Students investigate a their or biome and use research, evidence, and rhetorical appeals to create a persuasive letter and presentation for a potential funder. Across the week, they study ethos, logos, and pathos through mentor advertisements, practice formal presentation skills, and gather information from multiple sources to support clear claims. Working in exhibition groups, they peer review drafts, revise their work, and present to the class as a public audience. The experience builds communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and reflection as students consider how to make a mission proposal convincing and credible.

Students will research a planet or biome using multiple credible sources, take notes, and cite evidence to explain why a mission there is worth funding. They will learn to identify and use ethos, logos, and pathos in a formal persuasive letter and group presentation designed for a real audience. Students will strengthen collaboration by giving and using peer feedback to revise their writing and presentation before sharing their work with the class and exhibition audience. They will reflect on what they learned about persuasion, research, and presentation after completing the final products.

Students will create a researched mission proposal letter and a formal group presentation designed to persuade a financier using ethos, pathos, and logos. Along the way, they will produce source notes, a claim-and-evidence organizer, a presentation plan, and peer feedback notes to revise both products. The final products will be shared with the class during the exhibition and should clearly explain the planet or biome, the benefits of the mission, and the evidence supporting the request for funding. Each student will also complete a brief written reflection on what they learned and how feedback strengthened their work.

Open with a short “Ad Detective” gallery walk using funny commercial clips and print ads that clearly feature ethos, logos, and pathos, and have students work in teams to identify which appeal is being used and why it is convincing. Then reveal a surprise mission briefing: each group has discovered a planet/biome and must persuade a financier to fund an expedition, using evidence and formal presentation skills. End with a quick team challenge to create a 30-second verbal pitch for why their biome is worth visiting, followed by a class debrief on what made certain pitches persuasive.

Host a live “Financier’s Pitch Day” in the classroom where exhibition groups present their mission proposal to classmates acting as investors, using their letter and visual presentation as evidence. Set up the room like a funding fair, with each group displaying key research about their planet or biome and explaining how they used ethos, logos, and pathos to strengthen their case. Invite another class, families, or school staff if possible so students share with an authentic audience beyond their teacher. End with a brief audience feedback form and a celebration of strong evidence, persuasive speaking, and revision growth.