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.

• Year 10
• English
• 3 activities
• 20 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how specific rhetorical devices, such as anaphora and the rule of three, contribute to establishing ethos in persuasive texts.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies used by writers to build credibility and authority with a skeptical audience.
3. Compare and contrast the use of logical appeals (logos) and emotional appeals (pathos) in conjunction with ethos to achieve persuasion.
4. Create a short persuasive speech or written piece that intentionally applies rhetorical strategies to establish a trustworthy persona.

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Desks rearranged into courtroom layout

Materials: Role cards, Evidence packets, Verdict form for jury

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

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

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.

Prepare & details

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.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

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

Teaching This Topic

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.

What to Expect

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.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

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

What to Teach Instead

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.

Common Misconception

During the Rhetoric Scavenger Hunt, watch for students who believe rhetorical devices are outdated.

What to Teach Instead

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

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After the Mock Trial, 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.

Discussion Prompt

After The Power of Anaphora, facilitate a class discussion exploring how a writer's personal background or stated values influence an audience's perception of their credibility, using examples from student analyses.

Peer Assessment

During the Rhetoric Scavenger Hunt, have students exchange their found examples and answer: 'Does the writer establish a trustworthy persona? What specific words or phrases help or hinder this?'

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to create a 30-second social media ad that establishes ethos in two different ways, using at least one anaphora and one personal anecdote.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters for students to draft a paragraph where they establish their own ethos on a low-stakes topic like 'Why homework should be optional.'
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to research a modern figure known for their persuasive ethos (e.g., a scientist, activist, or business leader) and prepare a two-minute analysis of how that person uses language to build trust.

Key Vocabulary

Ethos	The ethical appeal, referring to the credibility, trustworthiness, or authority of the speaker or writer. It is how the audience perceives the persuader.
Anaphora	The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It can create emphasis and a sense of urgency.
Logos	The appeal to logic and reason. It involves using facts, statistics, and evidence to support an argument.
Pathos	The appeal to emotion. It involves evoking feelings in the audience to persuade them.
Persona	The character or voice that a writer or speaker adopts to present themselves to an audience. It is constructed through language and tone.