Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson's Library: The Case for a National Library
Students examine a letter written by Thomas Jefferson and identify techniques he used to persuade Congress to purchase his personal library. Students consider a selection of Jefferson's books and then write their own persuasive letters...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Generate Ideas and Questions
This lesson will focus on the writing you do in high school. Whether you write expository and persuasive essays or short stories, your first steps are to determine and define your audience. After that, you will begin to generate ideas...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Great Depression and the 1990s
This site includes a unit about the Great Depression. Students will create a creative writing based on Dorothea Lange's 1936 "Migrant Mother" photograph. They will also write a position paper on the United States' current welfare issue....
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Comparing Modes of Transportation
In this lesson students will visit different websites in order to decide the best mode of transportation from their home town to New York City. Students will use internet links during the lesson to gather their data. Then students will...
TES Global
Tes: Schemes of Work: Speaking and Listening
[Free Registration/Login Required] This series of lessons will engage students in analyzing the pros and cons of hunting. Students will also develop their own persuasive speeches about corporal punishment.
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: Gas and Diesel Taxes
Students will evaluate whether federal tax on gas and diesel fuels should stay the same or increase based on data researched and write persuasive letters to their local papers and legislators urging them to take their stance.
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: Lead Pb Environmental and Health Issues
After looking over several articles and reports about lead in the environment being toxic, students will write persuasive letters to various government officials to tell them how they feel about what the government is currently doing...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Argument Papers
A series of six screencast lessons explaining the process of argumentative writing. The first [4 min. 22 sec.] focuses on overall structure and purpose. The second [6 mins, 18 secs] explains how to state a claim. The third [6 min. 3...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Supporting Details: Statistics
This lesson focuses on using statistics as supporting details. It explains why statistics make powerful supporting details, however, these can be skewed to show different outcomes. It suggests looking carefully when using statistics to...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Buy a Bond, James: A Lesson on Us Savings Bonds
This site is extremely informative for teaching children the value of saving money. "You will write a persuasive letter telling why people use savings bonds as a way to save their money."
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Lit and Comp: Rationalism:thomas Jefferson
This lesson focuses on the historical background of Thomas Jefferson including his writings and his political career. It also provides a link to "Declaration of Independence" and the "Discovery Education Video: Thomas Jefferson."...
PBS
Pbs (Affluenza): What Are Advertisers Selling
What are advertisers really selling? Are there hidden messages in ads? In this lesson, young scholars explore the concept of persuasive advertising and evaluate ads directed at young consumers. A timely lesson that would generate...
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: Select and Insect Mascot for School or Community
Based on a scenario given, students will work to nominate an insect mascot for the school or the community for an upcoming event. Students will conduct research through resources provided or their own, create a presentation, and vote for...
Other
And Now, a Word From Our Sponsors: Teacher Guide
This complete unit plan includes an overview of student activities, a number of activities for the class, complete with handouts and rubrics, and a student guide that explains what will be learned and how.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Everyone Counts (Post Assessment)
A post-assessment at the end of a unit on global atmospheric change. Students write persuasive letters about an issue related to it, e.g., the greenhouse effect or ozone loss. The letters encourage the recipient to protect the atmosphere...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Fact vs. Opinion
This lesson is a hands-on way for middle schoolers to learn how to discern between fact and opinion. This is an important skill for citizenship in that citizens should be informed about what is happening in their communities and should...