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Writing Persuasive Essays
Earlier in this handbook, you read an essay that reported the results of a poll: Which pet do third graders like best? Surely you have an opinion. “Dogs are the best!” When you state your own opinion and argue for it, you are writing a persuasive essay.
How will you convince a cat lover that you are right? What about a bird lover? In this chapter, you’ll learn all sorts of strategies for persuading others to agree with your opinion.
Be Convincing
On page 137, Jessica argues that kids should join the after-school theater club. She gives strong reasons to convince readers to try out. If her persuasive essay succeeds, lots of new friends will join her onstage!
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Writing a Persuasive Essay
Prewriting
Learn About Opinions and Facts 🟪 To write persuasively, you must understand the difference between opinions and facts. An opinion is a personal belief that cannot be proven: “Three is the best number.” A fact is a statement that can be proven: “Three plus three is six.”
© Thoughtful Learning 2025
Form an Opinion 🟪 An opinion statement provides your personal belief or feeling about a topic. Here’s a formula for writing an opinion statement.
© Thoughtful Learning 2025
Prewriting
Learn About Opinions and Facts 🟪 To write persuasively, you must understand the difference between opinions and facts. An opinion is a personal belief that cannot be proven: “Three is the best number.” A fact is a statement that can be proven: “Three plus three is six.”
Form an Opinion 🟪 An opinion statement provides your personal belief or feeling about a topic. Here’s a formula for writing an opinion statement.
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Gather Reasons 🟪 Pick two or three strong reasons to support your opinion. Reasons answer the question “Why?” Strong reasons are based on facts (statements that can be proven).
Tip
The strong reason is a fact that can be proven about the Starstuff Club. The weak reason is a personal feeling that some readers would disagree with.
Arrange Your Reasons 🟪 List your reasons by order of importance. If readers are likely to agree with your opinion, put your strongest reason first. If readers are likely to disagree, build up to your strongest reason.
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Writing a Draft
Start Strong 🟪 Your first paragraph should hook readers’ interest and state your opinion.
"We are star stuff. . . . We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” If you dream of being a star, you can make that dream come true by joining the Starstuff Club!
Give Reasons 🟪 Write a separate paragraph for each reason supporting your opinion. Argue for your opinion with facts, examples, and explanations.
End Strong 🟪 Restate your opinion. Add a last thought:
“All the world’s a stage,” so isn’t it time to take the stage and let your star shine? Join the Starstuff Club to make friends, have fun, and fulfill your dreams!
Revising
Read and Review 🟪 Is your opinion clear? Does each middle paragraph argue for a reason? Do you end strong? Add, cut, rewrite, and rearrange parts to make your essay really persuasive!
Editing & Proofreading
Check for Errors 🟪 Fix any errors you find.
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Sample Persuasive Essay
Would You Like to Be a Star?
by Jessica Smith
Beginning “We are star stuff. . . . We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” If you dream of being a star, you can make that dream come true by joining the Starstuff Club!
Middle The Starstuff Club is an after-school theater program. If you join, you get to learn lines and work with others to put on a show. Everybody gets a part. You might join Peter Pan’s crew, or play Peter Pan, himself! Friendly directors help you bring your character to life onstage.
The Starstuff Club lets you make new friends and learn to trust them. You might travel with them aboard a giant peach or adventure together to fight the dragon Smaug. You’ll laugh and learn and build friendships that last a lifetime.
The best part comes when you and your friends put on a show for a live audience. You get to tell jokes that make everyone roar, and you take bows while people stand up and cheer. You’ll become the star that's waiting inside you!
Ending “All the world’s a stage,” so isn’t it time that you took the stage to let your star shine? Join the Starstuff Club to make friends, have fun, and fulfill your dreams!
