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28 Writing Persuasive Letters

Page
203
from
Writers Express

Writing Persuasive Letters

Start-Up Activity

Bring some local newspapers to class and share with your students a few letters to the editor. Point out that sharing opinions is a special right that we have. With this right comes the responsibility to be fair, respectful, and thoughtful.

Let your students know that this chapter will help them write their own persuasive letters. Maybe students will even convince readers to take action to make the world a better place.

Think About It

“Advice to young writers? Learn to trust your own judgment; learn inner independence.”

—Doris Lessing

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.4.W.1.1

LAFS.4.W.2.4

LAFS.4.W.4.10

LAFS.5.W.1.1

LAFS.5.W.2.4

LAFS.5.W.4.10

LAFS.4.RI.1.1

LAFS.4.RI.1.2

LAFS.4.RI.2.5

LAFS.5.RI.1.1

LAFS.5.RI.1.2

LAFS.5.RI.2.5

LAFS.4.W.2.5

LAFS.5.W.2.5

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.6.b.12.C

110.6.b.11.B

110.6.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.A

110.7.b.11.B

110.7.b.12.C

110.7.b.12

110.6.b.9.D

110.6.b.9.D.i

110.6.b.9.D.iii

110.6.b.11.B.i

110.6.b.11.B.ii

110.7.b.9.D

110.7.b.7.D

110.7.b.9.D.iii

110.7.b.11.B.i

110.6.b.11.C

110.6.b.11.D

110.7.b.11.C

110.7.b.11.D

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 204 from Writers Express

Parts of a Business Letter

Use this page and the two that follow to demonstrate to your students the parts of a business letter:

  1. Heading
  2. Inside Address
  3. Salutation
  4. Body
  5. Closing
  6. Signature

Help your students understand that, though email has taken the place of many letters, some very important communications still require business letters.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.12.C, 110.6.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Persuasive WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Business Letter
Theme:
EducationFoodMoney
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingStructure

Page 205 from Writers Express

Sample Persuasive Letter

Walk your students through the parts of the business letter on this page and the one following. Help your students see the formal structure of the letter (parts 1-3 and 5 and 6), but also point out that the most important part is the body (part 4). That's where the opinion and reasons appear. The body contains the persuasive message the writer conveys to the reader.

You can also share with students the body of another persuasive letter.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.RI.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.1.6.e

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Persuasive WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Persuasive Letter
Theme:
EducationFoodMoney
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureReading

Page 206 from Writers Express

Sample Persuasive Letter (Continued)

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.RI.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.9.D
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.1.6.e

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Persuasive WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Persuasive Letter
Theme:
EducationFoodMoney
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureReading

Page 207 from Writers Express

Writing a Persuasive Letter

Lead your students through this page to help them think about persuasive topics they might address in their letters, the audience who will read their letters, and the arguments that they will build.

Have students turn to page 202 in their handbooks to find other suggestions for great persuasive topics.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.12.C, 110.6.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Persuasive WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Persuasive Letter
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureWriting ProcessPrewriting

Page 208 from Writers Express

Prewriting, Writing, Revising, and Editing

Use this page to help students understand the process of composing, improving, and sending a persuasive letter.

Help students gather and organize details using a list. Then walk them through creating an effective beginning, middle, and ending (all parts of the body of the letter). Only when your students revise and edit should they worry about developing the other parts of the letter (parts 1-3 and 5 and 6).

Download and distribute the persuasive letter revising and editing checklist to help students improve their letters.

Downloads:
Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.4.W.1.1
TEKS Standard:
110.6.b.12.C, 110.6.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 4Grade 5
Mode:
Persuasive WritingBusiness Writing
Form:
Persuasive Letter
English Language Arts:
Qualities of WritingIdeasStructureWriting ProcessWritingRevisingEditing