5-Paragraph Persuasive Essay Unit - Argumentative Writing Prompt 4th & 5th Grade

A clear, step-by-step process and graphic organizers make this persuasive writing unit fun and easy. Kids craft five-paragraph argumentative essays to convince others to try a favorite activity.

Open the preview to take a closer look at the prompt.

Fourth or fifth grade students move seamlessly through the argumentative writing process.

• Choosing a Topic - Each student lists five to ten potential topics. Then they use criteria to determine which would work best.
• Building a Case - After listing, eliminating, and combining supportive reasons, students organize their own opinion.
• Writing Powerful Beginnings and Endings - Each child experiments with parallel ways to introduce and conclude their essay.
• Linking Opinions and Reasons - They use a transition terms to connect ideas. A list of sample terms is provided.
• Writing Rough Drafts - After reviewing criteria, kids compose their persuasive essays in paragraph form.
• Revising, Editing, and Finalizing - They edit their own compositions or work with a partner to conduct a peer review.

Organizers in this unit help kids manage ideas and practice new strategies:

• Choosing a topic
• Reasons to try it
• Graphic organizer
• Powerful beginnings
• Powerful endings
• Transitions
• Self-check
• Peer assessment

Instructional materials support teaching:

• Lesson plans and schedules
• Eight modeling examples for persuasive writing
• Sample five-paragraph essay
• Comprehensive rubric

Resources can be used in a variety of ways:

• Classroom prompts
• Timed writing practice
• Early finisher work
• Homework
• Sub plans
• Homeschool

Resources are available in printable and digital formats.

• Use the printable PDF for a traditional pencil and paper format.
• If you want to go paperless, try the digital Easel Activities.

Your fourth or fifth grade students will love this project, and so will you!

• Kids love writing about their favorite activities. It will motivate them to do their best.
• Activities address the intent of your standards (and sub-standards). For example, if you teach CCSS W.4.1 or W.5.1, TEKS LA.4.12.C or LA.5.12.C, or Virginia SOL.4.7.a or 5.7.a, you can rest assured that students will practice not only argumentative writing, but also prewriting, organization, opinion-based thesis statements and fact-based reasons, word choice, transitions, sentence variety, and revision.
• Using the powerful five-paragraph structure and proven strategies, your students’ essays will shine (and so will your test scores.)

Listen to what other teachers are saying about this persuasive writing unit:

• This resource helped my students so much with writing essays. They hated writing essays before. Now some of them have asked me when they get to write another one! I will definitely use this over and over again. After they were all done with their essays, they were proud of their work. I was even told, "This was the easiest essay ever!" - Mackenzie T.
• I used this with a combined 5th and 6th grade class and it was wonderful! Just copy and go. The students were engaged and the prewriting activities made a huge difference in the quality of my student's writing. I will definitely purchase more of these! Love, love, LOVE this resource. - Elizabeth B.

If your class is like mine, some students aren’t ready to write longer compositions. The bundle includes one- and five-paragraph versions for seamless differentiation.

You should try it!

Brenda Kovich