Objective:

For students to understand the history of persuasion. Where we got some of the ideas, and that it is something that has evolved over time. The main objective here is to let them know that they need to have a connection with people if they want to convince them of anything.

I would focus on Aristotle (Ethos, Pathos, Logos), Charles Larson (Self-persuasion), and Dale Carnegie (make people think its their own idea, also that you have to be genuinely interested in others or people will see through you).

Preset Activity: Discuss with their group what makes something believable to them. Have each group discuss their answers with the class.
 

Lesson:

Persuasion is convincing others that something is believable and true. Over time there have been many theories on how to make this happen.

Aristotle:
Ethos - source's credibility,
Pathos- emotional appeal,
Logos - logical appeal.
Enthymene - The audience makes an assumption about how something is proved in an argument. The arguer identifies the common ground between the audience and himself/herself by using what the audience thinks the proof is. (Basically, find something they all agree on and use that as the bases for the argument).

Roman Orator Cicero:

Five Elements to persuasion:
1. Inventing or discovering evidence.
2. Organizing them.
3. Styling arguments artistically.
4. Memorizing them.
5. Delivering them skillfully.

Bremback and Howell - communication intended to influence choice.

Wallace Fortheringham - says that even gossip overheard on the bus (unintentional persuasion) could persuade someone.

Kenneth Burke - artful use of "resources of ambiguity". Burke believes that people want to feel like they are being spoken to in their "own language," not talking above or below someone, creates a sense of identification.

Charles Larson - the co-creation of a state of identification between a source and a receiver that results from the use of symbols.
A) Cocreation means that both the source of the persuasion and the person being persuaded must be involved in the process.

B) Self-persuasion means that we participate in all persuasion. We are actually the one to persuade ourselves. This concept goes along with what Dale Carnegie says about not being able to win an argument. According to Carnegie the best way to convince someone that something is right, you have to make them think it was their own idea.

Reflection: Have students complete the Who Said It worksheet.