7th Grade Argument Lesson 1

​Objectives

Students will identify persuasive techniques (ethos, pathos, logos) in short excerpts from famous speeches and explain how language can change opinions.

​Academic Vocabulary

persuasion
claim
counterclaim
evidence
emotional appeal
logical appeal
ethical appeal

​Persuasion

Persuasion means using words to convince someone to think or act a certain way.

Example: Please recycle—it helps keep our school clean!

​Building Blocks of Argument

A claim is the main point or belief the writer or speaker wants others to accept.

It’s like saying, “Here’s what I believe — and here’s why you
should too.”
Example: "Homework should be limited to 30 minutes per
night.”→ The claim is that homework time should be shorter.

​Building Blocks of Argument

A counterclaim is the opposite point of view — what someone might say to disagree with the claim.

Example:
Claim: “Homework should be limited.”

Counterclaim: “Homework helps students practice and remember what they learn.”

​Building Blocks of Argument

Evidence includes facts, statistics, examples, or expert opinions that support the claim and make it believable.

Example 2:

Claim: “Recycling helps the environment.”

Evidence: “According to the EPA, recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees.”

Appeals

​What is an Appeal?

An appeal is a way of reaching people’s minds or hearts to persuade them.

Writers and speakers use appeals to make their arguments stronger.

Example:

“Recycle today to save the planet tomorrow!”

This tries to make you feel responsible — that’s an appeal to emotion.

​Pathos a.k.a. Feelings

Pathos comes from a word meaning “feeling.”

Root word for: sympathy, empathy, apathy,

It persuades by making people feel something—happiness, guilt, anger, pride, or hope.

​Pathos a.k.a. Feelings

Pathos comes from a word meaning “feeling.”

Examples:

“Imagine your favorite park covered in trash.”

“Think of the children who will grow up breathing cleaner air.”

​Logos a.k.a. Logic and Reason

Logos uses facts, numbers, or logical reasons to persuade.

It makes people think, “That makes sense.”

Examples:
“Research shows students who eat breakfast score higher on tests.”

“If we turn off lights when we leave, the school saves money.”

​Ethos a.k.a. Believabilty

Ethos comes from a Greek word meaning “character.”

It persuades by making the audience trust the speaker or writer.
Same root word for: ethics, ethical

Examples:
As your school nurse, I recommend washing your hands before lunch.”

“Scientists agree that exercise improves your health.”

​Appeals at work

Now that you know how ethos, pathos, and logos work, let’s look at how real people have used them to change minds.

Each quote comes from a famous speech.

Your job: Decide which appeal is strongest — trust (ethos), logic (logos), or emotion (pathos).

​Review