Rhetoric Masterclass Slides Persuasion Lab
Decoding the Art of Rhetoric
Masterclass 6th Grade ELA
What is Rhetoric?
"The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques."
The Goal
To convince an audience to think, feel, or act in a specific way.
The Origin
Studied by ancient Greeks like Aristotle over 2,000 years ago!
The Rhetorical Triangle
Aristotle's three pillars of persuasion
ETHOS
Credibility
Trust the speaker because of who they are or what they know.
PATHOS
Emotion
Feeling something (sadness, anger, joy) to be moved to action.
LOGOS
Logic
Using facts, numbers, and clear evidence to prove a point.
Appeal to Character
Ethos
Shows the speaker is an expert .
Proves the speaker is honest and has good intentions.
Uses "we" and "us" to build common ground .
"As a doctor with 20 years of experience treating children, I can tell you that this medicine is safe."
— Why is this Ethos?
"If we don't act now, thousands of innocent animals will lose their homes forever. Imagine their fear as the forest disappears."
— Why is this Pathos?
Appeal to Feeling
Pathos
Uses vivid language and sensory details.
Tells a personal story or anecdote.
Triggers empathy, fear, or excitement .
Appeal to Reason
Logos
Provides statistics and data.
Uses "If... then..." logical statements.
Explains the cause and effect of an issue.
"History shows that every time we raise the minimum wage, consumer spending increases by 5% within the first year."
— Why is this Logos?
Analysis: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"I Have a Dream" (1963)
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Appeal: PATHOS
He mentions "four little children" to make the audience feel protective and emotional.
Appeal: ETHOS
By mentioning "character," he aligns his dream with universal moral values.
Logical Fallacies
What are they?
Errors in reasoning that make an argument invalid . They might sound persuasive, but they aren't based on solid logic.
Think of them as:
Arguments that "cheat" to win.
Your Job:
Be a "Logical Detective" and spot them!
The Fallacy Files: Part 1
1. Ad Hominem
Attacking the person instead of their argument.
"You're too young to know anything about the environment!"
2. Straw Man
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
A: "We should spend more on schools."
3. Bandwagon
Urging someone to do something just because everyone else is.
"Millions of people use this toothpaste, so it must be the best!"
4. Slippery Slope
Claiming one small step will lead to a disastrous chain of events.
"If we let students choose their seats, they'll stop doing work entirely!"
Ready to enter the Lab?
It's your turn to identify the appeals and spot the fallacies in the real world.
Grab your "Persuasion Lab" Worksheet!
Persuasion Lab Worksheet Persuasion Lab
Topic: Rhetorical Appeals & Logical Fallacies
Name:
Date:
PART 1
The Rhetorical Toolkit
Match the rhetorical appeal to its primary focus by writing the correct letter on the line.
____
1. ETHOS
____
2. PATHOS
____
3. LOGOS
A. An appeal to the audience's emotions, such as fear, joy, or pity.
B. An appeal to logic, using facts, statistics, and reason.
C. An appeal to character and credibility, showing the speaker is trustworthy.
PART 2
Analyzing the Masters
Read the excerpts below. Identify the primary rhetorical appeal used and explain your reasoning.
"I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest—quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution..."
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream"
Primary Appeal:
Your Evidence:
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
— Abraham Lincoln, "The Gettysburg Address"
Primary Appeal:
Your Evidence:
PART 3
Fallacy Detective
Identify the logical fallacy being used in each scenario. Use your reference sheet if needed!
1. "If we allow students to use their phones during lunch, they'll eventually stop talking to each other, forget how to socialize, and society will collapse!"
2. "I don't think we should listen to James's idea for the class project. He wears mismatched socks and once tripped in the cafeteria."
3. "Everyone in the 6th grade is buying these new neon sneakers, so you should definitely get a pair too!"
PART 4
The Persuasion Architect
Scenario: You are trying to convince your principal to extend recess by 10 minutes. Write one sentence for each appeal below.
ETHOS (Credibility)
PATHOS (Emotion)
LOGOS (Logic)
Rhetoric Radar Reference Rhetoric Radar
Student Quick-Reference Guide
The Rhetorical Triangle
Three ways to convince an audience.
ETHOS
Credibility
Focuses on the speaker's trust, character, and expertise. "Trust me, I'm an expert."
PATHOS
Emotion
Focuses on the audience's feelings like pity, fear, or joy. "Feel what I feel."
LOGOS
Logic
Focuses on facts, data, statistics, and reasoning. "Think about the facts."
Fallacy Finder
Ad Hominem
Attacking the person instead of their argument.
"You're too short to be a good president."
Straw Man
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
"I like apples." → "So you hate all other fruit?"
Slippery Slope
Claiming one small step leads to a huge disaster.
"If you miss one homework, you'll never graduate college."
Bandwagon
Persuading someone to do something because "everyone" is.
"Millions of kids use this app, so you should too."
Hasty Generalization
Drawing a conclusion based on too little evidence.
"My dog barked at the mailman, so all dogs hate mailmen."
Appeal to Authority
Claiming something is true because an "expert" said it.
"LeBron James eats these flakes, so they are healthy."
Circular Reasoning
Repeating the claim as the proof for the claim.
"The law is the law because it's a rule we have to follow."
Red Herring
Introducing a distraction to lead away from the topic.
"Why didn't you do the dishes?" → "I got a good grade today!"
Rhetoric is everywhere: Ads, speeches, and even your dinner table!
Persuasion Lab Tool #1
Persuasion Lab Teacher Guide Facilitation Guide
Lesson: Persuasion Lab
Teacher Resource
Lesson Overview
This lesson introduces 6th-grade students to the fundamental concepts of rhetoric. By the end of the session, students will be able to identify the three rhetorical appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos) and recognize common logical fallacies in written and spoken arguments.
Time
45-60 Minutes
Subject
ELA / Rhetoric
Grade
6th Grade
Learning Objectives
Define Rhetoric
Identify E/P/L
Spot 7+ Fallacies
Instructional Flow
01
The Hook: Introduction (10 mins)
Use the Rhetoric Masterclass Slides to introduce the concept of rhetoric. Ask students: "Have you ever convinced your parents to let you stay up late? What did you say?" Transition this into the definitions of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.
02
Guided Practice: Sample Speeches (15 mins)
Distribute the Rhetoric Radar Reference . Work through the MLK example on the slides together. Focus on the sensory details (Pathos) and the shared moral values (Ethos).
03
Independent Work: The Lab (20 mins)
Students complete the Persuasion Lab Worksheet . Circulate the room to assist with the "Fallacy Detective" section, as logical fallacies are often the most challenging concept for 6th graders.
Worksheet Answer Key
Part 1: Vocabulary
1. C (Ethos), 2. A (Pathos), 3. B (Logos)
Part 3: Fallacy Detective
1. Slippery Slope (Extremes outcomes)
2. Ad Hominem (Personal attack)
3. Bandwagon (Everyone is doing it)
Part 2: Speech Analysis
MLK Excerpt
Appeal: Pathos. Evidence: "Narrow jail cells", "battered by storms" (Strong emotional imagery).
Lincoln Excerpt
Appeal: Ethos. Evidence: "Our fathers" (Connects to history/tradition to build credibility).
Teaching Tips
Common Misconceptions
Students may think Logos only means numbers; explain it also means logical flow (A + B = C).
Students may confuse Ethos with Pathos if an expert is being emotional; remind them to look at the "Who" vs the "Feeling."
Extension Activity
"Ad Analysis" : Show 3-4 vintage or modern television commercials. Have students identify which appeal is dominant and if any fallacies (especially Bandwagon) are used to sell the product.
