Persuasion Using Ads | Rhetorical Appeals & Persuasive Techniques Lesson and Activity

Make persuasion click for your students with this highly engaging Persuasion Using ADS lesson and activity set! Students will explore rhetorical appeals (Pathos, Ethos, Logos, Kairos) and persuasive techniques through analyzing real-world advertisements — and then create their own persuasive ad! Designed to pair perfectly with an editable Canva slideshow (link included for download as PowerPoint or Google Slides).

✅ What’s Included:

• Guided notes on Pathos, Ethos, Logos, and Kairos
  
• Persuasive technique explanations: Bandwagon, Humor, Repetition, Slogans, Flattery, Exaggeration, Visual Aids, Shock Value, Stereotypes, Patriotism, Reasoning, and more
  
• Video advertisement analysis pages (identify appeals, techniques, audience)
  
• Print advertisement analysis pages (identify appeals, techniques, audience)
  
• Final creative project: Design a Rivalry Poster or Create Your Own Advertisement with choice board topics
  
• Slideshow is interactive and collaborative!
  

✅ Skills Developed:

• Identifying rhetorical appeals in media
  
• Recognizing persuasive strategies in advertising
  
• Analyzing author’s purpose and audience targeting
  
• Using persuasive techniques to design original ads
  
• Critical thinking, inferencing, and media literacy
  

✨ Why You’ll Love It:

• Super engaging — connects to real-world media students see every day
  
• Ready-to-teach format — minimal prep required
  
• Perfect for middle school and early high school (Grades 6–10)
  
• Supports Common Core standards for reading, writing, speaking, and listening
  
• Students complete slides as you go through the lesson for immediate assessment and feedback!
  

❤️ Teacher Tip:
Use this resource for an unforgettable persuasive writing unit, media literacy study, or as an interactive project during an advertising or argument writing module!