Persuasive Writing Teaching Resources
Explore persuasive writing topics, activities and more — aligned to the Common Core curriculum and created by teachers for your elementary or middle school classroom!
Whether you're introducing this text type for the first time to your kindergarten or 1st grade, or you're teaching upper elementary students to build their powers of persuasion, this collection of teaching resources will help you save time on your lesson plans so you have more time to spend doing what you really love — engaging with your students!
Best of all, each printable worksheet and interactive game has undergone careful review by a member of the Teach Starter team to ensure it's ready for your classroom and your students!
Are you new to teaching persuasive writing, or are you just looking for fresh ideas and tips on the topic? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is Persuasive Writing? A Kid-Friendly Definition
If you're introducing this type of writing to your students, a definition may come in handy. Try this one from our teacher team!
Persuasive writing is a type of writing that we use to convince a reader to adopt a particular viewpoint or do a certain thing.
This writing type uses persuasive techniques to present the reader with logical arguments, supporting evidence and emotional appeals to help convince them.
Persuasive Writing Examples for Kids
Examples of persuasive writing from some of their favorite children's books can also be helpful when you're launching your writing unit.
Some of our teacher team's favourites for doing just that include
Popular children's books often provide excellent examples of persuasive writing perfect for young kids. Here are a few examples:
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin — The cows on a farm use persuasive writing techniques to demand electric blankets from the farmer by leaving notes in this silly book from author Doreen Cronin. The cows argue that they deserve the blankets for their comfort and better milk production.
- The Three Little Pigs — This classic fairy tale is a great example of persuasive writing that many students will already know, even if they don't realize it contains persuasive devices.
- Click, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin — Yes, it's another book from Cronin that works well for teaching persuasive writing! Instead of cows writing, however, the persuasive arguments in this tale come from ducklings who convince the farm animals to join them in disrupting Farmer Brown's sleep. The story showcases the ducks' ability to influence and rally others.
- My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza — In this silly story, a clever pig uses persuasive tactics to convince a hungry wolf that it would be a better meal if it were fattened up first.
- I Can't Believe You Said That! by Julia Cook — This book focuses on the importance of using persuasive language in a respectful manner and makes a great example for teaching your class how to express their thoughts and opinions without hurting others' feelings.
Persuasive Writing Structure
Students will need to learn the basic persuasive writing structure to give shape to their arguments. While there can be some variation, persuasive writing typically follows a clear and organized framework in order to effectively present arguments and convince the reader.
The most popular structure is typically as follows:
- Introduction — The writer should grab the reader's attention and provide an overview of the topic or issue at the beginning of their essay, speech or other piece of persuasive writing. A good introduction will include:a. Hook or Attention-Grabbing Opening — This is a compelling statement, question or fact that captivates the reader's interest.
b. Background Information — Brief context or background information about the topic will help the reader understand the subject matter.c. Thesis statement — This is a clear and concise statement that presents the writer's main argument or position.
- Body Paragraphs — The body paragraphs form the core of a persuasive essay, and this is where students can present supporting evidence, reasons and counterarguments. Each body paragraph typically focuses on a single point or supporting argument and follows a consistent structure:a. Topic Sentence — This is a clear statement that introduces the main idea or argument of the paragraph.
b. Supporting Evidence — Strong persuasive writing uses examples, statistics, expert opinions or anecdotes to strengthen the argument.c. Explanation and Analysis — Each body paragraph should have a sentence or two connecting the evidence to the main argument and explaining how it supports the thesis statement.
- Conclusion — In the final section of a persuasive essay, students should wrap things up by restating the thesis statement, summarizing the main points and leaving a lasting impression on the reader. A strong conclusion includes:a. Restatement of the Thesis — This reaffirms the main argument or position from the introduction.
b. Summary of Main Points — Students should briefly summarize the key supporting arguments or evidence presented in the body paragraphs.c. Closing Statement — The end should leave the reader with a thought-provoking or impactful final statement, a call to action or a suggestion for further consideration.
Persuasive Writing Techniques
Are you looking for some strategies to share with your students to make their writing more convincing and compel the reader? Let's take a look at some of the persuasive writing techniques they can use!
- Appealing to the Reader's Emotions — Using language and storytelling techniques to evoke strong emotions in the audience — such as fear or empathy — can be a strong way to persuade a reader to act.
- Using Repetition — Repeating key phrases or ideas throughout an essay or letter will help reinforce their importance and make them memorable.
- Asking Rhetorical Questions — Asking questions that lead the audience to a desired conclusion can make them think about the topic and engage with the argument.
- Relying on Authority — Citing credible experts or sources is a technique that lends credibility and support to the writer's claims, making it more appealing for a reader.
Fun Persuasive Writing Activities for the Primary Classroom
This collection of ELA resources is full of fun activities to engage your students with persuasive writing, but we didn't stop there.
Take a look at some more fun activities to do with your class!
- Create persuasive posters with your 2nd grade class that include simple slogans and visuals to convince others to join a school extracurricular activity or club.
- Set up a debate for your 3rd grade students, brainstorming an either/or concept that students feel strongly about (such as a type of fruit). Split the class in two, and have the two groups of students debate the topic, attempting to convince the others. This could also be done in small groups or even in pairs.
- Challenge your 4th grade students to write a letter convincing you to wear a silly costume to school. If you have a school or classroom mascot, they might try to convince you to dress like the mascot!
- Ask students to take a stand on which season is better: summer or winter.
- Pretend you have $1 million to give away, and challenge your 6th graders to a quick write, explaining why they deserve the money.
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Change My Mind - Thanksgiving Turkey Craft and Write
Explain why you still need to eat turkey on Thanksgiving with a fun Thanksgiving Turkey Craft and persuasive writing prompt.
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Persuasive Writing Planning Template
A planning template to use when writing a persuasive or opinion text.
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Emotive Language Cloze Passage Worksheet
Get students using emotive language examples in their persuasive essays with this differentiated cloze passage worksheet.
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Persuasive Writing Bump It Up Wall – Grade 4
Help your 4th-grade students "bump up" their persuasive writing with this bulletin board display.
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Save Tom - Disguise a Turkey Persuasive Writing Prompt
A fun Thanksgiving writing activity to use with your students.
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Persuasive Vocabulary Word Wall
Help your students enhance their persuasive writing skills with a set of 40 persuasive vocabulary word cards.
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Genre of the Month - Writing Prompt Grids (Upper)
Introduce your students to a variety of writing genres with our printable genre-specific writing prompt grids.
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Opinion Sentence Starters Bulletin Display
Help your students begin their opinion writing with a strong sentence starter.
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Persuasive Writing Poster Set
Display this set of persuasive posters for students to use as a guide during your persuasive writing units.
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Persuasive Writing Graphic Organizer Pack
Help students gather their thoughts during persuasive writing with this differentiated set of graphic organizers.
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Consequence Chart - Graphic Organizer
A blank consequence chart to use when planning a persuasive text.
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Analyzing Persuasive Techniques Worksheets
Get students analyzing persuasive techniques and their effects on audiences with this set of three texts with accompanying questions.
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Haunted House for Sale - Creative Writing for 5th Grade
Use persuasive language and description writing to sell a haunted house with this exciting Halloween Haunted House Project!
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Rhetorical Devices Sorting Activity
Explore rhetorical devices with your students using this set of sorting cards.
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Rhetorical Device Examples – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Match the persuasive writing techniques with the correct examples using this simple cut-and-paste worksheet perfect for your persuasive writing unit.
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Persuasive Writing Planning Flipbook
Explore the persuasive writing structure in this engaging persuasive writing flipbook.
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Persuade Me Opinion Writing Prompts
Encourage students to write opinion texts with these engaging task cards or teaching slides.
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Adopt a Chick - Interactive Writing Activity
Have some fun adopting a digital chicken with this interactive Easter writing activity.
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Santa's Workshop Job Application - Elf Job Application
Bring a bit of holiday cheer to your persuasive writing lessons by having your students complete a Santa's Workshop job application.
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Persuasive Writing Bump It Up Wall – Grade 5
Help your 5th-grade students "bump up" their persuasive writing with this bulletin board display.
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Opinion Prompt Cards – Set 1
Practice writing opinion or persuasive text with this set of 20 topic cards.
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Opinion Prompt Cards – Set 2
Practice writing opinion or persuasive text with this set of 20 topic cards.
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Monthly Writing Prompt Calendars - Lower Grades
Encourage your little learners to write with fun writing prompts for kids in early elementary school.
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Emotive Language Task Cards
Get students exploring emotive language examples with this set of task cards perfect for your persuasive writing unit.
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Rhetorical Devices Crossword
Familiarize your students with the most common rhetorical devices with an engaging crossword puzzle.
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Rhetorical Devices Word Search
Familiarize your students with the most common rhetorical devices with a fun word search.
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Exaggeration and Hyperbole Sorting Activity
Explore examples of hyperbole with your students using this set of 24 sorting cards perfect for your reading centers.
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Exaggeration and Hyperbole Interactive Activity
Explore hyperbole examples with your students using this digital game perfect for lesson warm-ups or lesson wrap-ups.
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Modal Language Sorting Activity
Explore examples of modal language with your students using this set of 24 sorting cards perfect for your persuasive writing unit.
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Modal Language Matching Activity
Have students explore high modality and low modality language with this matching game to use during your persuasive writing unit.
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Modal Language Interactive Activity
Explore the language of modality with your students using this digital game perfect for your persuasive writing lessons.
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Rhetorical Questions Sorting Activity
Explore examples of rhetorical questions with your students using this set of 28 sorting cards perfect for reading centers.