Persuasive writing KS2 – 10 of the best worksheets and resources
Help kids put together a convincing argument, whether it's in an essay, advert, debate or letter, with these lessons, ideas, activities and more for Key Stage 2 English lessons…
- by Teachwire
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
Adverts Have a break, have a Kit Kat.
A 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’
Persuasive writing techniques
Rhetoric/rhetorical questions ‘Is the Pope Catholic?’
Opinion stated as fact This is the greatest invention of the 21st-century!’
Hyperbole ‘Gillette, the best a man can get.’
Emotive language ‘I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation.’ William Lloyd Garrison
Emotional appeal ‘For just £5 a month you can help her and others in her village access clean water that will save lives.’
Repetition ‘…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.’ Abraham Lincoln
Rhyme ‘If the gloves don’t fit, you must acquit’ Johnny Cochran
1 | Persuasive Writing KS2 – ‘Eating Insects’ Topic in 5 Lessons
This 43-page download 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.
And don’t worry, you’re not just finding worms in the playground and gobbling them down.
2 | KS2 persuasive writing model texts and worksheets – Text types
Support children in KS2 to develop their skills of persuasive writing with this persuasive language KS2 text types pack.
It features persuasive writing examples for KS2 – including a persuasive writing techniques KS2 checklist, a vocabulary bank, writing plan and two persuasive letter writing KS2 model texts.
3 | Persuasive writing model text resource packs
These writing units for UKS2 are built around an original persuasive writing model text on various topics.
In each two-week unit, pupils will look at the features of the persuasive writing and the devices used before creating their own version.
Click the links to give each one a look:
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
4 | Practise persuasive writing skills with Topical Tuesday
Each week, kids’ newspaper The Week Junior produces these Topical Tuesday resources which feature a current news story, with four accompanying reading and writing activities for KS2 students.
Each of these has a persuasive writing activity as one of its four tasks.
To see more about each of these persuasive writing topics, click these links:
- Why should students be at home during Covid-19?
- Write a persuasive advertisement, promoting your amazing new invention
- Write a letter protesting a supermarket opening in an open, natural space
- Write a persuasive argument for something you strongly believe in
- Write to the Prime Minister on how they should make the country a more-inclusive place
- Design and write a persuasive poster letting people know why you should be the President of the USA
- Write a persuasive letter to your MP about either protecting or changing the name of something in your region
- Write a job advertisement to persuade people to volunteer for a space mission
- Write a persuasive argument why someone you know should be made a knight or dame
- Write an advertising poster for a museum near you
- Write an advertisement for taking a holiday in your own house
- Write a promotional leaflet encouraging people to visit a new archaeological find
- Write a persuasive text arguing that people are assumed to consent to the transplant of their organs unless they have said otherwise
- Create an advert persuading aliens to visit Earth on holiday
- Create a persuasive advert convincing European beavers to help look after British rivers
- Write an informal, persuasive letter from nature to you, asking you to look after it
- Write to your MP as to why children should be allowed to vote
- Write a persuasive article proposing a famous person to be commemorated on a 50p coin
5 | Dr Seuss Green Eggs and Ham persuasive writing resource
Dr Seuss’ classic book Green Eggs and Ham, featuring the famous Sam-I-Am, celebrated its 60th Anniversary last year.
While this is a Key Stage 1 resource, Year 3 children can still use this Dr Seuss-inspired teaching plan to play with words and the power of persuasion.
There are starter questions, three full activities and an extension activity.
6 | 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.
7 | Features of persuasive writing worksheets
These worksheets 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.
There are images to included to help inspire children’s writing, as well as sentences for the children to rewrite and improve upon.
It’s a great way to revise previous learning, and to experiment with new ideas.
8 | The Day the Crayons Quit KS1 book topic
Explore empathy, persuasive writing and understanding emotion in this activity-packed book topic from Sue Cowley, based on Drew Daywalt’s book.
Ignored, stereotyped and diminished, if the crayons in your classroom could talk, they might object to their treatment. Understanding why leads to great lesson activities, such as looking at emotion cards, getting creative with colours and dramatising feelings.
9 | KS2 cohesive devices in persuasive writing pack
Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, sentences and paragraphs. As the name suggests, they add coherence to what we are saying.
This powerful KS2 grammar resources pack provides everything you need to teach a series of five lessons on cohesive devices in persuasive writing, culminating in an extended writing task where children can use their grammatical understanding in context.
10 | Hyperbole worksheets for KS2 persuasive writing
This worksheet is an excellent way for Key Stage 2 pupils to revise and practise recognising and using hyperboles – exaggerated statements used for effect, not meant to be taken literally.
Hyperbole can be used for comedic effect or persuasive reasons. It helps to emphasise your point by over-stressing the qualities involved.
This resource contains examples of hyperboles and five different challenges, which can be tackled during one lesson or spread over a number of teaching sessions.
Questions encourage creative responses as well as revision, and include interesting images to stimulate ideas.
Check out the BEST RESOURCE EVER here.
Check out our persuasive writing techniques resources for KS3/4.
