NAPLAN LITERACY SKILLS Mastering Persuasive Writing Year 3

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

© 2018 by Shelley Ann Wake All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission.

ISBN 978-1-925783-00-1

2

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

CONTENTS Practice Sets: Developing Writing Skills Warm-Up Exercise: Favourites Set 1: Stating an Opinion Warm-Up Exercise: Using Sequence Words Set 2: Organising Your Ideas Warm-Up Exercise: Pros and Cons Set 3: Listing and Choosing Supporting Ideas Warm-Up Exercise: Stating Main Ideas Set 4: Introducing the Topic Warm-Up Exercise: Choosing a Title Set 5: Starting Strong Warm-Up Exercise: Using Concrete Details Set 6: Using Details to Support an Opinion Warm-Up Exercise: Choosing a Topic Set 7: Using Examples to Support an Opinion Warm-Up Exercise: Personal Experiences and Meaning Set 8: Using Personal Experience to Support an Opinion Warm-Up Exercise: Using Linking Words and Phrases Set 9: Using Facts to Support an Opinion Warm-Up Exercise: Introducing the Conclusion Set 10: Writing the Conclusion Warm-Up Exercise: Using Strong Language Set 11: Using Calls to Action

5 6 8 14 15 20 22 27 29 35 37 48 50 55 57 62 64 69 70 75 76 81 82

Practice Sets: Applying Writing Skills Set 12: Write an Opinion Essay Set 13: Write a Letter Set 14: Write in Response to a Quote Set 15: Write an Article Set 16: Write a Letter to the Editor Set 17: Write a Review Set 18: Write a Research Piece Set 19: Writing to Promote

87 88 96 104 112 120 128 136 144

Practice Sets: NAPLAN Writing Prompts Set 20: NAPLAN Persuasive Writing Prompts

152 154

Writing Review and Scoring Guide

170

3

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

INTRODUCTION For Parents, Teachers, and Tutors This workbook will develop strong persuasive writing skills and give students the ability to write effective opinion pieces of all types. The first section will develop the essential persuasive writing skills one by one. The second section allows students to apply these skills and gives students practice creating a wide range of opinion pieces. The third section provides practice completing persuasive writing tasks just like those on the NAPLAN tests. By completing the tasks in this book, students will learn to produce persuasive writing with the features expected of strong student writing and will be able to respond effectively to all types of writing prompts. The Australian Curriculum The Australian Curriculum describes three types of texts that students need to be familiar with. The three types are imaginative texts, informative texts, and persuasive texts. Persuasive texts are those with the main purpose of putting forward a point of view or opinion and convincing readers to accept the point of view. Persuasive texts can be in the form of debates, arguments, advertisements, essays, and articles. The exercises and tasks in this book will develop the skills needed to write effective persuasive texts and give students extensive practice producing all types of texts. Section 1: Developing Writing Skills The first section of the book contains 11 sets of exercises and prompts. Each set is focused on one key element of persuasive writing. The first task in each set introduces the skill and guides students through the task. Students then master the skill by completing the four additional writing tasks. Each set also includes a warm-up exercise to prepare students for the set, to introduce and develop a key skill needed to complete the task well, or to help students focus on a key feature of persuasive writing. Section 2: Applying Writing Skills The second section of the book contains ten sets of writing prompts. Each set is focused on one style or one genre of persuasive writing. Students will use the key elements of persuasive writing and apply the skills they have learned. Hints and tips are also included throughout the section to guide students. As well as developing general writing skills, this section will prepare students for the types of writing tasks found on assessment tasks and tests. Section 3: NAPLAN Writing Prompts The NAPLAN Literacy tests include a test for reading, conventions of language, and writing. The NAPLAN Writing test contains a writing prompt for either imaginative or persuasive writing. This workbook will prepare students for persuasive writing tasks. Section 3 contains 8 writing prompts that provide specific practice with NAPLAN-style persuasive writing prompts. Students will apply the skills they have learned to complete writing tasks just like those on the NAPLAN tests. This section ensures that students are fully prepared for the NAPLAN tests. 4

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Developing Writing Skills The exercises in this section will develop the writing skills needed to produce all types of opinion pieces. Each set focuses on developing one specific skill. Follow the instructions for each writing prompt. Write your answers in the space provided. For tasks that require complete opinion pieces, a table is included for planning the opinion piece. Plan your work by completing the table. Then write or type an opinion piece of 1 to 2 pages.

5

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Warm-Up Exercise: Favourites A simple opinion piece can explain why something is your favourite. For each topic below, tell what your favourite is and why. Be sure to include one or two reasons that tell why it is your favourite. 1 Favourite Food My favourite food is ________________________________. It is my favourite because ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

2 Favourite Hobby My favourite hobby is ______________________________. It is my favourite because ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 6

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

3 Favourite Movie My favourite movie is ______________________________. It is my favourite because ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

4 Favourite Place to Visit My favourite place to visit is _________________________. It is my favourite because ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 7

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Set 1: Stating an Opinion An opinion piece is a piece of writing that tells what you believe about something. Opinion pieces are often written to make the reader agree with your opinion. The first step in writing an opinion piece is to clearly state what your opinion is. This is the main idea of your writing. To make people agree with you, you’ll also need to explain why you have that opinion or why you feel that way. Read the plan and the short opinion piece below. It gives an example of how to state an opinion and support it. Then practice stating an opinion and supporting it by completing the exercises. Main Idea: State the main opinion. Being good at a sport takes hard work.

→ Start the opinion piece by writing a sentence or two stating the main idea. Supporting Ideas: Explain why you have that opinion. You must train hard to grow your skills. You must practice often.

→ Write a few sentences explaining why you have that opinion. It is not easy to become good at a sport. It takes hard work. I have become one of our best tennis players because I have worked hard. I train three times a week. Every time I train, I practice my skills and become better. I also spend time practicing at home almost every afternoon. It is because of the hard work I have put in that I have become a good player.

8

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Writing Prompt 1 State your main idea by completing the statement below. Then describe your supporting ideas by completing the statement. Main Idea: State the main opinion. One of the easiest pets you can choose to have is a _________________.

→ Start the opinion piece by writing a sentence or two stating the main idea. Supporting Ideas: Explain why you have that opinion. They are easy because _________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

→ Write a few sentences explaining why you have that opinion. Use the plan above to write a short opinion piece. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 9

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Writing Prompt 2 State your main idea by completing the statement below. Then describe your supporting ideas by completing the statement. Main Idea: State the main opinion. A relaxing place to spend time is _____________________________________.

→ Start the opinion piece by writing a sentence or two stating the main idea. Supporting Ideas: Explain why you have that opinion. It is relaxing because _________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

→ Write a few sentences explaining why you have that opinion. Use the plan above to write a short opinion piece. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 10

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Writing Prompt 3 Do you think working on a project in a team is better than working alone? Use the table below to plan an opinion piece that tells how you feel and why. Main Idea: State the main opinion.

→ Start the opinion piece by writing a sentence or two stating the main idea. Supporting Ideas: Explain why you have that opinion.

→ Write a few sentences explaining why you have that opinion. Use the plan above to write a short opinion piece. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 11

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Writing Prompt 4 What do you think is the most interesting school subject? Use the table below to plan an opinion piece that tells how you feel and why. Main Idea: State the main opinion.

→ Start the opinion piece by writing a sentence or two stating the main idea. Supporting Ideas: Explain why you have that opinion.

→ Write a few sentences explaining why you have that opinion. Use the plan above to write a short opinion piece. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 12

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Writing Prompt 5 Do you think cereal is a good breakfast? Use the table below to plan an opinion piece that tells how you feel and why. Main Idea: State the main opinion.

→ Start the opinion piece by writing a sentence or two stating the main idea. Supporting Ideas: Explain why you have that opinion.

→ Write a few sentences explaining why you have that opinion. Use the plan above to write a short opinion piece. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 13

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Warm-Up Exercise: Using Sequence Words In the next set, you will learn how to organise your ideas. Words that show the sequence of ideas will keep your work organised and flowing well from one idea to the next. The paragraphs below all have the sequence words or phrases missing. Use the three sequence words or phrases listed to complete each paragraph. 1

Finally

Firstly

Secondly

There are three reasons you should not stay up too late. _______________, you are likely to sleep in. _______________, you will end up feeling grumpy the next day. _______________, it will be hard to pay attention during class. 2

In addition

To begin with

Lastly

People should ride bikes more often. ____________________, it’s really good exercise. ____________________, it’s a lot of fun. ____________________, it is better for the environment than cars and buses. 3

As well as that

And finally

For one thing

People should write more letters. _____________________________, getting a letter from someone feels special. _____________________________, a letter is something that someone can keep. ______________________________, taking the time to write a letter shows that you really care. 14

Mastering Persuasive Writing, Year 3

Set 2: Organising Your Ideas Writing Prompt 6 A good opinion piece should be organised. The plan below shows a common structure of an opinion piece. The first paragraph introduces the topic and states the main idea. The next three paragraphs each focus on one reason for the opinion or one supporting idea. The final paragraph is the conclusion. Use the plan below to write an opinion piece. Introduction: Introduce the topic and state the main opinion. Our school has many different types of clubs. Every student should join at least one club.

→ Write a few sentences that tell what the topic is and state the main idea. Supporting Idea 1: Describe the first reason that supports the opinion. It is a good way to learn new skills.

→ Write a paragraph focused on the first supporting idea. Supporting Idea 2: Describe the second reason that supports the opinion. It is a good way to meet new people.

→ Write a paragraph focused on the second supporting idea. Supporting Idea 3: Describe the third reason that supports the opinion. Being part of a club that interests you is a lot of fun.

→ Write a paragraph focused on the third supporting idea. Conclusion: Restate the main opinion and finish off the opinion piece. There are many great reasons to join a club. Pick a club that interests you and join it.

→Write a paragraph that concludes your opinion piece.

15