Three ways to persuade: trust, feeling, reason

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Benches for the Lakeview Path (persuasive text)

   [1] I am writing to ask the park board to add four benches along the walking path at Lakeview Park. [2] I have led the volunteer crew at this park for twelve years, and I have walked the path almost every week. [3] The path is a half mile long, and walkers can rest only at the two benches near the entrance.

   [4] An older neighbor stops halfway along the path, tired and hurting, with nowhere to sit down. [5] Benches cost about four hundred dollars each, and the park fund already holds enough money to buy four. [6] Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

   [7] I know how much it would mean to the families who gather at this park, and I would hate to see anyone feel left out. [8] Everything I say here comes from my own notes after many years of work, and I gain nothing from this plan except a better park. [9] I hope the board will vote on this request at its next meeting.

2. 1.

   Ari reads a letter asking for park benches. Which sentence appeals to logic (logos) with a fact or a number?

   • [4] An older neighbor stops halfway along the path, tired and hurting, with nowhere to sit down.
   • [6] Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
   • [2] I have led the volunteer crew at this park for twelve years, and I have walked the path almost every week.
   • [3] The path is a half mile long, and walkers can rest only at the two benches near the entrance.
3. 2.

   Bo studies sentence [2]. Which appeal does it use?

   • No appeal: it just introduces the topic of the letter.
   • Ethos: it points to the speaker's twelve years of work at the park.
   • Pathos: it makes listeners feel sorry for the tired walkers on the lake path.
   • Logos: it gives numbers that show the benches are needed.
4. 3.

   Esme wants the words that stir feeling. Which words in sentence [4] make it an appeal to emotion?

   • tired and hurting, with nowhere to sit down
   • along the path
   • An older neighbor stops
   • An older neighbor stops halfway along the path

5. More Bike Racks for Harper Middle School (persuasive text)

   [1] Fellow students, I am here to ask the principal for six new bike racks near the front doors of our school building. [2] As the head of the student council for two years, I stand here today to talk about the bikes at our front door. [3] Right now the school has one rack that holds just eight bikes.

   [4] On a sunny day, forty-one students ride to school, so most of the bikes end up locked to the fence, where they block the path to the gym. [5] Imagine how it feels to walk out after a long day of classes and find your bike tipped over in the mud, its chain bent and its front wheel twisted. [6] It is unfair and sad when a student who works hard to ride to school has nowhere safe to park.

   [7] The student council has visited three other schools, so I can explain how their racks were built and paid for. [8] Thank you, and I hope you will join me in asking for the racks. [9] The principal will decide after the next student council meeting, which takes place on the first Tuesday of the month.

6. 4.

   Kira studies sentence [4]. Which appeal does it use?

   • No appeal: it just thanks the principal for listening.
   • Ethos: it shows the speaker has kept careful notes about the bikes for years.
   • Pathos: it makes listeners worry about the students' bikes.
   • Logos: it counts the riders and compares them with the places to park.

7. Fifteen More Minutes of Recess (persuasive text)

   [1] We are the seventh-grade class, and we are asking for fifteen more minutes of recess each day. [2] Our science teacher, who has a degree in child health and has taught for nineteen years, says students focus better after a break to move around. [3] A survey of 120 students found that 96 of them felt more alert after a longer recess last spring.

   [4] Think about a student who has been sitting still for hours, bouncing a knee under the desk and longing to run outside. [5] During two weeks of longer recess last year, the class average on weekly math quizzes rose from 71 to 78, a gain of seven points. [6] Our class has kept the playground tidy all year, and the custodian can tell you so.

   [7] Nothing feels better than the cool morning air and the laughter of friends when the bell rings and the playground doors swing open. [8] We hope you will bring this request to the school board at its next meeting in April. [9] Thank you for your time.

8. 5.

   Milo reads a class petition. Which sentence appeals to credibility (ethos)?

   • [1] We are the seventh-grade class, and we are asking for fifteen more minutes of recess each day.
   • [4] Think about a student who has been sitting still for hours, bouncing a knee under the desk and longing to run outside.
   • [3] A survey of 120 students found that 96 of them felt more alert after a longer recess last spring.
   • [6] Our class has kept the playground tidy all year, and the custodian can tell you so.
9. 6.

   Noah studies sentence [4]. Which appeal does it use?

   • Ethos: it shows the class has studied for years how students learn and focus.
   • Logos: it counts the hours students sit still.
   • Pathos: it helps listeners feel how restless a student gets.
   • No appeal: it just describes the class's request.
10. 7.

    Pia looks for words that give proof. Which words in sentence [3] make it an appeal to logic?

    • felt more alert
    • felt more alert after a longer recess last spring
    • A survey of 120 students found that 96 of them
    • last spring

11. Recycling Bins for the Pool (persuasive text)

    [1] The Riverside Community Pool should add recycling bins beside each trash can, starting this summer. [2] I have worked as a lifeguard at this pool for six summers, so I see what ends up in the trash cans each day. [3] On one busy Saturday last July, the staff counted 212 plastic bottles in the trash cans.

    [4] A recycling bin costs about sixty dollars, which is less than the pool spends on trash bags in one week. [5] Think of the ducks paddling past floating bottles in the creek by the busy parking lot behind the pool. [6] Imagine your little cousin finding a sparkling pool and a bright green lawn all summer long.

    [7] I completed the county's lifeguard and water-safety training, and the pool director has asked for my notes before. [8] I hope the pool board will place an order this spring. [9] Thank you for reading.

12. 8.

    Ren reads a letter about recycling bins. Which sentence appeals to logic (logos) with a fact or a number?

    • [2] I have worked as a lifeguard at this pool for six summers, so I see what ends up in the trash cans each day.
    • [5] Think of the ducks paddling past floating bottles in the creek by the busy parking lot behind the pool.
    • [4] A recycling bin costs about sixty dollars, which is less than the pool spends on trash bags in one week.
    • [1] The Riverside Community Pool should add recycling bins beside each trash can, starting this summer.
13. 9.

    Tala studies sentence [8]. Which appeal does it use?

    • No appeal: it just asks the board to act this spring.
    • Pathos: it makes the board feel sorry for the pool.
    • Logos: it gives a reason the board must order bins.
    • Ethos: it shows the speaker is a trusted lifeguard with years of training.
14. 10.

    Zee wants the words that stir feeling. Which words in sentence [5] make it an appeal to emotion?

    • by the busy parking lot
    • in the creek
    • ducks paddling past floating bottles
    • the creek by the busy parking lot behind the pool