Writing Persuasive Letters
Through a classroom "argument" activity and letter writing models, students are introduced to the concepts of lobbying for something that's important to them or they want and making persuasive statements. In this unit, students become aware of the techniques used in persuasive oral arguments and apply them to independent persuasive letter writing activities.
OBJECTIVE
Students will:
- Work in small groups to brainstorm ideas and organize them into a cohesive argument to be presented to the class
- Understand the concept of persuasion and how it becomes a strategy to produce a desired outcome
- Learn "powerful words" or terms used for persuading an audience
- Be able to identify the parts of a business letter
- Write a persuasive business letter
LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: The Game of Persuasion
Lesson 2: The Persuasive Letter
Lesson 3: What's in a Name?
REPRODUCIBLES
Powerful Words Printable (PDF)
Business Letter Format (PDF)
Business Letter Exercise (PDF)
Business Letter Exercise Answer Sheet (PDF)
Editing Marks Reproducible (PDF)
Persuasive Letter Checklist (PDF)
Letter to the Mars Candy Company Exercise (PDF)
Persuasive Letter Rubric (PDF)
CULMINATING ACTIVITY
Provide an opportunity for students to write persuasive letters or speeches for real arguments that have meaning to them, like a field trip, in-class movies, school issues, or community concerns. Reward them by planning one of the class events they present in their essays or speeches, or invite guest speakers to your class to hear the presentations and provide feedback.
SUPPORTING BOOKS
Books for Teaching Persuasive Letters Writing
- Teacher Store
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I SPY Pirate Treasure
The Teacher Store 
I SPY Pirate Treasure
Reading the easy story and playing the fun I Spy game, new readers will "treasure" this book featuring Spyler and CeCe, characters from the I Spy TV show. Spyler and CeCe look for objects they can use to build a pirate ship--a shell, a bell, a nail, and a sail. When Spyler and CeCe have found everything, the two friends build their ship and set sail. Ahoy! Readers can use the rebus picture cards to help them decode each word. At the end of each book, there are extra objects to find as well as a
$3.50
Paperback Book | Grades K-2
Grades K-2 $3.50
- Teacher Store
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I SPY Spooky Night
The Teacher Store 
I SPY Spooky Night
Enjoy some spooky fun with this classic I SPY book! Dare to enter a haunted house, where room after room challenges your students to solve mysterious riddles. Creepy full-color photographs and haunting rhyming riddles lead readers from the cobweb-filled attic to the rickety front gate.
$10.36 You save: 26%
Hardcover Book | Grades Pre-K-3
Grades Pre-K-3 $10.36
ARTICLE
LESSON PLAN
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