8th Grade Elements Of A Persuasive Text Lesson Plan (English)

Topic: Elements of a Persuasive Text

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify the components of a persuasive text and explain how each contributes to the argument.

Materials

• Examples of persuasive texts
• Handouts with a list of the elements of a persuasive text

Warm-up

• Ask students to name some situations in which they might need to be persuasive (e.g. trying to convince a friend to do something with you, persuading a teacher to give you extra time on a test).
• Ask students to think of a time when they were successful at persuasion and a time when they were not.
• Have a brief discussion about the importance of persuasion and the elements that are needed to be persuasive.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of a persuasive text and explain that it is a type of writing that aims to convince the reader to think or do something.
• Ask students to brainstorm what they think might be necessary for a text to be persuasive. Write their ideas on the board.
• Discuss each element as you come to it, giving examples as necessary.
• Encourage students to provide their own examples and insights as you go through the list.

Guided Practice

• Provide students with a short text (an article, blog post, or excerpt from a book) that is persuasive about a specific topic.
• Have students work in small groups to identify and list the elements of a persuasive text in the given text.
• Bring the class together and discuss the lists as a group, highlighting any differences or additions.

Independent Practice

• Provide students with a short text (an article, blog post, or excerpt from a book) that is not specifically about a particular topic.
• Have students work in small groups to identify and list the elements of a persuasive text in the given text.
• Bring the class together and discuss the lists as a group, highlighting any differences or additions.

Closure

• Review the elements of a persuasive text as a whole class.
• Ask students to think about how they can incorporate these elements into their own writing.

Assessment

• Observe students during independent practice to see if they are successfully incorporating the elements of a persuasive text into their writing.
• Have students share their writing with the class and offer feedback on their success at incorporating the elements of a persuasive text.