Persuasive writing KS2 – Features, examples & best lesson plans
Help kids put together a convincing argument, whether it’s in an essay, advert, debate or letter, with these lessons, ideas, activities and more…
- by Teachwire
Need to turn hesitant writers into persuasive prodigies? Wondering how to inspire your class to craft powerful arguments? Can we persuade you to take a look at our persuasive writing KS2 resources?
What is persuasive writing?
Persuasive writing tries to convince the reader to do something or believe something. Adverts, reviews, leaflets and letters can all include persuasion.
Persuasive writing examples for KS2
| Advert | Have a break, have a Kit Kat Just Do It |
| Speech | ‘I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.’ Martin Luther King Jr |
| Persuasive argument | You should do your homework first, then you have all weekend to play and don’t have to worry about it. |
| Persuasive essay | Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure? David Foster Wallace ‘Consider the Lobster’ |
Features of persuasive writing for KS2
| Rhetorical questions | Do you want to save money? |
| Opinion stated as fact | This is the greatest invention of the 21st century. |
| Hyperbole/exaggeration | Gillette, the best a man can get. |
| Emotive language | Imagine the joy on their faces when they unwrap the perfect gift. |
| Emotional appeal | For just £5 a month you can help her and others in her village access clean water that will save lives. |
| Repetition | Upgrade your lifestyle, upgrade your comfort, upgrade your future with our luxury apartments. |
| Rhyme | Buy today, don’t delay! |
| Facts and statistics | Studies show that 9 out of 10 dentists recommend our toothpaste for healthier gums and stronger teeth. |
| Causal conjunctions | because, since, even though, now that, yet |
| Modal verbs | It might be the best you’ve ever tasted. |
| Second-person perspective | You will not regret your choice. |
| Imperative verbs | Act now to avoid missing out. |
KS2 persuasive writing model texts and worksheets
Support children in KS2 to develop their skills of persuasive writing with this persuasive language KS2 text types pack from literacy resources website Plazoom. It features:
- two persuasive letter writing model texts
- persuasive writing techniques checklist
- vocabulary bank
- writing plan
Ideas for persuasive writing in KS2
Pie Corbett’s Alex Rider persuasive writing lesson
Break out the gadgets and take your class undercover with Pie Corbett’s Alex Rider-themed look at persuasive writing. Children can design and advertise their own spy gadgets with these examples and exercises.
‘Eating insects’ persuasive writing topic for KS2
This 43-page download from literacy resources website Plazoom contains plans and resources for a series of five lessons centred on a unique ‘writing for a purpose’ activity – convincing a teacher to eat insects!
The lessons in this pack aim to give children the opportunity to rehearse persuasive arguments and create a piece of persuasive writing via a series of distinct stages.
George’s Marvellous Medicine lesson plan
In George’s Marvellous Medicine, deodorant is described as ‘Nevermore Ponking Deodorant Spray, guaranteed to keep away unpleasant body smells for a whole day’.
Task children with writing their own persuasive slogans for a variety of everyday products. Can they persuade other class members to buy their product? Get the free lesson plan here.
Practise persuasive writing skills with Topical Tuesday
Plazoom has a large archive of free Topical Tuesdays resources. Each resource features a news story from First News and accompanying reading and writing activities for KS2 students. For example, in the resource highlighted here, pupils are tasked with writing an advert designed to attract more people into teaching.
Write a persuasive menu
In this free lesson plan, pupils will imagine they are opening a restaurant. How will they write a menu that persuades customers to try the different dishes? You’ll look at emotive language and phrasing as well as concepts such as superlatives. Experiment with grammar to make the dishes sound as appealing as possible.
Persuasive letter writing
Write to your headteacher
This Morning I Met a Whale by Michael Morpurgo provides children the chance to explore environmental issues and their role and voice in society.
Read the book then send a persuasive letter to your school council or headteacher, asking for whole-school support on an environmental issue. This free PDF contains all the details.
Sentence starters
Download these free sentence starters by teacher Collette Waddle to give your pupils a host of imaginative ideas to dip into. They cover advertisements and persuasion, among other topics, and feature:
- Rhetorical question starters
- How to start a sentence with a verb
- Persuasive statements
- Useful adjectives
- Phrases to provide evidence
- Initial phrases and ending phrases
Modal verbs in persuasive writing
This free modal verbs KS2 PowerPoint offers a comprehensive and interactive exploration of modal verbs and their application in persuasive writing. Children will undertake a writing challenge where they argue persuasively for their choice of school subject.
Persuasive writing worksheets for KS2
Writing features challenge
These worksheets from Plazoom are an excellent way to develop children’s understanding and use of persuasive writing in KS2.
There are a number of activities that demonstrate different types of persuasive writing, along with a model text, examples of adverts, and writing challenges.
Recycling poster activity
Use this free worksheet from Oxford University Press to create persuasive writing posters promoting the benefits of recycling.
Check out our persuasive writing techniques resources for KS3/4.
