This engaging, evidence based opinion writing unit has everything you need to teach persuasive writing! Perfect for 3rd and 4th grade, these opinion writing mini lessons feature fact or opinion worksheets, persuasive words and language, & persuasive writing models.

Students will read passages, gather facts to form their opinion, and support their opinion writing with reasons and examples.

At the end of the unit, students will follow the opinion writing prompts to write a persuasive letter or essay.

This unit also features completed persuasive writing examples, information about transition words, and lessons about persuasive techniques.

✏️You will receive…

• opinion writing mini lessons…
  • a series of structured lesson plans, including warm ups, links to videos, and engaging activities
  • a list of mentor texts to teach and model persuasive writing
  • 3 fact or opinion worksheets
  • a set of “Would You Rather?” questions to allow students to practice making decisions and justifying their opinions
  • an anchor chart with persuasive words and phrases (can also be printed as a student hand out)
  • an anchor chart with ideas for a strong introduction, a strong conclusion, and transition words to move between ideas and paragraphs (can also be printed as a student hand out)

• three opinion writing prompts with passages…
  • Our Class Field Trip: Students will read informative articles about the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fenway Park, and Gettysburg Historic Site. Then, students will decide which location they would like to visit for their field trip. Students will use information from the article to support their point of view.
  • Our Best Class Pet: Students will read articles about turtles, hamsters, and goldfish. Then, students will decide which animal would make the best class pet. Students will use information from the article to support their point of view.
  • Our School Schedule: Students will read informative articles about year round school schedules and school schedules that have a long summer break. Then, students will decide which school schedule is most beneficial. Students will use information from the article to support their point of view.
  • all of the informational articles are available in this pack so you don’t have to search for your own articles to use!
  • Have your own writing prompt in mind? No problem! This pack features generic graphic organizers, writing stationary, and grading rubrics that will match any persuasive writing prompt.

• materials to model persuasive writing…
  • 4 examples of persuasive writing examples to be used as models
  • opinion writing graphic organizers to help students gather information and organize their ideas
  • an editing checklist specifically for persuasive writing
  • writing stationary
  • an outline showing students how to format a persuasive letter

• opinion writing rubrics
  • rubrics are available for each prompt to ensure easy grading

✏️How teachers are using these activities…

• as a persuasive / opinion writing project
• to teach letter writing
• to take the stress out of teaching quality writing
• to teach persuasive techniques
• alongside a reading comprehension unit on author’s point of view and author’s claims

✏️Carefully Aligned to Common Core Standards:

• Grade 3: W.3.1- Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
• Grade 4 : W.4.1- Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
• Grade 5: W.5.1- Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

☀️ Need more practice? Check out these ready to go resources…

• Writing Reference Sheet for Elementary Students
• Daily Writing Prompts for Elementary – 275+ Fun Prompts
• Paired Passages and Writing Prompts
• Grammar Practice Worksheets Bundle
• Grammar Activities – Games, Worksheets, Assessments, & Review
• Monthly Reading Comprehension Bundle – Differentiated Passages, Text Dependent Analysis, Genre Study

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