This lesson plan for secondary learners at upper-intermediate level explores how to use persuasive language.

Aerial photo of a group of protesters writing signs for a demonstration

Introduction

This lesson plan is based on an activity from the British Council publication Integrating global issues in the creative English language classroom, which provides innovative ideas for teaching while raising awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This lesson focuses on Goal 10: Reduce inequality in and among countries, and Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, and is taken from chapter 17 of the publication. In it, students will read some extracts from famous speeches asking for change, analyse the use of rhetoric (ethos, pathos and logos) in these speeches and then work to write their own persuasive speeches asking for change.

This lesson has been adapted from the lesson 'Martin Luther King, Jr.' in the publication Integrating global issues in the creative English language classroom (chapter 16: activity 2 - page 161).

Aims:

  • To discuss changes that learners would like to see in the world
  • To practise listening skills
  • To reflect on speaking skills, including use of rhetoric
  • To practise writing a persuasive speech

Age group and level:

Secondary and adult learners at CEFR level B2 and above

Time:

Approximately 60 minutes

Materials:

The lesson plans for online and face-to-face contexts, classroom material and student worksheets can be downloaded below in PDF format

 

Language Level

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