Understanding Persuasive Paragraphs
In a persuasive paragraph, you give your opinion on a subject and try to get your reader to agree with you. To do this, you need to give facts and other reasons to support your opinion. Otherwise, you won’t persuade your readers.
Read a persuasive paragraph.
Note the opinion that the writer is presenting and supporting. Pay special attention to the reasons the writer gives for the opinion.
Listen to "Perfect Tree House Place"
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Opinion Statement Kids need a place to call their own, and a tree house is the perfect place. For instance, a tree house gives my friends and me a chance to get away from the pressures of school, homework, and little brothers or sisters. We can just hang out and be ourselves. Body Sentences We can also decorate our tree house any way we want. In addition, a tree house is a good place for thinking, playing music, looking at the sky, or just being with friends. Reasons Sure, if we didn’t have this kind of place, we’d find other ways to keep busy. We’d go to the mall, text our friends, play video games, or just watch TV. Ending Sentence But doesn’t a tree house sound like a better place for kids to spend their time?
Respond to a persuasive paragraph.
Answer the following questions about the persuasive paragraph.
- What opinion does the writer express?
- What reason do you think provides the strongest support?
- Why does the writer include information about other activities than being in a tree house?
- Why does the writer end the paragraph with a question?
Teaching Tip
Help students understand the difference between an opinion and a fact. An opinion is a personal belief that cannot be directly proven true or false. A fact is a statement that can directly be proven true.
Prewriting for a Persuasive Paragraph
A persuasive paragraph expresses your opinion about a topic and gives reasons to convince others to agree with you. What strong opinions do you have? Which could you support in a paragraph to persuade others?
Think of a topic.
Answer these questions to think of an opinion you can write about.
- What is the best part about school?
- Who has been your favorite teacher? Why?
- What is a big problem at your school?
- What one school rule would you like to change?
Gather supporting reasons.
Choose an opinion from above. Write down supporting reasons.
Reason Chart
What is your opinion?
Why is your opinion correct?
What is another reason?
What is a third reason?
Writing a Persuasive Paragraph
After you have chosen a topic and reasons to support it, you are ready to begin writing the first draft.
Write an opinion statement.
Write an opinion statement, which names your opinion and gets the attention of the reader. Write body sentences to give reasons that support your opinion. Create an ending sentence that sums up your opinion.