Grade 6

How texts persuade

Techniques and audience. Part of reading and writing.

How texts persuade

Techniques and audience · Alberta Grade 6 · maddyhelps.com

Name
Date

Read the advertisement. Each numbered line uses one technique — write the line number beside each technique. Then answer the questions about who it is for and what it leaves out.

1 Unbelievably light. Ridiculously fast.

2 Everyone at school is switching to ZoomKicks!

3 Tested to make you up to 30% faster!

4 “I never race without them,” says a famous sprinter.

5 Only 50 pairs left — don't be the last to get yours.

Technique	Line
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Loaded words
Numbers that sound like proof
Fear of missing out

Who is the ad for? How can you tell?

What does it want you to believe — and what doesn't it tell you?

For the grown-up

How texts persuade

Bandwagon: line 2; Testimonial: line 4; Loaded words: line 1; Numbers that sound like proof: line 3; Fear of missing out: line 5. It is aimed at kids who run or play sports and care what their friends wear. It leaves out the price, who did the testing, and 30% faster than what — “up to” means it could be much less.

“Up to” is worth pointing out every time it appears. Up to 30% includes 0%.

Why this matters is on the reading and writing page. More sheets