Constructing a Persuasive Argument: Comparing Up vs Comparing Down

Constructing a Persuasive Argument: Comparing Up vs Comparing Down

Learning Objective

Understand how to respond to an opinion article, construct an argument that disagrees with the text, and identify cohesive and persuasive devices used.

What do you already know about constructing persuasive arguments?

Analyzing the Opinion Article

Read and discuss the given opinion article about comparing up versus comparing down in the context of the Olympics.

Comparing Up vs Comparing Down

Discuss the concept of comparing up versus comparing down as presented in the article.

Cohesive Devices

Identify cohesive devices used in the text, such as transitions, pronouns, and conjunctions.

Persuasive Devices

Identify persuasive devices used in the text, such as rhetorical questions, emotive language, and appeals to logic or emotion.

Constructing a Counter-Argument

Model how to construct a counter-argument that disagrees with the text provided.

Interactive Activity

Engage in a group activity where students construct their own counter-arguments using the building blocks of cohesive and persuasive devices.

Presentation of Counter-Arguments

Each group presents their constructed counter-arguments, highlighting the cohesive and persuasive devices used.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.