Session 1 · AUTHOR: Techniques
The toolkit
- 15 minMini-lessons with quick examples: rhetorical questions, inclusive pronouns (we, us, our), the rule of three, repetition, listing.
- 25 minWrite one sentence about your issue using each technique. Underline the technique.
- 10 minPartner test: read your five sentences aloud. Your partner picks the most convincing and says why.
Session 2 · AUTHOR: Techniques
Fair or foul?
- 10 minHyperbole, contrast and emotive words: when does strong language help, and when does it lose trust?
- 20 minFair or foul card sort: sort 12 persuasive lines into 'fair' (honest reasons, real evidence) and 'foul' (scare tactics, name-calling, made-up numbers, 'everyone's doing it').
- 15 minEmotive word ladder: rank words from mild to strong (e.g. unhelpful, poor, unfair, shocking, disgraceful) and choose the one that fits your audience.
- 5 minKuaka asks one question about a word you chose.
Getting started
Start with rhetorical questions and inclusive pronouns only, then add one more technique.
Stretch
Use a whakataukī or proverb that fits your audience, check its meaning, and explain why you chose it.
Checkpoint
Each student can name and use four techniques on purpose and explain why one 'foul' line is unfair.
Activities for this week
- Fair or foul? Card sort: When does persuasion become manipulation?
- Survey for evidence: What do people around me actually think?
- Emotive word ladder: How strong should my words be?
Useful this week
- Speech New Zealand ↗ Speaking and presenting ideas and awards for young people.
- Te Aka Māori Dictionary ↗ Check the meaning of any te reo Māori word or whakataukī before you use it.