Technique Sort
Sort fifteen advertising claims into five common techniques and explain what each one does to an audience.
Success criteria
- I can identify five common advertising techniques.
- I can explain how a claim tries to influence an audience.
- I can spot when two techniques overlap.
Materials
- One set of 15 cards per group.
- One sheet divided into five columns: Emotional appeal, Social proof, Authority, Urgency, Association.
- The answer key stays with the teacher until the sort is complete.
How to play
- Shuffle the cards and place them face up in the middle.
- Groups sort each card into the technique they think is strongest.
- Groups must agree on every placement and record one reason for each.
- Reveal the answer key. Score one point for each correct primary technique.
- Bonus point: explain why a card could fit more than one category.
- Challenge: choose one card and rewrite it to use a different technique.
Card sheet
| # | Claim |
|---|---|
| 1 | Because you deserve it. |
| 2 | Join thousands of happy customers. |
| 3 | Recommended by teachers. |
| 4 | Only available until Friday. |
| 5 | The choice of champions. |
| 6 | For the moments that matter. |
| 7 | Everyone is switching. |
| 8 | Approved by leading experts. |
| 9 | Last chance. |
| 10 | As worn by the winning team. |
| 11 | Imagine the look on their faces. |
| 12 | The number one choice. |
| 13 | Trusted by professionals. |
| 14 | While stocks last. |
| 15 | For the adventurous. |
Answer key
| # | Primary technique | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emotional appeal | It flatters the reader and links the product to self-worth. |
| 2 | Social proof | It uses the number of other customers as evidence. |
| 3 | Authority | It borrows credibility from teachers. |
| 4 | Urgency | It sets a short deadline to pressure a quick decision. |
| 5 | Association | It links the product to success and victory. |
| 6 | Emotional appeal | It connects the product to meaningful experiences. |
| 7 | Social proof | It suggests that other people are already choosing it. |
| 8 | Authority | It uses experts as a source of credibility. |
| 9 | Urgency | It creates a final deadline. |
| 10 | Association | It links the product to a winning team and their identity. |
| 11 | Emotional appeal | It asks the reader to imagine a desirable emotional moment. |
| 12 | Social proof | It claims that most people have already chosen it. |
| 13 | Authority | It borrows credibility from professionals. |
| 14 | Urgency | It uses limited stock to speed up the decision. |
| 15 | Association | It links the product to an adventurous identity. |
Overlap challenge
Some cards could fit more than one technique. Choose two cards and complete the sentences:
Card ____ could be ________________ because ____________________. It could also be ________________ because ____________________.
Teacher notes
Accept reasoned alternatives when students can explain the overlap. The reasoning matters more than a single answer.
Ask students to identify the audience for each claim. A claim can be persuasive without being true.
Support: reduce the set to ten cards and give the five category headings with one example each.
Extension: ask students to find a real advertisement that uses two techniques at once and explain the combined effect.
Do not let the game become a lesson in tricking people. The point is to recognise persuasion, not to celebrate manipulation.