Keypal Unit- Persuasive Writing

Lesson Overview: This lesson is part of a yearlong keypal unit to improve written and oral communication skills for fifth grade students. This lesson is intended to help my students write persuasive pieces. Students will be asked to describe a character from a book they have read and persuade their keypal to read the book. As part of a lesson to integrate art, you could have students illustrate a character, make a book cover, design an advertisement, draw a cartoon, or have students choose a product to help persuade their audience.
Standards Based Goal: Compose persuasive writings which include valid and reliable evidence. Use technology to share written work with others and to receive feedback. Use technology for revising and editing.
Student Objectives: 1. To identify the elements needed for persuasive writing. 2. To demonstrate how to use the parts of a persuasive paragraph in their writing.
Prerequisite Skills: Knowledge of how to email a message. Ability to write complete sentences with the use of proper mechanics.
Time Sequence	Sequence of Activities Indicators of Engaged Learning	Notes Technical Considerations Resources
Session 1 45 min.	In small groups review facts and opinions by using examples. Brainstorm additional examples.	Collect letters to the editor from printed media to show how writers use reasons and examples to persuade.
Session 2 45 min.	Read a persuasive selection or essay. Identify the beginning (subject and opinion stated), middle (main ideas with supporting details), ending (restate your opinion and the facts that support it).	Use an excerpt from Ramona and Her Father where she tries to persuade him to quit smoking.
Session 3 45 min.	Select a topic and persuade your parents to follow it. (Ex. increase allowance, later bed time, redecorate bedroom, etc.) Use a graphic organizer to organize information before writing.
Session 4 45 min.	Choose a Prairie Pasque book and persuade your keypal to read it.	Schedule computer lab time. Illustrations could go with it.
Special Considerations: If students are reading in a group, the teacher could assign a "reader" in each group or read the excerpt orally to all students. Provide model of graphic organizer for students to fill in. Use peer editing for students who need help with proofreading.
Assessment : Choose the sentences stated as opinions from selected paragraphs. Have parents write back in the assignment book if they were persuaded by their child's persuasive piece and why or why not. Persuasive writing rubric