Improve your fifth graders' persuasive writing skills in four weeks. Working independently, in peer editing groups, and with instruction, writers work over the 17 sessions to craft an argumentative essay. They craft a well-organized essay, complete with textual evidence and counterarguments. On the last day of the unit classmates celebrate their achievements and share their work.

Concepts

persuasive language, argumentative writing, Persuasive Writing, the writing process, Writing Prompts, supporting evidence, opinion writing

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Use in a writing workshop for young scribes
• Encourage members of the class to share their essays at a parent night or school assembly

Classroom Considerations

• Unit plan includes a four-week schedule, that can modify to fit your own curriculum
• References various educational texts and examples of persuasive texts
• Designed for fifth grade but applicable to older classes as well

Pros

• Includes a variety of engaging writing prompts
• Comes with important and versatile graphic organizers for planning an argument and backing up a claim
• Rubric addresses the statement of purpose, writing organization, elaboration of evidence, language and vocabulary, and written conventions

Cons

• None

Common Core

W.5.1.a W.5.1.b W.5.1.c W.5.1.d W.5.4 W.5.5 W.5.7 W.5.8 W.5.9.a