Persuasive Writing Basics

Lesson Overview

Unit: Persuasive Power Play
Lesson: 1 of 4
Year Group: Year 3
Subject: Languages (English)
Duration: 60 minutes
Curriculum Area: Writing – Composition (Key Stage 2, Year 3)
Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand the purpose of persuasive writing.
• Identify key features of persuasive texts (opinion statements and supporting reasons).
• Discuss real-world examples of persuasion.
• Begin to form simple persuasive arguments.

Resources Needed

• Large poster with the question: "What is persuasion?"
• Printed examples of persuasive texts (e.g., adverts, letters, speeches).
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Sentence starter strips for opinion statements.
• "Persuasion Detective" worksheet.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter Activity – Persuasion Hunt (10 mins)

Engage with a real-world scenario

Begin by asking the student:
"Have you ever tried to convince someone to do something? Maybe to get a new pet, stay up later, or buy your favourite snack?"

• Encourage the student to think of a time they tried to persuade someone and share their experience.
• Show a selection of materials (adverts, letters, posters, packaging).
• Ask: "Which of these examples are trying to change someone’s mind?"
• Introduce the big question on the board: "What is persuasion?"
• Briefly discuss their ideas before defining persuasion as the act of trying to convince someone to agree with you or do something.

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2. Introducing Persuasive Writing (15 mins)

Breaking down the essentials

Write the sentence "I think school should start later." on the board.

Ask:

• Is this a fact or an opinion?
• How could I convince someone this is a good idea?

Introduce key features of persuasive writing:

1. Opinion statement – Clearly saying what you believe.
2. Supporting reasons – Explaining why you believe it.

Model another example:

• Opinion: Dogs make the best pets!
• Reason: They are loyal and love to play.

Ask the student to come up with an opinion about something they feel strongly about and guide them in forming one reason to support it.

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3. Persuasion Detective (15 mins)

Spotting persuasive language

Provide the student with short persuasive passages. Examples could include:

• A speech persuading classmates to recycle.
• A letter persuading parents for a later bedtime.
• An advert persuading people to buy a toy.

Ask:

• Can you find the opinion statements? (Highlight in one colour)
• Can you find the reasons that support the opinion? (Highlight in another colour)

Together, discuss how opinion statements and reasons work together to make persuasive writing stronger.

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4. Independent Mini-Writing Task (15 mins)

Crafting a simple persuasive sentence

Give sentence starter strips such as:

• "I believe that..."
• "In my opinion..."
• "Everyone should..."

The student chooses one and writes a persuasive statement, adding one reason why they believe it.

Encourage them to read their sentence aloud confidently. Provide feedback focusing on clarity and persuasion.

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5. Plenary – Persuasive Quickfire Debate (5 mins)

Bringing persuasion to life

Give a simple debate question like:

• Should we have longer playtime?
• Is chocolate the best treat?

The student must pick a side and try to persuade you of their opinion, using at least one reason.

End with a reflection:
"Why do you think persuasive writing is important in real life?"

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Assessment Opportunities

✔️ Verbal contributions in discussions.
✔️ Highlighting opinion statements and reasons correctly.
✔️ Persuasive statement written independently.
✔️ Participation in the debate, demonstrating persuasive techniques.

Differentiation

• Support: Provide sentence scaffolds, model examples, and offer additional prompts if needed.
• Challenge: Encourage the student to add an extra supporting reason to their argument.

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Next Lesson Preview

In the next lesson, students will explore persuasive techniques, such as using emotive language and rhetorical questions, to make their arguments stronger.

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Teacher Reflection

• Did the student grasp the concept of persuasion?
• Were they able to identify opinion statements and reasons?
• How confidently did they express their own opinion?

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This lesson has been designed to actively engage a Year 3 student in the fundamentals of persuasive writing, making learning interactive, meaningful, and age-appropriate. 🚀