Criticalthinkingeslresource

A Critical Thinking Lesson for Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion

This is a great interactive lesson to get students talking and thinking about a number of controversial issues. The lesson is designed as an idea-generating activity for advanced ESL/EFL students who are preparing to write an argumentative essay or do a persuasive speech. The lesson takes about 90 minutes. The best way to do the lesson is put students in small groups. First, go over the vocabulary. Next, explain that they will watch several videos and then in their groups, they will discuss and answer the questions on their worksheets. Here are the links and videos for teaching the lesson:

 ESL/EFL Critical Thinking Lesson: Argumentation and Persuasion Worksheet

 
 
 
 

 

 

ESL/EFL Critical Thinking Lesson

Argumentation and Persuasion

Useful vocabulary

promote                                   oppose/opposition                               ban

slogan                                      support                                                legalize

donate                                     assist/assistance                                   fine

Idea-generating Exercise

Watch the following videos of advertising campaigns that are proposing some kind of action about a social issue.  Answer the questions for each video.

Video 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1DNoole3Wo 

Topic: _____________________________________

1.  What is the ad trying to persuade people to do?

2.  Who is the main target audience?

3.  How does the ad try to convince people to take action?

____celebrity representative

____shocking statistics

____appeal to people’s emotions

____facts

____logic

____examples

Video 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86lYG1V2-n4

1.  Who is the target audience?

2.  What is the main idea of this advertisement?

3.  What is your reaction to seeing this ad?

Video 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJG7RaLX-DM

Topic: ______________________________________

1.  What is the ad trying to persuade people to do?

2.  What cause and effect relationship does the ad imply? (Use an “if” clause.)

3.  What is the name of the organization?  What is their slogan?

4.  How does the ad try to convince people to take action?

____celebrity representative

____shocking statistics

____appeal to people’s emotions

____facts

____logic

Video 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLvP6b0fwBQ

Topic: ______________________________________

1.  What is the ad trying to persuade people to do?

2.  What cause and effect relationship does the ad imply? (Use a “since” adverb clause.)

3.  What part of the ad made the deepest impression on you?

4.  How does the ad try to convince people to take action?

____celebrity representative

____shocking statistics

____appeal to people’s emotions

____facts

____logic

Video 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM

1.  When and where do you think this television advertisement was aired?

2.  How is this video different from video four?

3.  Why does the ad use a Native American?

4.  Which ad do you think is more effective video 4 or video 5?

Watch the following 3 videos and complete the chart.

Video 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_oJ-irqDFg

Video 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOI-Va5aU3U

Video 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuRk-J1PuUo

Topic:
Arguments for (Pro) Arguments Against (Con)

Homework

Find an advertisement with a picture that is proposing some kind of action or response to a social issue.  The ad can be from a magazine or from the internet.  Write a paragraph about how the ad makes you feel. Bring the ad to class with you.

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