Virginia SOL 9.C.4.B
The Standard
Analyze the persuasive techniques used in diverse media formats (e.g., name calling, innuendo, glittering generalities, card stacking, bandwagon, testimonials, appeal to prestige, snobbery or plain folks, appeal to emotion).
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Examining Media Messages
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify persuasive techniques in print, video, audio, and digital messages. They use evidence from each message to explain how the technique affects a particular audience.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly name the technique used in an advertisement, video, social media post, or speech. They cite specific details and explain how the technique shapes the message for a target audience.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may label any positive claim as a glittering generality or any emotional claim as an appeal to emotion. They may name a technique correctly but fail to explain how specific words, images, music, or speakers influence the audience.
How to Assess It
- Show a short advertisement and ask: “Name one persuasive technique, cite one specific detail, and explain how that detail may influence the intended audience.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups printed advertisements to sort by technique, then have them circle the words or images that support each choice.
Ask students to write which technique would most influence ninth graders and defend their answer with a specific example.
Play technique bingo while showing brief media examples, requiring students to justify each marked square before claiming a win.
Have students examine two local campaign ads and explain how each one targets voters through language, images, or endorsements.
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Printable 9.C.4.B Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9.C.4.B, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- 7.C.4.A
Explain persuasive/informative techniques used in media to sway the audience (e.g., innuendo, card stacking, bandwagon, and appeal to emotions).
- 11.C.4.C
Analyze, compare, and contrast visual and verbal media messages for content (e.g., word choice and choice of information), intent (e.g., persuasive techniques),...
- 8.C.4.A
Examine how the media can influence beliefs, behaviors, and interpretations by using persuasive techniques (e.g., name calling, innuendo, glittering generalitie...
- 10.C.4.B
Analyze, compare, and contrast visual and verbal media messages for content (e.g., word choice and choice of information), intent (e.g., persuasive techniques, ...
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