Literacy Lesson Plan for Years 7-8: Persuasive Writing with Evidence

Objective:

Students will learn how to strengthen their persuasive writing by incorporating evidence to support their arguments.

Curriculum Links:

This lesson adheres to the New Zealand Curriculum standards for English, Level 4, focusing on Purposes and Audiences ("Show an increasing understanding of how to shape texts for different purposes and audiences") and Ideas ("Select, form, and express ideas on a range of topics"). More detail can be found on NZ Curriculum Online - English.

Resources Needed:

• Example texts of persuasive writing
• Access to library or online resources for research
• Writing materials (paper, pens) or digital devices (computers/tablets)
• Projector for displaying examples

Lesson Duration:

45 minutes

Class Size:

26 students

---

Lesson Breakdown:

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Warm-up Activity: Begin with a quick brainstorm. Ask students to list topics they have strong opinions about. Encourage diverse ideas, from school-related topics (e.g., uniforms, homework) to social issues (e.g., environmental protection).
2. Introduction to the Objective: Explain that today’s focus will be on using evidence to make their persuasive arguments stronger. Discuss why evidence is vital in persuasion (increases credibility, supports claims).

Instruction (10 minutes)

1. Show Examples: Display examples of persuasive writing on the projector. Analyze two paragraphs together:
   • One with evidence: Identify the sources of evidence used (facts, statistics, quotes from experts).
   • One without evidence: Discuss how the paragraph might be improved by adding evidence.
2. Discuss Sources of Evidence: Briefly explain different types of evidence:
   • Quantitative: statistics, data, numbers.
   • Qualitative: expert opinions, anecdotes, case studies.

Group Activity (15 minutes)

1. Group Division: Divide the class into small groups (5-6 students per group).
2. Research and Writing Task: Assign each group a topic from the initial brainstorm. Each group will research their topic quickly, using books or digital resources to find evidence supporting their stance.
3. Drafting: Groups will outline a short persuasive paragraph incorporating the evidence they found.

Presentation and Feedback (5 minutes)

1. Group Presentations: One representative from each group reads the drafted paragraph to the class.
2. Peer Review: After each presentation, encourage other students to give constructive feedback focusing on how effectively the evidence supports the argument.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Recap and Reflect: Recap the importance of evidence in persuasive writing. Ask students to share what they learned about the type of evidence that felt most compelling.
2. Homework Assignment: Students are tasked with writing a full persuasive essay on their chosen topic to be submitted in a week. They should use this time to gather more detailed evidence and refine their arguments.

Extension Activities:

Encourage interested students to post their essays on a class blog or share them during a school assembly, promoting literacy skills school-wide.

---

This detailed plan implements a core element of the New Zealand curriculum by enabling students to understand and apply effective persuasive techniques in their writing, crucial for their growth as critical thinkers and competent communicators.