Writing Persuasive Paragraphs Video - Streaming or Shareable Link

This circus-themed video models how to write effective persuasive paragraphs. Fifteen anchor charts, ten pages of sample text, and ten student sheets complement the video for a complete set of instructional resources.

This movie can now be shared with your students as an unlisted YouTube video. The link is included in the supporting document.

For more than three decades, I've gathered multitudes of opinion writing strategies, tested them with my fourth grade students, and trimmed the list to six straightforward steps:

• Organizing ideas
• Choosing specific words
• Strengthening through elaboration
• Varying sentences
• Adding transitional phrases
• Beginning and ending

Let's take a peek at the components. (Watch the video preview to get a better look.)

Video - In twelve minutes your students will learn how to develop and revise an effective persuasive piece. Each strategy is employed in a sample paragraph that persuades the audience to visit the circus.

Posters/Anchor Charts - Brighten your classroom with 15 colorful, circus-themed posters:

• Stating Opinion
• Selecting Reasons
• Organizing
• Strengthening
• Choosing Specific Words (Nouns)
• Choosing Specific Words (Verbs)
• Elaborating with Specific Details
• Elaborating by Listing Details
• Elaborating with Examples
• Varying Sentences
• Adding Transitions (How, When, or Where)
• Adding Transitions (List of Terms)
• Beginning & Ending
• Hooking the Audience
• Wrapping It Up

Sample Text - Ten pages (as shown in video) model development and revision of a sample persuasive text.

Student Sheets - Use these handy organizers over and over again – for any persuasive writing prompt. They’re available in color, black and white, or paperless (editable Google slides).

• Stating Opinion – At the beginning, take a stand; at the end, call the audience to action.
• Selecting Reasons – Consider reasons that support your opinion; choose the top three.
• Organizing – State your opinion, present three reasons, and call your reader to action.
• Elaborating with Specific Details – Use specific details to build a better sentence.
• Elaborating by Listing Details – Pack a sentence with a list of details.
• Elaborating with Examples – Give more information by providing examples.
• Varying Sentences – Change up your sentences by adding a phrase, moving action to the beginning, or changing the sentence type.
• Adding Transitions – Choose from a list of transitional terms.
• Hooking the Audience – Try out three different beginnings: a question, dialogue, and a surprise statement.
• Wrapping It Up – Match the ending with the beginning: answer the question, close with dialogue, or wrap it up with a surprise statement.

Enjoy Teaching!

Brenda Kovich, NBCT

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