English · Year 9

Active learning ideas

Introduction to Rhetoric

Persuasive communication shapes opinions and decisions daily, so students need hands-on practice analyzing real-world appeals rather than memorizing definitions. Active learning lets them test these concepts immediately by crafting speeches, debating choices, and evaluating media, which builds lasting analytical skills.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS3: English - Reading: Non-fiction
• KS3: English - Spoken English

• 20–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 30 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Rhetoric Lab

In small groups, students are given a famous speech and three different colored highlighters (one for Ethos, Pathos, and Logos). They must 'color-code' the text and then present which 'pillar' is the strongest and why.

Explain the fundamental purpose of rhetoric in shaping public opinion.

Facilitation Tip

In The Rhetoric Lab, assign each group one pillar and rotate materials so students see how the same text can highlight different appeals depending on perspective.

What to look for

Provide students with a short excerpt from a famous speech. Ask them to identify one example of ethos, pathos, or logos and write one sentence explaining how it functions in the text.

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

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 40 min · Pairs

Simulation Game: The Dragon's Den Pitch

Pairs must pitch a 'revolutionary' new invention to the class. They are required to include one specific Ethos appeal (expert testimony), one Pathos appeal (a moving story), and one Logos appeal (data/stats) in their 60-second pitch.

Analyze how rhetorical strategies have evolved across different historical periods.

Facilitation Tip

During The Dragon’s Den Pitch, require teams to submit a one-sentence ‘ethos claim’ before they pitch so they ground credibility in expertise, not just enthusiasm.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'When does persuasion become manipulation?' Facilitate a class discussion where students use examples of rhetoric from history or current events to support their arguments, referencing ethos, pathos, and logos.

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

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Audience Analysis

Give students a controversial topic and three different audiences (e.g., parents, teenagers, politicians). Pairs must discuss which of the three pillars would be most effective for each group and share their reasoning with the class.

Differentiate between effective and manipulative rhetoric in a given text.

Facilitation Tip

For Think-Pair-Share: Audience Analysis, display sample advertisements with the audience blurred so students infer who the target is before revealing the answer.

What to look for

Students receive a brief advertisement (print or transcript). They must write down the primary appeal (ethos, pathos, or logos) used and explain in 1-2 sentences why it is effective for the target audience.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic through cycles of analysis and creation. Start with short, powerful speeches to demonstrate how ethos, pathos, and logos work in context. Model think-alouds to show how to spot appeals in real time. Avoid overloading students with jargon—instead, use the three pillars as lenses, not labels, to sharpen their critical reading of messages.

Students will confidently identify ethos, pathos, and logos in speeches and advertisements and explain how each appeal targets specific audiences. They will also create original persuasive messages that intentionally balance the three appeals for maximum impact.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Collaborative Investigation: The Rhetoric Lab, watch for students assuming logos is always the strongest appeal. Redirect them by having each group tally votes on a class ‘persuasion scale’ where they predict which appeal would make the class donate to a charity.

  During Collaborative Investigation: The Rhetoric Lab, remind students that ethos isn’t just fame by giving each group a different ‘expert’ card—a doctor for health, a local resident for neighborhood safety—and ask them to plan a short pitch using only the credibility tied to that role.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Simulation Game
• Think-Pair-Share