Today is rung 4 of 9 on this topic
Spotting the argument and the evidence behind it
Can do: Identifies an author's claim, the evidence given, and whether the evidence actually supports it.
Why it matters
This is critical reading proper, and it is the direct defence against everything designed to persuade them online.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Confuses strong feeling with strong evidence, and is persuaded by confidence rather than support.
⏱️ Two-minute check
Show an advert or an opinion column. "What do they want you to think? What's their proof? Is it good proof?"
Solid looks like: Claim and evidence separated, and some judgement about the quality of the evidence.
The full activity for this topic · 15 minutes
Advert Autopsy
- 1Watch or read it once for enjoyment, then again as a critic.
- 2Write down the claim in plain words: what do they want you to believe or do?
- 3List the evidence offered. Usually there's almost none.
- 4Name the techniques: celebrity, fear, everyone-is-doing-it, urgency.
- 5Rewrite the advert honestly and compare how persuasive it is.
If it's too hard
One advert, one claim, one technique.
If it's too easy
Analyse a news article or a school text where the persuasion is much subtler.
Say this
"That's what they want you to feel. What did they actually give you as proof?"