Virginia Department of Education
Persuasive Writing
Grab a debatable (or controversial) moment from your current reading, and use this task to progress the persuasive writing skills of your high school scholars. Divide your learners into four small groups and let them collaborate, debate,...
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It's a Matter of Opinion
Dissect the parts of an advertisement with your class. Middle schoolers discuss advertisements and locate the hook in them. Then, they create an advertisement for a business, in which they include the name of the business, an...
PBS
Women's History: Parading Through History
Want to teach your pupils about debate, effective speech techniques, propaganda, and the women's movement? The first in a sequential series of three, scholars analyze real propaganda images from the the historic women's movement, view a...
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The Art of Subtle Persuasion
Learners examine a scene from "Julius Caesar." After watching commercials and political ads on TV, students explore the intention of the commercial. They compare and contrast the forms of persuasion used. Learners share their writings...
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Creating a Persuasive Travel Brochure
Students create a county and develop an illustrated travel brochure to persuade elementary students to visit their county. In this persuasive writing lesson, students use descriptive language effectively in a travel brochure. ...
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Persuasion: Analyzing Persuasive Writing
Students examine and create persuasive essays. In this writing lesson plan students engage in activities that allow them to understand how a persuasive essay is constructed so they may compose their own.
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Propaganda Techniques
Sixth graders locate examples of persuasive writing. In this persuasive writing instructional activity students work in a groups to identify and analyze the use of propaganda techniques. Students use newspapers to find editorials, or...
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Examining Persuasive Literature
Examine persuasive literature and writing. In this persuasive literature lesson, pupils work through a variety of activities over the course of three weeks (each week is planned by day). The unit's purpose is to examine examples of...
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Columbine Tapes: The Media's Right To Know
High schoolers research the Columbine tragedy. They read about the media role of watchdog on the government. Students discuss and debate how the media has been involved in the latest release of Columbine videos and other material.
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Write Persuasively (Grades 3-5)
Young scholars practice persuasive writing. In this writing lesson plan, students understand that there are different ways to write. Young scholars build a list of words that can be used for persuasion. Students develop statements to use...
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Reading-Author's Purpose
Students review what author's purpose is by understanding that authors either persuade, inform, describe, or entertain with their story. In this language arts lesson, students bring in junk mail and in small groups discuss what the each...
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Creating a Pamphlet/Brochure for a Party or Candidate
Students explore political persuasive writing. In this government and persuasive writing lesson, students work in groups to write text and create graphics for a brochure describing and promoting a predetermined political candidate.
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I'm Convinced!
Students examine persuasive techniques used to sell products, and create and write an advertisement for peanut butter.
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Writing Persuasive Letters
High schoolers write persuasive business letters to candy companies suggesting ways to change their products to make them more enjoyable and increase sales. Prior to writing their letters, they conduct Internet research about the...
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Phrasal Verbs of To Get
In this "to get" activity, students match the phrasal verb with its meaning and fill in the blanks to sentences. Students match 5 words and fill in 10 sentences.
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Travel Agent to the Ancient World
Young scholars persuade others to visit ancient times. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students participate in a webquest that requires them to encourage others to visit ancient Greece, ancient Israel, Ancient Rome, ancient China,...
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Using "Four-Square"
Third graders use a four-square graphic organizer to help a third grade writer organize thoughts and clarify thinking to write a simple expository paragraph, a workshop summary paragraph.
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Effects of Alcohol Use
Fifth graders identify short and long term effects of alcohol use. In this effects of alcohol lesson plan, 5th graders participate in activities to understand what it feels like to have alcohol in their system. With the teacher they make...
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Bringing Water to a Lesotho Village A Classroom Simulation
Students simulate Lesotho village water committees that plan, design, and build a water supply system. The student committees present their plans to the village to persuade them that their plan will increase the availability of water to...
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How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Students complete a performance based assessment by writing and delivering their own "how to" speeches. They practice their speeches in pairs. They complete a flow chart demonstrating the steps for making a sandwich.
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Don't Forget to Say Thanks
Students practice descriptive writing in a thank-you note format. In this descriptive writing lesson, students read the example letter and analyze the corrections in the letter. Students read the example thank you notes and focus on the...
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Black Boxes for Cars Slow to Catch On
Students explore the tracking of teens. In this tracking technology lesson plan, students read the USA Today article titled "Black Boxes for Cars Slow to Catch On", respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and...
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Sworn to Serve
Seventh graders explore the structure of the feudal system. In this world history lesson, 7th graders examine medieval history as they collaborate to prepare for a small group presentations regarding the feudal system.
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Identify Genre, Subgenre, and Author's Purpose
Explore genre, subgenre, and author's purpose in this helpful activity. Middle schoolers read several summaries of books and short stories, and identify the genre and subgenre. They also determine if the author's purpose is to entertain,...