Courseversity

Persuasive techniques

Primary EducationGrade 6English & Language ArtsCV-PRI-G06-ELA-U11-L0345–60 min

You will learn

  • Name techniques.
  • Find examples.
  • Explain their effect.
  • Respond critically.

Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.

Student lesson

The lesson in 60 seconds

  1. Read or watch.
  2. Spot the technique.
  3. Name it.
  4. Explain the effect.

Words to know

persuasive technique
a method used to influence what people think or buy
emotive language
words chosen to stir feelings
slogan
a short, memorable phrase
endorsement
support from a famous or trusted person

1. Discover: Selling a juice drink

An advert says: “Don’t let your family go without our juice! Ayo the footballer drinks it. Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic!”

It uses emotive language (“don’t let your family go without”), an endorsement (the footballer), a slogan and alliteration (Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic!). Each persuasive technique aims to influence buyers.

Chidi asks: Is there evidence the juice is healthy?

Think: How does each technique persuade?

2. Understand: How adverts win us over

Idea 1: Techniques

Persuasive techniques include emotive language, endorsement, a slogan, repetition and bandwagon.

Idea 2: Effect

They influence feelings, trust and buying.

Idea 3: Critical response

Ask: is there real evidence?

Remember: Persuasive techniques influence audiences; name them, explain the effect and ask for evidence.

3. Worked examples

Example 1 (I show you): Emotive

Quote emotive language.

  1. Don’t let your family go without.

Answer: don’t let your family go without our juice

Example 2 (We do it together): Endorsement

Who endorses?

  1. Footballer.

Answer: ayo the footballer

Example 3 (You try): Slogan

What is the slogan?

Show the steps and answer
  1. Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic!

Answer: fresh, fruity, fantastic

Did you know?

Adverts often show famous people because we trust people we admire.

Why this matters

Spotting techniques helps you resist being unfairly influenced.

4. Explore: Spot the pitch

Analyse an advert.

  1. Choose an advert.
  2. List techniques.
  3. Explain the effect.
  4. Ask for evidence.
Think about it: what did you notice?

You can spot persuasion.

5. Practise

Say it in a sentence

Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.

  • The technique is ___.
  • The example is ___.
  • It makes the audience feel ___.
  • The missing evidence is ___.

Guided practice

Question 1. A method to influence people is a persuasive ___.

technique

Question 2. Words that stir feelings are ___ language.

emotive

Question 3. A short memorable phrase is a ___.

slogan

Independent practice

Level 1: Start

  1. A method to influence people is a persuasive ___.
  2. Words that stir feelings are ___ language.
  3. A short memorable phrase is a ___.
  4. Support from a famous person is an ___.
  5. Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic! is ___.

Level 2: Grow

  1. Who drinks the juice?
  2. What does the emotive line target?
  3. What question did Chidi ask?

Level 3: Stretch

  1. Do adverts always give evidence?
  2. Can fame persuade?
  3. Should we ask for evidence?

Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.

6. Apply: English in everyday life

Analyse an advert for three techniques and the effect of each.

Show a sample answer

an analysis

Another one. Find a persuasive technique in an advert with a family member and discuss its effect.

Show a sample answer

a completed task

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Rushing without checking.
Fix: Slow down and check your work.
Another mistake: Skipping the worked example.
Fix: Study the example first, then try.

8. Lesson summary and revision card

I can…

  • I can name techniques.
  • I can find examples.
  • I can explain their effect.
  • I can respond critically.

9. Check and master

Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.

1. A slogan is a short, ___ phrase.

2. Emotive language stirs ___.

3. An endorsement is support from a ___ person.

4. A persuasive technique influences ___.

5. Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic! is ___.

6. The footballer drinking it is an ___.

7. Don’t let your family go without is ___.

8. A critical question is ___.

9. What do adverts want?

10. Is fame evidence of health?

11. What does repetition do?

12. Why spot techniques?

Challenge 1. Which is emotive?

Challenge 2. Which is an endorsement?

Your result appears here after you answer every question.

10. Key takeaways

  • Read or watch.
  • Spot the technique.
  • Name it.
  • Explain the effect.

11. Next lesson

Next lesson: Facts and opinions. Keep going with the next idea in this course.

Exam practice

These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.

  1. Define persuasive technique. [1 mark]
  2. Name and explain two techniques in the advert. [4 marks]
  3. What is a slogan? [1 mark]
  4. What critical question could you ask? [1 mark]
  5. Explain how to analyse persuasion. [3 marks]

Total: 10 marks.

Marking guide and model answers
  1. a method used to influence what people think or buy [1]
  2. emotive language [1] with effect [1]; endorsement [1] with effect [1]
  3. a short, memorable phrase [1]
  4. is there evidence the juice is healthy [1]
  5. spot the technique [1]; name it and explain its effect [1]; ask for evidence [1]

Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.

Printable worksheet

  1. A method to influence people is a persuasive ___.
  2. Words that stir feelings are ___ language.
  3. A short memorable phrase is a ___.
  4. Support from a famous person is an ___.
  5. Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic! is ___.
  6. Who drinks the juice?
  7. What does the emotive line target?
  8. What question did Chidi ask?
  9. Do adverts always give evidence?
  10. Can fame persuade?

Homework

Find a persuasive technique in an advert with a family member and discuss its effect.

Answer key and marking scheme

Question Expected response Marks
1. A method to influence people is a persuasive ___. technique 1
2. Words that stir feelings are ___ language. emotive 1
3. A short memorable phrase is a ___. slogan 1
4. Support from a famous person is an ___. endorsement 1
5. Fresh. Fruity. Fantastic! is ___. alliteration 1
6. Who drinks the juice? Ayo the footballer 1
7. What does the emotive line target? worry for the family 1
8. What question did Chidi ask? is there evidence it is healthy 1
9. Do adverts always give evidence? no 1
10. Can fame persuade? yes 1
Total 10

Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 technique; 2 emotive; 3 slogan; 4 endorsement; 5 alliteration. Level 2: 1 Ayo the footballer; 2 worry for the family; 3 is there evidence it is healthy. Level 3: 1 no; 2 yes; 3 yes.

Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.

Mastery and remediation

Objective Bronze (Developing) Silver (Proficient) Gold (Advanced)
O1 Name techniques Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O2 Find examples Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O3 Explain their effect Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O4 Respond critically Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation

Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.

If a learner struggles

  1. Find the misconception: Rushing without checking. Slow down and check your work.
  2. Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
  3. Show a simpler example: Re-read the examples slowly and use the sentence frames.
  4. Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
  5. Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
  6. Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.

For parents and guardians

In this lesson your child practises a key Grade 3 English skill with clear examples and a quiz. You do not need to be an expert to help.

  • Listen while your child explains the idea.
  • Ask for one new example.
  • Praise effort and careful work.
  • Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
  • Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
  • Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.

Teacher package

1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration

Lesson objectives. Learners will: name techniques; find examples; explain their effect; respond critically.

Prerequisite knowledge. Target audiences.

Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.

Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.

Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.

6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities

Introduction (5 min). Introduce the idea with the opening example.

Explanation (10 min). Teach the key words.

Guided activity (10 min). Practise together.

Independent activity (10 min). Check understanding with the quiz.

Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.

Key questions. What is the key idea? Can I give my own example?

Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.

10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions

Support. Use the sentence frames and work with a partner. Extension. Create a harder example of your own.

Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.

Misconceptions. Rushing without checking. Slow down and check your work.

13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme

Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.

16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection

Remediation. Re-read the examples slowly and use the sentence frames. Enrichment. Make up your own example and teach it to someone at home. Homework. See above.

Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.

Sources and standards

This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.

Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 6 » Writing; Grade 6 » Reading: Informational Text; Grade 6 » Speaking & Listening. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.

Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RI.6.6 and RI.6.8 (evaluate argument and claims); Cambridge Primary English Stage 6 (persuasive language). These sources informed the lesson.

Keep learning

Scroll to Top