Tell the students that persuasive writing isn't objective, but seeks to call the reader to action or to a point of view using facts, logic, and arguments. The op-ed page of a major newspaper is a good source for examples of persuasive writing. An op-ed is an article written by a guest columnist (opposite the editorial page) expressing an opinion and persuading readers to accept a point of view (sometimes with humor). Advertisements and political campaigning are other sources of persuasive writing.

Use a graphic organizer on the display board to tell the students about the parts of a good piece of persuasive writing: central theme (clearly stated purpose), opposing viewpoint, supportive arguments, evaluation, and call to action.

Read aloud a persuasive piece of writing such as an op-ed and have the students identify the elements. Fill in the graphic organizer on the display board with details the students identify. See Bibliographical Resources for persuasive articles to read aloud.

Tell the students that they are going to plan to write a persuasive piece about their philanthropic experience. The writing will inform about the service and try to persuade readers to get involved in addressing the same or a related need.

Help the students choose their focus with a prewriting activity. At the top of the paper, students write a statement that they are going to support in their essay. Then have them list pros and cons in a T-chart under the statement. This will form the arguments and help them see another point of view.

The most common format for persuasive writing is the five-paragraph essay. Paragraph one is the introduction. The next three paragraphs are three arguments, each supported with specific facts, examples, and statistics. The fifth paragraph is the conclusion and call to action.

Tell the students to avoid opinions and generalizations as supporting arguments. To provide practice in identifying good supporting arguments, give students copies of the handout: Supporting Facts and Statistics.

Have each student (or pairs of students) create a graphic organizer like the one on the display board. They will brainstorm the elements of their persuasive piece as a prewriting activity. Give students copies of the handout: Rubric: Persuasive Writing to use a guide for planning their writing.

Day Two

Ask the students to take out their folders of their saved prewriting activities. Have them look over their planning work from the three lessons and review the three types of writing styles. Review the three styles of writing: news article, personal narrative, and persuasive essay. Tell the students that their final assignment for the unit is to choose one of these styles for writing a final article about their service experience. They should use the appropriate rubric to guide them as they write their piece.

Brainstorm with the class appropriate places they can publish their writing. Some ideas include a school or community newspaper. Students can create a special edition of a class newsletter, printing copies to share with families and other students (audio and visual). Encourage them to think about where they will publish their writing so they understand their audience as they write.

After students finish writing their articles, pair students for peer editing. Then have them edit and revise before they hand in their final drafts to the teacher.