Effective Strategies for Teaching Persuasive Devices

Teaching students to use persuasive devices effectively is important for building strong literacy skills in the classroom. By mastering these techniques, students gain the confidence to express their opinions and craft compelling arguments that can influence their readers.

But what is the best way to introduce persuasive devices to your students? There are countless ways to make teaching persuasive devices an engaging experience. To help you simplify this process, we have put together a comprehensive guide that dives into a practical approach to teaching persuasive devices. 

Establishing Clear Goals for Teaching Persuasive Devices

Before diving into the world of persuasive devices, starting with clear goals for your writing unit is important. Setting well-defined learning intentions provides students with a roadmap to understand what they need to achieve and how they will be assessed.

Provide an Overview at the Start of the Unit

Start the unit with a clear overview of what students will learn and achieve by the end. For example, explain the different persuasive devices they will explore, such as emotive language, rhetorical questions, and appeals to logic, and how these devices will help them construct convincing arguments. 

Share Marking Rubrics and Criteria Sheets

Providing students with a marking rubric or criteria sheet at the beginning of each assignment can give them a clear understanding of what is expected. Encourage parents to review these rubrics for homework tasks or projects to ensure alignment between school and home efforts.

Use Annotated Work Samples for Analysis

Showcase examples of persuasive writing from previous students. Annotate and analyze these samples to highlight strengths and areas for improvement. Discuss what makes these pieces effective and identify the persuasive devices used. This collaborative activity helps students internalize what high-quality persuasive writing looks like.

Create a ‘What a Good One Looks Like’ Wall

Dedicate a space in your classroom to showcase exemplary student work. Use a variety of samples representing different levels of achievement to demonstrate how persuasive devices are applied effectively. Label and annotate these examples to make them accessible and relatable for all learners. Updating this wall with current peer samples can also inspire and motivate your students. You can also use this as one of the bulletin board ideas to engage students. 

Provide Self-Assessment Tools and Checklists

Equip students with self-assessment tools, such as checklists or reflection sheets, to track their progress throughout the unit. These tools can include prompts like:

• Have I used at least three persuasive devices in my writing?
• Does my introduction clearly state my argument?
• Have I included evidence to support my claims?

Encouraging students to evaluate their work fosters a sense of responsibility and helps them identify areas for growth independently.

Top 10 Persuasive Techniques You Need to Teach Students

Here are the top 10 persuasive techniques that you need to teach your students to help them express opinions and craft compelling arguments. 

1. Emotive Language

Emotive language is a powerful tool in persuasive writing that can help students connect deeply with their audience. By choosing words that evoke emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear, or excitement, students can create a personal and impactful experience for the reader. 

For teachers, teaching emotive language provides students with a skill that enhances their ability to persuade others by appealing to their feelings. This technique is particularly effective because emotions drive human decision-making. You can follow the following tips to teach emotive language. 

• Help students understand that the right words can make their argument feel personal and urgent.
• Collaborate with your students to create word banks categorized by emotions. For instance, Happiness, Sadness, Fear, Excitement. These word banks serve as a resource for students to draw from when crafting their arguments.
• Provide examples of emotive language in action. For instance, take a simple sentence and transform it to include emotional appeal.
• Ask students to reflect on how their use of emotive language can make their writing more persuasive. You can do this by giving examples. 

Without Emotive Language: “Recycling helps the environment by reducing waste.”

With Emotive Language: “Imagine a future where our children inherit a cleaner and greener planet where they can breathe fresh air and see vibrant forests. Recycling is the key to making this future a reality.”

2. Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are a dynamic, persuasive tool that helps students engage their readers by prompting them to think critically and align with the writer's perspective. These are questions posed not to receive an answer but to emphasize a point or provoke thought. 

For teachers, introducing rhetorical questions to students opens up a pathway to deeper audience engagement. These questions encourage readers to pause, reflect, and connect emotionally or intellectually with the topic. Here is how you can teach students rhetorical questions. 

• Begin by discussing why rhetorical questions are used in persuasive writing. Highlight their ability to make the reader think and agree with the writer's viewpoint.
• Provide clear examples of rhetorical questions and discuss their impact. 
• Give students prompts to practice creating rhetorical questions. For example, the topic is healthy eating, and the prompt is to write a rhetorical question encouraging people to consider their food choices.
• As students draft their persuasive essays, challenge them to incorporate rhetorical questions strategically. 

Without a rhetorical question: "Everyone wants a cleaner environment."

With a rhetorical question: "Who wouldn’t want to breathe cleaner air and enjoy a healthier planet?"

3. Repetition

Repetition is a powerful rhetorical device that helps students highlight key ideas and make their arguments more impactful. By repeating critical words or phrases, students can emphasize their points, drive their message home, and make their writing more memorable for the reader. 

For teachers, teaching repetition allows students to understand the art of emphasis in communication. Repetition does not mean being redundant; instead, it is a strategic way to underline important messages. Here are a few tips to teach repetition. 

• Begin by explaining why repetition is used in persuasive writing. Highlight how it helps to reinforce key ideas and create emotional impact.
• Encourage students to practice using repetition by giving them specific prompts.
• Allow students to share their work and discuss the effectiveness of their repetition.

Without repetition: "We need a solution to climate change. It is time for action."

With repetition: "We need action. We need solutions. We need change - now."

4. Facts and Statistics

Facts and statistics are among the most compelling tools students can use to support their arguments in persuasive writing. By incorporating reliable data, they can strengthen their claims, make their arguments more credible, and appeal to the reader’s sense of logic. 

• Begin by discussing why data is important in persuasive writing. Explain that facts and statistics provide concrete evidence that supports an argument.
• Emphasize the importance of using credible and up-to-date sources for data.
• Provide them with a set of statistics on a particular topic, such as climate change or healthy eating, and ask them to write persuasive sentences. 

Without Facts and Statistics: “Everyone should recycle because it is good for the environment.”

With Facts and Statistics: “According to the EPA, recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy required to make new ones, proving that recycling is one of the most efficient ways to protect our environment.”

5. Logos - Appeal to Logic

Appealing to logic, or logos, is a foundational strategy in persuasive writing that relies on evidence and reasoning to convince the audience. This technique teaches students to structure their arguments in a way that appeals to the reader's rational thinking.

• Logical appeals empower students to create arguments that stand up to scrutiny. 
• Begin with an explanation of logos as one of the three rhetorical appeals, alongside ethos (credibility) and pathos (emotional appeal). 
• Organize classroom debates where students must construct logical arguments to defend their stance. This can be a part of the Speaking and Listening Activities that you plan. 

6. Pathos - Appeal to Emotions

Appealing to emotions, or pathos, is a powerful, persuasive technique that taps into the audience's feelings to make an argument more compelling. Students can create a strong, personal connection with their readers by evoking emotions such as compassion, fear, pride, or hope. Here is how you can explain to students why pathos works. 

• Emotions play a significant role in decision-making. People are often moved to take action or change their opinions based on emotional experiences. 
• However, it is important to teach students to use emotional appeals responsibly, ensuring that they enhance the argument without manipulating the audience.
• Provide examples from advertisements, speeches, or articles that use emotional appeals effectively.
• Encourage students to incorporate personal stories or anecdotes that evoke emotions in their writing.

7. Ethos - Appeal to Authority

One of the most effective ways to strengthen a persuasive argument is by referencing credible sources or experts; this is known as ethos or the appeal to authority. Establishing ethos helps students build their own credibility as writers and thinkers.

Readers are more likely to trust the argument when students reference recognized authorities or experts. Students can present a more compelling, persuasive case by backing up claims with expert testimony. When students incorporate information from reputable publications, scientific studies, or experts in the field, they add weight to their argument. 

• Start by explaining to students that ethos is about trust—both the trust the reader places in the author and the trust that the author gains through solid, credible sources. 
• Show students where to find reputable sources such as academic databases, peer-reviewed journals, government reports, and reliable news outlets. 
• Read through persuasive articles, advertisements, or speeches that use expert opinions and credible sources.
• Have them write a persuasive essay on a topic such as climate change, encouraging them to cite scientific studies or statements from environmental experts.
• While citing experts is valuable, students should avoid relying solely on ethos to make their argument.

8. Counterarguments

One of the most powerful techniques in persuasive writing is acknowledging and addressing counterarguments. This technique not only shows that the writer has considered alternative perspectives but also demonstrates the strength of their argument by refuting opposing viewpoints. 

Addressing counterarguments shows that the student has thoughtfully considered both sides of the issue, strengthening their argument's overall quality. Students who learn to engage with counterarguments become more open-minded and analytical as they consider various perspectives before making their own conclusions.

• Before refuting an opposing argument, it is important to acknowledge it fairly. This shows that the student is not ignoring the other side of the debate.
• After acknowledging the opposing viewpoint, students should provide logical evidence that weakens it. 
• In order to successfully refute a counterargument, students need to use solid evidence.
• Provide students with real-world examples of persuasive writing that successfully use counterarguments. 

Teachers can also use anchor charts to make the process of teaching persuasive devices effective and engaging. 

9. Analogies and Comparisons

In persuasive writing, the use of analogies and comparisons can be a powerful tool to help students explain complex ideas in ways that are easy for the audience to understand. Teaching students to use analogies effectively can make their writing more engaging.

Analogies and comparisons can make persuasive writing more persuasive by comparing a complex or abstract concept to something simple and familiar; analogies help break down difficult topics into bite-sized, relatable pieces.

• Start by explaining what analogies are and how they can be used to compare two different things in a way that highlights similarities. 
• Introduce students to common sayings or comparisons they have heard before, like "life is a journey" or "time is money."
• Have students practice creating analogies with simple concepts. For example, ask them to compare two unrelated objects or ideas (e.g., a tree and a pencil). 

Without Analogy: “Internet connects the world.”

With Analogy: “The internet is like a window to the world; it opens up endless possibilities for learning, communication, and entertainment.”

10. Call to Action

A call to action (CTA) is one of the most crucial components of persuasive writing, as it provides readers with a clear direction on what to do next. It is the final step in guiding your students to not only present a compelling argument but also motivate their audience to take concrete action. 

A strong CTA encourages readers to act immediately rather than putting off the decision. Persuasive writing often presents a problem or need, but without a clear CTA, readers may be left wondering how they can help or what they can do about it. A CTA removes this ambiguity and provides a clear path forward.

• Teach students that a CTA should be clear, direct, and specific. Instead of vague suggestions, a CTA should tell the reader exactly what they need to do. 
• A good CTA often appeals to urgency, creating a sense that immediate action is necessary. 
• A CTA should be action-driven, using verbs that spur the reader into action. 
• Help students understand the importance of aligning the CTA with the reader’s values or desires.

How To Assess Persuasive Devices in Students

Assessing persuasive devices in students is a crucial part of understanding their ability to craft compelling arguments and effectively communicate their thoughts. Here is how you can assess persuasive devices in the classroom. 

Develop Clear Assessment Criteria

Before diving into the assessment process, it's important to establish clear criteria that students understand. These criteria should directly relate to the persuasive techniques they are expected to use. Moreover, you can use fun ways to review for a test and help them prepare for assessments. 

Use Rubrics for Objective Grading

A rubric is a helpful tool for objectively assessing students’ use of persuasive devices. You can structure a rubric that mentions each category to assess the student’s work, such as argument structure, engagement, clarity, etc. You can then have a scale to assess each category on. 

Assess Specific Persuasive Techniques

When assessing persuasive devices, evaluating how well students have applied specific techniques to support their argument is important. You can assess each technique individually to see where students are good at and where they need additional help. 

Provide Constructive Feedback

After the assessment, provide specific and actionable feedback to help students improve. Instead of just highlighting where they went wrong, guide them on how to strengthen their use of persuasive techniques. 

You can use AI Quiz Generator to structure engaging assessments and ease your workload by using tools like teacherbot.io.

Conclusion

Incorporating persuasive devices into your students' writing not only sharpens their communication skills but also empowers them to make their voices heard. By teaching these techniques with clear goals, practical examples, and effective assessments, you will set your students on the path to becoming persuasive, confident writers who can engage, influence, and inspire their audience.