10 Steps To Teach Persuasive Writing

Children are natural-born persuaders. They do it all the time. The trick as a teacher is to take their set of skills and help them use their power for good. And by good, I mean to channel these skills into writing effective persuasive pieces.

1. Teach Paragraph Writing FIRST

2. Use Mentor Texts to Introduce Opinion Writing

3. Start With the Big Picture

4. The Introduction Paragraph is First

• Introduce Hooks
• Review topic sentences
• Time to add the Three reasons 
• Review 

6. The Three Body Paragraphs are Next

7. Focus on the Conclusion Paragraph

• The Opinion Sentence Starting with a Transition
• The Three Reasons (again!)
• The Conclusion, The Ending, The VERY LAST SENTENCE!

8. Share an Opinion Essay Example

9. Make an Outline and an Essay as a Whole Class (Eeek!)

10. Before Students Write – Go over Expectations Using a Rubric

BONUS #11. Practice Writing Opinion Essays…Over and Over and…