← Back to Year 8 worksheets

These worksheets are free forever. Want lessons that adapt to your child as they learn, plus progress tracking? Try Ignition Learning free.

Sign up free

Ignition Learning — Activity Sheet

Persuasive techniques

English · Year 8

Name: ______________________Date: ____________

Persuasive texts try to convince the reader to agree with a point of view or take an action. Writers reach for a shared toolkit to do this: rhetorical questions get the reader thinking without expecting an answer, emotive language triggers a feeling, repetition drills a key idea into memory, and statistics make an argument feel backed by evidence rather than just opinion.

Example

A council flyer arguing for a new skate park might ask "Don't our kids deserve somewhere safe to play?" (rhetorical question), warn that empty lots are becoming "a magnet for danger" (emotive language), repeat the phrase "safe, free, and open to everyone" three times (repetition), and note that "68% of local teens have nowhere nearby to skate" (statistic).

Key terms

Rhetorical question:
A question asked to make a point, not to get an answer.
Emotive language:
Word choices designed to trigger an emotional reaction.
Statistic:
A number used as evidence to support a claim.

Questions

  1. 1. Which of these is a slogan you might see in an advertisement?

    • Water boils at 100°C
    • Just Do It
    • The moon orbits Earth
    • Canberra is the capital

  2. 2. An advertisement's main goal is usually to:

    • Persuade you to buy something
    • Teach you a fact
    • Tell a joke
    • Report the news

  3. 3. "Buy now before it's too late!" is an example of:

    • A fact
    • A persuasive technique
    • A question
    • A definition

  4. 4. A rhetorical question is a question that:

    • Needs a long answer
    • Doesn't expect an answer
    • Is always about maths
    • Is asked by a teacher only

  5. 5. Which word is more emotive?

    • Sad
    • Devastated
    • Unhappy
    • Upset

  6. 6. Saying the same phrase three times in an ad is an example of:

    • Repetition
    • A statistic
    • A fact
    • A rhetorical question

  7. 7. A number used to support an argument, like '9 out of 10 people agree', is a:

    • Rhetorical question
    • Statistic
    • Metaphor
    • Simile

  8. 8. What is a rhetorical question used for?

    • To ask for information
    • To make the reader think without expecting an answer
    • To summarise the text
    • To describe a setting

  9. 9. Which is an example of emotive language?

    • "The data shows"
    • "Devastating tragedy"
    • "In 2020"
    • "The rectangle has 4 sides"

  10. 10. Repetition in persuasive writing is used to:

    • Confuse the reader
    • Reinforce a key idea
    • End the text
    • Introduce new evidence

  11. 11. Statistics are used in persuasive writing to:

    • Add credibility and evidence
    • Create rhythm
    • Confuse readers
    • Describe characters

  12. 12. A charity ad says 'Every dollar you give changes a life.' This mainly aims to:

    • Inform neutrally
    • Appeal to emotion
    • List statistics
    • Describe a setting

  13. 13. 'Don't you want your family to be safe?' is an example of a:

    • Statistic
    • Rhetorical question
    • Fact
    • Definition

  14. 14. A car ad claims '30% more fuel efficient' mainly to:

    • Confuse the buyer
    • Add credibility with a statistic
    • Describe the colour
    • Tell a story

  15. 15. "Imagine never worrying about bills again — our plan saves you $500 a year!" What technique is mainly used here?

    • Rhetorical question
    • Statistic
    • Repetition
    • Alliteration

  16. 16. "This is not just a phone. This is YOUR phone. This is freedom." This is an example of:

    • Statistic
    • Repetition
    • A fact
    • A rhetorical question

  17. 17. "Isn't it time you finally got the holiday you deserve?" is an example of:

    • A statistic
    • A rhetorical question
    • A fact
    • Alliteration

  18. 18. An ad describes a mess as 'heartbreaking' if a cleaning product isn't used. This is an example of:

    • A statistic
    • Emotive language
    • A fact
    • A rhetorical question

  19. 19. A speech repeats the phrase 'a fair go for everyone' four times. The main purpose of this repetition is to:

    • Confuse the audience
    • Make the phrase memorable and persuasive
    • Fill time
    • Describe a policy in detail

  20. 20. "9 out of 10 dentists recommend this toothpaste" is intended to make the product seem:

    • Funny
    • Trustworthy and evidence-based
    • Cheap
    • Old-fashioned

  21. 21. "How can you sit back and do nothing while families suffer?" combines which two techniques?

    • Statistic and repetition
    • Rhetorical question and emotive language
    • Fact and statistic
    • Alliteration and statistic

Answer key (parent copy)

  1. 1. Just Do It
  2. 2. Persuade you to buy something
  3. 3. A persuasive technique
  4. 4. Doesn't expect an answer
  5. 5. Devastated
  6. 6. Repetition
  7. 7. Statistic
  8. 8. To make the reader think without expecting an answer
  9. 9. "Devastating tragedy"
  10. 10. Reinforce a key idea
  11. 11. Add credibility and evidence
  12. 12. Appeal to emotion
  13. 13. Rhetorical question
  14. 14. Add credibility with a statistic
  15. 15. Statistic
  16. 16. Repetition
  17. 17. A rhetorical question
  18. 18. Emotive language
  19. 19. Make the phrase memorable and persuasive
  20. 20. Trustworthy and evidence-based
  21. 21. Rhetorical question and emotive language