Name: ______
Ms. Strauss
English II Honors/ Period ____
Date Assigned: Friday, November 20th, 2015
Date Due: Monday, November 23rd, 2015
Persuading a Parent (or Guardian) utilizing the 3 Appeals of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
Directions: Choose one of the following situations. Then, plan how you would convince your parent(s)/guardian(s) to “give in” to your desired activity. You must craft reasons that reflect ethos (ethical), logos (logical), and pathos (emotional) appeals. The Format you are utilizing to address your parents is a letter. On this worksheet, you are planning the organization of the letter and the arguments within your letter. Then, you will write the actual letter on your own paper, in ink (or word processed).
Situation A:
Convince your parents to buy you (or help you buy) a car (new or used, your choice for the activity).
Situation B:
Convince your parents to allow you to get a tattoo, a piercing, a hair-coloring, or other item you think they would not automatically allow.
Situation C:
Convince your parents to allow you to go on a trip (pick a location) with your friends over winter break or on an international experience with a club/group from school.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS and FILL IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL FORM FOR YOUR LETTER!
- Which of the prompts/situations did you choose? ______
- Think of a way to begin your letter to your parent. Remember that flattery can/will get you . . . somewhere! You may even consider already using one of the three appeals immediately in your address to your parent(s). Remember different ways you can write introductions, such as using imagery, using a quote from elsewhere, using a startling statistic, or providing a definition. Write your introductory lines here:
- What is one of the reasons you will provide to your parents to convince them to see your side of the issue and give you what you want?
How would you support this first reason? In other words, what examples or details will you provide?
How could you use logos or ethos or pathos in this argument?
- What is a second reason you will provide to your parents to convince them to see your side of the issue and give you what you want?
How would you support this second reason? In other words, what examples or details will you provide?
How could you us logos or ethos or pathos in this argument?
- What is a third reason you will provide to your parents to convince them to see your side of the issue and give you what you want?
How would you support this third reason? In other words, what examples or details will you provide?
How could you us logos or ethos or pathos in this argument?
- LIST here the arguments your parents may use against you:
In your actual letter, be sure that you address your parents’ concerns or arguments.
This is the counter-argument part of a persuasive/argumentative essay.