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Grade 8 · English Language Arts · Unit 7 of 11

Argument & Media

Claims, evidence and bias

What your child practises

Telling fact from opinion, spotting persuasive appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) and weak reasoning, and judging how reliable a source or media message is.

Ontario Curriculum expectation: A2.3, C3.5 · credibility, bias and the perspectives in arguments and media

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    A speaker says, “If we allow short recess, soon students will have no breaks at all!” What is this?

    • A bandwagon
    • A personal attack
    • A fact
    • A slippery slope
    Show answer

    A slippery slope

    Hint: A slippery slope claims one small step will unavoidably lead to an extreme result.

  2. Question 2

    What is a claim in an argument?

    • The title of the article
    • A fact nobody disagrees with
    • A list of sources
    • A statement the writer wants you to accept
    Show answer

    A statement the writer wants you to accept

    Hint: A claim is the main point an author argues for. Evidence supports it.

  3. Question 3

    What does ethos mean in a persuasive text?

    • Appealing to emotions
    • Appealing to logic and facts
    • Appealing to the writer's credibility or character
    • Appealing to humour
    Show answer

    Appealing to the writer's credibility or character

    Hint: Ethos is about trust: “Listen to me because I am an expert.”

  4. Question 4

    What does pathos mean in a persuasive text?

    • Appealing to the audience's emotions
    • Appealing to logic and statistics
    • Appealing to the writer's credibility
    • Appealing to the writer's age
    Show answer

    Appealing to the audience's emotions

    Hint: Pathos is about feelings, such as a sad story to move readers.

  5. Question 5

    An ad says “9 out of 10 dentists recommend brand X,” but doesn't say how many dentists were asked. What is the problem?

    • Dentists cannot recommend products.
    • The sample size is not shared, so the claim may mislead.
    • The ad uses numbers.
    • Brand X must be bad.
    Show answer

    The sample size is not shared, so the claim may mislead.

    Hint: A claim about a group needs details, such as how many were surveyed and who they were.

  6. Question 6

    A news site only publishes stories that make one politician look bad. What is this called?

    • Bias
    • A summary
    • A fact check
    • Satire
    Show answer

    Bias

    Hint: Bias means leaning one way and leaving out other perspectives.

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