English · Year 10

Active learning ideas

Rhetorical Devices and Ethos

Active learning works well for this topic because rhetorical devices are tools students must feel in their bodies and voices, not just identify on a page. When students role-play or analyze real-world texts, they move from passive recognition to active ownership of persuasive techniques.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• GCSE: English Language - Rhetoric and Persuasion
• GCSE: English Language - Non-Fiction Analysis

• 20–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Mock Trial
• 45 min · Whole Class

Mock Trial: The Credibility Test

Students are given a controversial scenario and must role-play as different 'experts' (e.g., a scientist, a concerned parent, a politician). The class must vote on who was most persuasive based solely on how they established their 'ethos' or authority.

How does a writer establish a trustworthy persona for a skeptical audience?

Facilitation Tip

During the Mock Trial, assign clear roles so students embody credibility—some as credible witnesses, others as those whose ethos is undermined by tone or vocabulary choices.

What to look for

Present students with a short excerpt from a political speech or opinion piece. Ask them to identify one instance of ethos being established and explain how the writer achieved it using specific words or phrases.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Inquiry Circle
• 30 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Rhetoric Scavenger Hunt

In small groups, students analyze three famous speeches from different eras. They must find and label examples of ethos, pathos, and logos, then present which device was the 'anchor' for that specific speaker's argument.

In what ways can anaphora be used to create a sense of urgency?

Facilitation Tip

In the Rhetoric Scavenger Hunt, circulate and ask guiding questions like 'How does this word choice make the writer seem more trustworthy?' to push analysis beyond identification.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'How might a writer's personal background or stated values influence an audience's perception of their credibility?' Facilitate a class discussion exploring the nuances of ethos.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Power of Anaphora

Students write one sentence about a cause they care about. They then work in pairs to turn that sentence into a three-line anaphoric opening. They share both versions with another pair to discuss which one feels more urgent.

Why is the balance of logic and emotion critical for effective persuasion?

Facilitation Tip

For The Power of Anaphora, model how to read a passage aloud with intentional pauses at each repetition so students feel the rhythmic shift in tone.

What to look for

Students draft a paragraph aiming to persuade a specific audience on a given topic. They then exchange paragraphs with a partner, answering: 'Does the writer establish a trustworthy persona? What specific words or phrases help or hinder this?'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with short, vivid examples where ethos is either strong or weak, then have students rewrite a weak example to build credibility. Avoid lecturing on definitions; instead, let students discover how tone and anecdotes shape authority by comparing pairs of texts side by side.

In a successful lesson, students will shift from naming devices to explaining how those devices build trust with an audience. They will use evidence from texts or their own writing to show why ethos matters before logos or pathos can land.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Mock Trial, watch for students who assume persuasion depends only on facts.

  Have students play the role of an 'unreliable' character giving advice with solid facts but poor tone or credibility, then debrief how the audience reacted to the speaker over the content.

• During the Rhetoric Scavenger Hunt, watch for students who believe rhetorical devices are outdated.

  Ask students to find three examples in modern ads or posts, then discuss why these techniques are still effective today.

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Methods used in this brief

• Mock Trial
• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share