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Teaching

Persuasive Writing

Everett School District Professional Development Writing Team 2006 prepared by Connie Gagnon

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What is persuasive writing?

Persuasive writing is constructing an argument for what you believe!

Elements of Persuasion Stating opinions

Using supporting facts and examples

Connecting Ideas through logic and reasoning

Appealing to the target audience

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Guide for Teaching a New Writing Form

Share an example with the students. Study the characteristics, pattern and

organization of the writing. Teacher models the writing by “thinking aloud”

and asking for student input. Class compares teacher model to the writing

formula of new form, making revisions as needed. Class works together to create a writing sample

with a pre-write, draft, revisions and editing. Students work individually using the writing

process and peer evaluation.

From First Steps

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Getting Started …

1. Looking at Author’s Purpose

Author’s Purposes for Writing include:

to entertain, to inform, to explain, to persuade

Why is it important for readers to know the author’s purpose in writing is to persuade?

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Persuade: to convince; to induce to think, believe, or feel something

Persuasive

Writing

2. Looking at Advertisements Look at various ads and determine standard

techniques advertisers use to persuade.

Discuss with students why these techniques are successful. Question-Answer Problem-Solution Name-Calling Testimonials Glittering Generalities

Have students design their own ads to share and discuss.

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3. Read EARRINGS! by Judith Viorst

4. Then look at the format of the book…

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Persuasive Writing Formula

What I want or believe .

Why I believe it.

The other side of the argument.

Reasons and examples against these arguments.

What I want or believe.

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Reasons she wanted Parents’ reasons Arguments against

the earrings… against the earrings … her parents reasons…

What did the girl want? Earrings!

Look at the reasons…

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5. Lesson can be repeated if necessary with the book:

DADDY, COULD I HAVE AN ELEPHANT? by Jake Wolf

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6. Model a pre-write for students …

Brainstorm ideas of something you (as the teacher) might want …

No papers to grade!

A week in Hawaii!

20 pounds of chocolate!

Time to

Select one idea and an audience for your writing …

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Good persuasive writing tells both sides of the argument…

List reasons!Reasons I want Reasons my husband may

a week in Hawaii … be against the idea …

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7. With a “think-

aloud” strategy and students sharing ideas … use the formula to write a rough draft.

Compare the rough draft to the formula when finished.

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8. Share student persuasive writing samples.

Have students look for the persuasive formula or pattern in the writing…

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9. Brainstorm ideas for writing …

Wearing bike helmets

No smoking in public places

School uniforms

Drilling in Alaska

Wearing seat belts

Recess breaks in school

Schools give too much homework

Schools

“TIME FOR KIDS” and other student publications are a great resource for persuasive writing

ideas!

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10. Instruct students to select an idea and list reasons for and against the idea.

11. Have students share their reasons with a partner before beginning a rough draft.

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Persuasive Writing with transition words …

in the same way however on the other hand

similarly still although

likewise even though again

as for this reason next

also in fact finally

but another as well

yet besides along with

otherwise for example as a result of

for instance therefore

in conclusion in summary

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Using transitions to elaborate…

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Looking at pre-writes for persuasive writing …

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Looking at rubrics, outlines, tools for persuasive writing …

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Looking at student samples of persuasive writing…

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Resources… Persuasive Writing Grades 4-8. Tara McCarthy. New York: Scholastic, 1998.

Writing to Persuade. Kathleen Rogers. NewYork:Fearon,1987

Six Traits- The Modes of Writing. Oregon: NW Regional Educational Laboratory.

Reproducible Forms for the Writing Traits Classroom. Ruth Culham & Amanda Wheeler. New York: Scholastic.

How Do I Teach Writing to Develop Proficient Writers. Lynn Watson. Everett Schools.

Earrings. Judith Viorst. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1990.

Daddy, Could I Have An Elephant? Jake Wolf. New York: Puffin Books, 1996.

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Rated PG- Pretty Good