Ready to start showing your students what are the persuasive techniques but struggling to know how to start? You know you want to start with the basics of rhetorical analysis and persuasive techniques seem like the best place to start. BUT you aren’t sure how to grab your students’ attention. You want something that will hook them in but you have no idea what to do!
The answer is so simple! Go to the place where we see persuasive techniques all the time: Commercials. Every day, our students are inundated with commercials and ads that are trying to convince them to do something or to buy something. So why not use what they know? And maybe just maybe they will see how they are being influenced and make better-informed choices! Check out how I show my students the persuasive techniques in this exciting lesson.
If you aren’t sure how this lesson could fit into your unit, check out my SPACE CAT Rhetorical Analysis resource. Included in this resource is a list of persuasive techniques paired with sharing the difference between rhetorical devices aka persuasive techniques and rhetorical choices.
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Teaching What Are the Persuasive Techniques
Step 1: Provide a Persuasive Techniques List
Before you can have your students analyze any media, they need to know the persuasive techniques. The easiest way to do that is to give your students a persuasive techniques list that includes all the techniques you want them to know and their definitions.
Since we are going to use their rhetorical devices throughout the entire unit. I print the entire persuasive techniques list and laminate it. Then my students can borrow my list each day. I also give my students a digital copy of the persuasive techniques list so that they have access to it at any time. That helps in case they have to work on any rhetorical analysis at home.
Want to add a little razzle-dazzle to start the lesson? Create a Kahoot or Blooket for your students. Have them compete to review the definitions of the persuasive techniques. A game always gets my students excited for the lesson and helps to review at the same time.
Step 2: Show a Persuasive Commercial
Once your students know the persuasive techniques, they are ready to practice. Choose a commercial that you know has lots of persuasive techniques. Show your students the commercial multiple times. The first time, they will just want to watch it. The second and third time, have your students identify the claim and at least three persuasive techniques.
Step 3: Identify The Persuasive Techniques
Once you have watched your chosen commercial, it’s time to review. Have your students share their answers with the class. Your job is just to ensure that the techniques they identified are correct.
Looking for an example? Steal mine! I use the Pepsi, More Than Okay Super Bowl commercial from a few years back. Here is my answer key:
- Claim: Pepsi, More Than Okay
- Parallelism: Are puppies okay? Are shooting stars okay? Is the laughter of a small child okay?
- Analogy: Are puppies okay?
- Testimonial: Stever Carrell, Lil’ John, Cardi B
- Allusion: OKAAYYYY for both Lil’ John and Cardi B to their famous songs
- Bandwagoning: “I want a Pepsi”
- Glittering Generalities: “I’ve have an ice-cold glass of the best thing you ever tasted.”
- Repetition: Is Pepsi, okay?
Step 4: Give Students Time for Analyzing Persuasive Techniques on Their Own
In the classic, “We Do, You Do” model, it’s now time to have your students do this same activity on their own. Have them choose a commercial of their choice. Please make sure to set parameters for your commercial content. Have your students find the claim and five persuasive techniques. I normally have the students create a Google Doc that includes the commercial link, the claim, and the five persuasive techniques with an explanation for each one.
Step 5: Let Students Create Their Own Ad with Persuasive Media Techniques
In order to allow for some creativity, I have my students create their own print ads or commercials. Students create an advertisement for any product real or imaginary. They have to include a claim and at least five persuasive techniques. If they want to create a 30-second commercial, I offer them bonus points because that requires more effort. Once students create the ad, they then share the ad or commercial and a cheat sheet that includes their claim, the five persuasive techniques, and an explanation for how each one is used.
More Ideas for Persuasive Techniques Lesson and Rhetorical Analysis
The Ultimate List Rhetorical Strategies: How to Teach Analysis Best
How This Ultimate SPACE CAT Example Will Actually Improve Your Students’ Writing
How To Use A Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph Outline to Improve Your Student’s Writing
Hopefully, you can see that teaching rhetorical analysis doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, especially when you start with something engaging like persuasive techniques. By incorporating commercials and creative activities, your students will not only learn but enjoy analyzing media. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, check out my SPACE CAT Rhetorical Analysis resource. It’s packed with everything you need to simplify teaching rhetorical analysis and make your lessons more impactful.
If you enjoyed this blog post and want even more ideas, visit me at www.theteacherrewrite.com and follow me on Instagram @theteacherrewrite. I share ELA resources, tips, and strategies to help you streamline your teaching without rewriting your curriculum. Let me handle the planning so you can focus on inspiring your students. Remember, work smarter, not harder! And feel free to use all my strategies to teach what are the persuasive techniques.
Ready to take your literary analysis writer’s workshop to the next level?
Teaching how to write a literary analysis essay can be tough. If you want to simplify the writing process for your students while making sure you don’t forget any steps, then this toolkit is made for you!
Click HERE to learn more!
I looked at your Space Cat unit, but it looks too difficult for my 4th and 5th graders. Is there any way I can just get the persuasive techniques list? Thanks!
Hi Tanya,
Thank you so much for reaching out! At this time, I don’t have that list available as a resource but I will add it to my list to create and when I create it, I will let you know!