy trying to invade our country.”
Speaker: parent / Audience: their child
“During the 30 years that I have lived in this house, I have never seen a ghost in your room.”
Speaker: trade union leader / Audience: work force
“Your boss has continued to abuse his power; now it is time to stand up to him as a group.”
Speaker: parent / Audience: their child
“You will make the right decision, because I have seen you since you were a child making rational decisions.”
Speaker: NASA / Audience: the public
“After years of research, we can confirm that having a colony on the moon is possible.”
Speaker: teacher / Audience: student
“After all the teachers checking your homework five times, we still haven’t found a correct answer.”
2. In pairs, write two examples of Pathos.
3. Below are three examples of Logos and three examples of Ethos. Circle the examples of Logos.
Speaker: parent / Audience: their child
“Smoking causes cancer. Therefore, you shouldn’t smoke.”
Speaker: boss / Audience: employee
“You know me—I have never missed a day of work in ten years, the other employees like me and my work is good.”
Speaker: doctor / Audience: patient
“With my years of experience, I believe this is the medicine you should take.”
Speaker: teacher / Audience: university
“The candidate’s work ethic is exceptional; she is intelligent and very popular with other students. This should guarantee her a place at this university.”
Speaker: teacher / Audience: education board
“With my 30 years of experience as a teacher at this school, the positive results I have achieved with my students and my popularity with the parents, I should be the next head teacher.”
Speaker: coach / Audience: athlete
“You know taking performance enhancing drugs would destroy your career and reputation as a professional athlete.”
4. In pairs, write two examples of Logos.
5. Below are three examples of Ethos, two examples of Pathos and two examples of Logos. Identify each persuasive technique.
Speaker: parent / Audience: their child
“I have been happily married to your mother for 25 years, and I can assure you that your girlfriend will only bring you unhappiness.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
Speaker: sales staff / Audience: pet owner
“Your dog gives you unconditional love, so you should only buy the best product for it. This is the best product on the market.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
Speaker: mechanic / Audience: customer
“I have been a car mechanic for 27 years, and this is one of the best cars I have ever worked on.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
Speaker: teacher / Audience: a student
“With all my experience as a teacher, I know that if you study, you will be able to enter the university of your choice.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
Speaker: publisher / Audience: a teacher
“90% of teachers who have used this textbook, have seen an improvement in their student’s ability.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
Speaker: charity worker / Audience: possible donor
“With all your wealth and life comforts, I am sure you can donate a little money to people who are less fortunate.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
Speaker: pharmacist / Audience: patient
“This drug has been tested numerous times, and no patients have reported side effects. It is safe.”
Pathos Logos Ethos
6. In pairs, write two examples of Ethos.
Activity 1
Imagine you want to be elected as Prime Minister. Write a short political manifesto which includes examples of the various persuasive techniques. When you have all finished, read your manifesto to the other political candidates. Each candidate votes for the best manifesto to decide who will be Prime Minister.
Activity 2
Each person must choose a profession or celebrity (no superheroes). Imagine you are all in a hot-air balloon. The balloon is rapidly falling to the ground, so you must decide which person has to be thrown out. Each person gives one reason why they shouldn’t be eliminated using a persuasive technique. When finished, everyone votes to see who should be eliminated. This continues until one person is left. Everyone continues to vote for who should be eliminated even if they have been removed from the hot-air balloon.
Activity 3
Each person in the group must choose a product of their choice (pen, watch, wheel, etc). Using the persuasive techniques, sell your product to the other group members. When finished, the group votes for the best product, or the product that they want/need the most.
Answers
1. a. Pathos b. Logos c. Pathos d. Pathos e. Logos f. Logos
3. a. Logos b. Ethos c. Ethos d. Logos e. Ethos
f. Logos
5. a. Ethos b. Pathos c. Ethos d. Ethos e. Logos
f. Pathos g. Logos
Resources
A video explaining the rhetoric triangle may be found at the following YouTube reference:
Ulmer, K. (2016). The Three Persuasive Appeals: Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oUfOh_CgHQ
