Antisectarian

Persuasion (p30 and p85)

Issues addressed

  • Who controls our society?
  • Dealing with issues of power, control, negotiation.
  • Majority/minority relationships.

Purposes of the curriculum 3-18 

This lesson contributes toward young people becoming:

  • successful learners able to think creatively and independently and make reasoned evaluations

  • confident individuals able to relate to others, manage themselves and be self aware

  • effective contributors able to apply critical thinking in new contexts

  • responsible citizens able to make informed choices and decisions

Aims

  • To improve communications skills.
  • To improve active listening skills.
  • To raise awareness that everything may not be what it seems on the surface.
  • To increase awareness of human rights.

Time

30 mins

Group size

4-16

Age

10+

Preparation

1 copy of Persuasion resource sheet (p30) per person.

Instructions

In pairs, label yourselves 'A' and 'B'. Firstly 'As' must try to persuade 'Bs' to buy them lunch. Then 'Bs' must try to persuade 'As' to lend them some money. Once you have done this, share as a group what kind of techniques and tactics the persuaders were using and how successful they were. Also discuss how the person they were trying to persuade felt, what role they played and what tactics they used to resist.

Learn to be aware of when others are attempting to persuade you, and to recognise when you hold a different viewpoint and why this is.

As a whole group, look at the Persuasion Resource sheet and think of examples of persuasion techniques that you have come across in advertising, the media or in your everyday lives. How do these make you feel? How do you think they make others feel? Should people be able to persuade others? Should there be any limits on this? What would you do if you thought someone was trying to persuade someone else of something that was hurtful or dangerous?

Consider: What is freedom of speech? Do you have it? Is it ever restricted? Is there anyone who does not have it? What other rights do you have? Do these affect freedom of speech?