Course Description
Analyzing Persuasion through Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator”
Subject focus: Rhetoric, persuasive techniques
Language focus: Describing effects, expressing opinion, identifying rhetorical devices
Skills: Listening • Reading • Critical Thinking • Speaking • Writing
Level: B2–C1 (Upper Secondary)
1️⃣ BEFORE WATCHING – Activating Prior Knowledge
- Match the Terms (Warm-up)
Match the rhetorical device with its meaning:
Term
Meaning
1. Ethos
a. Appealing to emotions
2. Pathos
b. Appealing to reason and logic
3. Logos
c. Building trust, credibility, moral character
Write the correct combination:
1–… 2–… 3–…- Prediction
What do you expect from a persuasive speech in a political context?
Write 2–3 ideas:
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………2️⃣ WATCHING – Three Versions, Three Effects
You will watch three versions of the same speech:
- Original speech – voice only
- Speech + music
- Speech + music + images
- Compare the Versions (Guided Analysis)
Version
What stands out? (tone, mood, intensity)
Emotional impact?
Most effective?
1. Voice only
………………………………………
…………………
Yes / No – Why? ……………
2. + Music
………………………………………
…………………
Yes / No – Why? ……………
3. + Images
………………………………………
…………………
Yes / No – Why? ……………
- Critical Thinking
How does music change the message?
How do images change your interpretation?
Write 3–4 sentences:
…………………………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………………………3️⃣ READING – Understanding the Speech
- Identify Persuasive Techniques
Read the extracted lines from the speech.
Highlight or underline examples of:- Ethos 🟦 (credibility, values, moral appeal)
- Pathos 🟧 (emotion, imagery, inspiration)
- Logos 🟩 (logic, arguments, contrasts)
- Fill in the Chart
Technique
Quotation from the speech
Why it works
Ethos
“……………………………”
Builds trust because…
Pathos
“……………………………”
Creates emotion because…
Logos
“……………………………”
Sounds logical because…
4️⃣ GROUP TASK – Mini Multimodal Analysis
You can use Canva or other web2 tools
(3–4 students per group)
Your group will:
- Choose one key excerpt from the speech.
- Identify ethos/pathos/logos in that excerpt.
- Decide which video version presents it most powerfully.
- Prepare a 2-minute micro-presentation including:
- What the excerpt means
- Which persuasive technique dominates
- Which version strengthens it most (voice / music / images)
- Why this matters in modern communication (social media, campaigns, speeches)
Language support:
Use expressions like:- The dominant technique here is…
- This version emphasizes the feeling of…
- The speaker appeals to the audience by…
5️⃣ INDIVIDUAL WRITING TASK (Short Essay – 200 words)
Please submit your work here: 2lyksocial1@gmail.com
Prompt:
Which persuasive technique—ethos, pathos, or logos—seems most powerful in Chaplin’s speech, and why? How did the three different versions influence your interpretation? Use specific examples.Write your answer:
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Complete the sentence:
“After today’s lesson, the technique I want to use in my own presentations is ________ because _________.”
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………7️⃣ LANGUAGE SUPPORT BOX (CLIL Scaffolding)
Useful Vocabulary
- oppression = unfair use of power
- dictatorship = government ruled by one powerful leader
- appeal (v./n.) = try to influence / persuasive attempt
- empathy = understanding others’ feelings
- reasoning = logical thinking
- deliver a speech = give a formal talk
Useful Expressions for Analysis
- The speaker highlights…
- This line evokes a sense of…
- The argument is convincing because…
- The imagery reinforces the message.
- The sound/visuals intensify the emotional impact.