Home›Lesson Plans›English Language Arts›Media Literacy · Grade 7

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Seventh graders learn the three classic tools of persuasion — ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). Naming which appeal a message uses helps you judge whether an argument is strong or just tugging at your feelings.

Grade 7Ethos, Pathos, Logos50 minutes1 class periodMedia Literacy · CCSSExplicit teaching4 StandardsCCSS / NAMLE
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain ethos, pathos, logos.
  • ✓Spot each appeal.
  • ✓Judge an argument.
  • ✓Persuade honestly.
Essential Question

Persuasion works through three appeals — trust, emotion, and logic. What are ethos, pathos, and logos?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Rhetoric Explorer

Project this and tap each. Have students learn the three appeals of persuasion.

🎯 Explore ethos, pathos & logos — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Literacy Flow (Hook · Explore · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Three Ways to Persuade

6 min

Persuasion works through trust, emotion, and logic — what are they?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show three ad approaches.
  • Ask how each convinces.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Think.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Ethos, Pathos, Logos

13 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Rhetoric Explorer.
  • Present each appeal.
  • Note when only emotion is used.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name an appeal.
  • Give an example.
  • Explain it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Give it.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

12 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Analyze a speech or ad.
  • Label the appeals.
  • Share your answers.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Analyze.
  • Label.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name an appeal.
  • Give an example.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Give one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core ELA Standards (informational literacy) & NAMLE media-literacy competencies.

CCSS
RI.7.8

Assess arguments & evidence.

CCSS
W.7.1

Write persuasive arguments.

NAMLE
Analyze

Identify persuasive appeals.

CCSS
SL.7.3

Evaluate reasoning & appeals.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Appeal cards.
  • Sentence frame: “This uses ___.”
  • Use examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with pathos & logos.
  • Use examples.
  • Repeat aloud.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find all three in one ad.
  • Write with each appeal.
  • Judge an argument.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎯Appeal cards
  • 💻The Rhetoric Explorer
  • 📰Sample ads/speeches
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

rhetoricthe art of persuasionethosappeal to credibilitypathosappeal to emotionlogosappeal to logicpersuadeto convinceappeala way to convinceargumenta claim with reasonsevidencefacts that support
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is ethos?
Persuading by credibility and trust.
QUESTION 2
What is pathos?
Persuading through emotion.
QUESTION 3
What is logos?
Persuading with logic, facts, and evidence.

Reflect: ethos, pathos, logos.

Have students find an example of each appeal in an ad or speech. A printable rhetoric sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Ethos, Pathos, LogosFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Ethos, Pathos, LogosQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Ethos, Pathos, LogosPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: appeal, argument, ethos, evidence, logos, pathos, persuade, rhetoric
  1. a way to convince
  2. appeal to credibility
  3. to convince
  4. a claim with reasons
  5. facts that support
  6. the art of persuasion
  7. appeal to logic
  8. appeal to emotion

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is ethos?
  2. What is pathos?
  3. What is logos?
Answer key — Part A: 1) appeal · 2) ethos · 3) persuade · 4) argument · 5) evidence · 6) rhetoric · 7) logos · 8) pathos
Part B: 1) Persuading by credibility and trust. 2) Persuading through emotion. 3) Persuading with logic, facts, and evidence.