Persuasive writing is intended to present a point of view on an issue being debated, or to market a particular product, process or line of thought. The author sets out to state their view in a way that will influence others. The language therefore needs to be active, promotional and, where possible, supported by evidence. In thinking about the style of writing, the author needs to have in mind his/her particular intended audience, and how they can manoeuvre the reader toward their point of view or towards the product they are promoting. Knowing the intended audience is important in selecting both the language and the ideas that will sway the reader. For example, if seeking to persuade a local government member the language would be quite formal, but if hoping to sell cakes at a school gala, the language needs to be much more emotive and invitational. In teaching persuasive writing it is important to include this defining of the audience and appropriate choice of language.
In addition to the writing, consideration should also be given to the inclusion of graphics and data that will support the idea or product to be promoted. In a formal letter, email etc to persuade on an issue, the argument could be well supported by graphs or illustrations that show the likely result of a particular action. In this age of using the internet, sound and video can also be added to support the written proposal, advertisement or argument. In meeting the needs of the today's learners, it is important to factor this into the persuasive writing process, so that student are aware of the impact that adding these forms of media will have on selling their product or point of view.
Remember that we are preparing students for their future where marketing themselves and their ideas is often done via the virtual world.
Topics for persuasive writing could include:
(These features were presented in the Features of Argument writing section of English Online)
Click picture to download a copy
Snippet of persuasive writing from a sample of Yr 8 student writing - National standards Illustration
Persuasive writing snippet form Yr 5 Water Quality writing - National standards illustration
Yr 8 writing decrying advertising - National standards illustration
e-asTTle has specific exemplars for persuasive writing included on their Marking resources section in downloadable pdf format.
NZC Exemplars for Argument Writing
Sample Lesson Plans using e-Learning tools
e-asTTle resources for argument writing
e-asTTle marking resources - see specific exemplars on persuasive writing
Generic National Standards Writing Illustrations Yr 1-8
Read, Write, Think - Persuasive Writing - while there do a search for persuasive writing as there are several other good resources in this site.
Brainstorming tools to develop the arguments/persuasive statements (free)
Popplet web 2.0 tool and Popplet Lite iPad app
Bubbl.us
CMap Tools download
Mindmeister (free trial only)
InFlowchart Lite - see App store
Poster/Website tools to capture the power of images
Glogster
Wix
Weebly
Best 8 tools to make posters in the classroom
Graphing tools for making your own graphs
Maths is Fun - Make Your Own Graphs
Excel in MS Office Suite
Numbers in iWorks Suite
Technology required – set of iPads/iPods – 1 between 3 students minimum.
Suggested Free iPad App –Pic Collage
Work with the class to discuss
Activity – go out into playground with the iPads/iPods and to look at the health of the playground and to take photos (1 per child) of making/keeping the playground healthy e.g. picking up rubbish, keeping off grass in wet weather, planting flowers and trees etc.
Return to class and introduce Pic Collage by showing a completed Pic that has photos overlaid, text overlaid and separate shapes with overlaid text. Guide them through discovery of how to use the app by asking them questions!
Make a list of strong emotive verbs e.g.
Students to use Pic Collage to write about how the students in the school should look after their playground. Remind them of the sentence starters they discussed that work well for persuasive writing:
Students to write, using Pic Collage, a bold persuasive poster about keeping their playground healthy. Display these and discuss their effectiveness and how it could be improved. Use post it notes for the suggested improvements.
A member of the local city council arrives at the school to tell the class that their school is going to be bulldozed to make way for a new motorway. This council member (teacher wearing a dress up item e.g. hat, wig or tie) brings information to persuade the school that this motorway is more important than their school.
Technology required – iPads, desktop or laptop computers as available in the classroom – preferably at least 1 between 3.
Free app suggestions – Popplet Lite and Pic Collage
The dressed up visitor (teacher) comes into the class to tell the students about the proposed motorway that is going to be built where their school currently stands. Use a graphic that models the features of persuasive writing.
When the “visitor” leaves (removes the dress up features e.g hat & tie), work with the class to prepare a campaign to save the school. Discuss and record on Popplet Lite or other brainstorm programme
Activity – students to work in pairs (or 3s) to plan using Popplet Lite and then write “letters to the council” incorporating text, graphics and graphs – Pic Collage or any word processing programme can be used for this. Graphs can be made on Excel, Numbers or Maths is Fun - Make Your Own Graphs
The class have had a visit from NZ Red Cross to ask them to help organise a campaign to help the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines.
Technology required - set of iPads, desktop or laptop computers as available in the classroom
Suggested free iPad apps – Pic Collage, Write About This
Discussion to include
Record using Popplet Lite on the iPad or other free brainstorm web 2.0 tools such as Bubbl.us, or CMap Tools
Activity - The students need to quickly research what help is needed, collect a picture off the internet and prepare a newspaper article using Pic Collage or Write About This to raise awareness of how a typhoon has devastated a nation leaving it in desperate need of help from NZers. The emphasis of their writing is on persuading people to support the campaign rather than just writing a report of the situation.
Use the features of persuasive writing graphic and the planning graphic from above.