Persuasive / Opinion Writing

Lesson Plans  •  Educator Resources  •  Student Activities

In persuasive / opinion writing the writer presents his or her opinion and tries to convince the reader to agree. Here are a variety of resources to help students write effective persuasive essays.

Lesson Plans

Can you Convince Me? Developing Persuasive Writing
Through a classroom game and resource handouts, students learn about the techniques used in persuasive oral arguments.

Persuasive Writing Unit Plan
Students learn how to "argue on paper" using a fictional case about a school dress code rule against band t-shirts.

Dear Librarian: Writing a Persuasive Letter
Students write persuasive letters to their librarian requesting that specific texts be added to the school library. As they work, students plan their arguments and outline their reasons.

Who Cares? (ppt)
A powerpoint mini lesson from Great Source iWrite on Persuasive Writing. (Note: This file may automatically go to your downloads folder.)

Creating a Persuasive Podcast
Students learn how to get their voice out on the web when they research issues important to them and compose a persuasive podcast.

Persuasive Essay: Environmental Issues
In this lesson, students explore relevant environmental issues and gather information to write a persuasive essay.

Persuading the Principal
Writing a persuasive letter to your principal is a great way to get your opinions known.

Vote for Me!
This lesson encourages students to think critically and write persuasively by preparing, presenting, and evaluating mock campaign speeches.

Educator Resources

Strategy Guide: Persuasive Writing
This strategy guide focuses on persuasive writing and offers specific methods on how you can help your students use it to improve their critical writing and thinking skills.

Peer Review for Persuasive Letters (pdf)
After students read their persuasive letter aloud, classmates will answer these review questions.

Persuasion Map Planning Sheet (pdf)
This printable sheet guides students in mapping out their thesis, main reasons, examples, and conclusion for a persuasive writing assignment.

Persuasive Letter Rubric (pdf)
Use this rubric to assess the thesis, reasons, conclusion, organization, word choice, and conventions of students' persuasive letters.

Can you Convince Me?
Children learn how to make a convincing argument—an important skill in school and in life.

Make a Point! (pdf)
This worksheet helps students organize their ideas before writing a persuasive argument.

For and Against graphic organizer
This worksheet prompts students to create a list of arguments for and arguments against their selected issue.

Persuasive Writing Planning Sheet
Students can use this worksheet to plan the structure of their paper.

Ten Persuasive Prompts
Students can select from a list of ten persuasive writing prompts.

TeacherTube: Introduction to Persuasive Writing
An video tutorial that introduces persuasive writing techniques.

Student Activities

Persuasion Map
Use this tool to map out your argument for a persuasive essay or debate.

Persuasive Writing Planning Sheet
Use this worksheet to help you plan the structure of your paper.

Writing Workshop: Persuasive Writing
Learn how to use transitional words and supporting examples. Knowing about these skills will help you with your persuasive essay.