Persuasive Commercial Lesson- For Teachers:

Persuasion can attempt to influence a person's beliefs, attitudes, intentions,

motivations, or behaviors. In this activity, students will create a commercial to try to
persuade or convince an audience to buy their product. This activity can also be used
during a time when students are learning about persuasive writing.

Set: If you have access to Youtube, pull up some videos of persuasive commercials. I always use
Billy Mays, as everyone can usually can recognize his strong voice, and familiar products like
Oxy Clean and Orange Glow. As always when using videos in class, make sure they are
previewed appropriate for your age group.

Development Discuss with the students:

What does the sales person do to persuade you to buy his/her products? What makes him
convincing?

Some appropriate answers are:

-Eye-contact, voice, confidence

-He gives many reasons why his product is great

-Catchy name, slogan, phrases

-He explains why you need this product

-Makes you feel bad or pulls at the heart strings or emotional

-Connects to your everyday life

-He explains why it is better than the competition

-He explains how it will make your life better and easier

Watch another video and get students to respond on the handout ‘Viewing a Commercial’.

Next, get students into groups to plan and create their own commercial using the “Making a
Commercial’ handout. Watch the creativity unfold! Give them time to practice and make sure
everyone is doing their share of the work. Everyone has to have a part. Give them a minimum
length of time that it has to be, such as no less than one minute.

Closure: Present the commercials in front of the class!

Viewing a Commercial—Persuade Your Audience!
-What is the product being sold?

-Why do people need this product?

-Why is this product better than the competition?

-How will this product change your life?

-How does this appeal to your emotions (anger, happiness, etc.), and why?

-What does this product make you think of?

Making a Commercial—Persuade Your Audience!
In small groups, create a commercial with a wonderful new product to sell. Make sure all
students are involved.

Make sure to include the following to present to the class:

1)What is the product you’re trying to sell? (Some other examples are Slap-Chop, Cordless
Vacuum, Orange Glo, Snuggie, a miracle cleaning product!)

2)Why do people need this product? (It’s cheap, easy to use, convenient, it has multiple
functions, etc.)

3)Why is this product better than the competition? (Tired of using the same old vacuum with all
those messy cords? Try the New Cordless!)

4)How will this make your life easier if you buy it? (This new cleaning product makes cleaning
FUN! Look how easy it is! All your friends will want to join you!)

5)Show transition between how your life used to be before this product, and how it is now!
(Look at how sad I am using this old boring blanket, but now that I have the new Snuggie, my
life is like a party!)

**Make sure you include a catchy phrase, phone number, or throw in a few deals. Make sure
you are believable and enthusiastic! **