Everyone in our grade already has the new game. You should get it too.
Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Unit 6 of 10
Persuasive Power
Ethos, pathos, logos and fallacies
What your child practises
Identifying appeals to credibility, emotion and logic; spotting weak reasoning like bandwagon, false cause and slippery slope; and judging which evidence and rebuttals are strongest.
Saskatchewan Curriculum outcome: CC7.7 · persuasive writing
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which logical fallacy does this argument use?
- False cause
- Bandwagon
- Slippery slope
- Attacking the person (ad hominem)
Show answer
Bandwagon
Hint: “Everyone has it” isn't a reason it's good. Telling people to join the crowd is the bandwagon fallacy.
Question 2
Which logical fallacy does this argument use?
Millions of people use this app, so it must be the best one.
- Bandwagon
- Either-or (false dilemma)
- Attacking the person (ad hominem)
- False cause
Show answer
Bandwagon
Hint: Being popular doesn't make something the best. Arguing from popularity is the bandwagon fallacy.
Question 3
Which is the strongest evidence for this claim?
Our school should start a recycling program.
- My teacher recycles his bottles.
- Everyone recycles at home, so we should too.
- Recycling is cool.
- Last year our school sent 4 tonnes of paper to the landfill, enough to fill a classroom.
Show answer
Last year our school sent 4 tonnes of paper to the landfill, enough to fill a classroom.
Hint: Specific numbers that show a real problem are stronger than opinions or “everyone” claims.
Question 4
Which logical fallacy does this argument use?
Why should we listen to Ravi's idea for the fundraiser? He can't even keep his locker tidy.
- Slippery slope
- False cause
- Attacking the person (ad hominem)
- Bandwagon
Show answer
Attacking the person (ad hominem)
Hint: The argument attacks Ravi instead of his idea. That's ad hominem (Latin for “to the person”).
Question 5
Which logical fallacy does this argument use?
You're either with us on the new uniform plan, or you don't care about the school at all.
- Hasty generalization
- False cause
- Bandwagon
- Either-or (false dilemma)
Show answer
Either-or (false dilemma)
Hint: It pretends there are only two options when there are many more. That's a false dilemma.
Question 6
Which persuasive technique is used here?
We will learn. We will grow. We will succeed together.
- Repetition
- Counterargument
- Statistic
- Expert opinion
Show answer
Repetition
Hint: Notice “We will” three times. Repeating words makes an idea memorable and powerful.