Three ways to persuade: trust, feeling, reason
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
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.
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.
- [3] The path is a half mile long, and walkers can rest only at the two benches near the entrance.
- [2] I have led the volunteer crew at this park for twelve years, and I have walked the path almost every week.
Bo studies sentence [2]. Which appeal does it use?
- No appeal: it just introduces the topic of the letter.
- Logos: it gives numbers that show the benches are needed.
- 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.
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
- An older neighbor stops halfway along the path
- An older neighbor stops
- along the path
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.
Jun reads a speech about bike racks. Which sentence appeals to emotion (pathos)?
- [3] Right now the school has one rack that holds just eight bikes.
- [6] It is unfair and sad when a student who works hard to ride to school has nowhere safe to park.
- [8] Thank you, and I hope you will join me in asking for the racks.
- [7] The student council has visited three other schools, so I can explain how their racks were built and paid for.
Luz looks for words that build trust. Which words in sentence [2] make it an appeal to credibility?
- I stand here today to talk about the bikes at our front door
- the bikes at our front door
- As the head of the student council for two years
- I stand here today
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.
Milo reads a class petition. Which sentence appeals to credibility (ethos)?
- [3] A survey of 120 students found that 96 of them felt more alert after a longer recess last spring.
- [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.
- [6] Our class has kept the playground tidy all year, and the custodian can tell you so.
Noah studies sentence [4]. Which appeal does it use?
- Ethos: it shows the class has studied for years how students learn and focus.
- No appeal: it just describes the class's request.
- Pathos: it helps listeners feel how restless a student gets.
- Logos: it counts the hours students sit still.
Pia looks for words that give proof. Which words in sentence [3] make it an appeal to logic?
- felt more alert after a longer recess last spring
- last spring
- A survey of 120 students found that 96 of them
- felt more alert
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.
Ren reads a letter about recycling bins. Which sentence appeals to logic (logos) with a fact or a number?
- [5] Think of the ducks paddling past floating bottles in the creek by the busy parking lot behind the pool.
- [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.
- [1] The Riverside Community Pool should add recycling bins beside each trash can, starting this summer.
- [4] A recycling bin costs about sixty dollars, which is less than the pool spends on trash bags in one week.
Zee wants the words that stir feeling. Which words in sentence [5] make it an appeal to emotion?
- by the busy parking lot
- the creek by the busy parking lot behind the pool
- in the creek
- ducks paddling past floating bottles