Year 5 · English · Literacy
Persuasive writing
Stating a clear position and supporting it with reasons and evidence, organised into an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to New Zealand year levels by age (NZ Year 1 is the first year of school). They are not yet mapped to The New Zealand Curriculum, so check them against your own learning programme.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Identify the structure of a persuasive text.
- State a position and support it with reasons and evidence.
- Use persuasive language such as modal verbs and rhetorical questions.
Success looks like
- I can write an introduction that clearly states my opinion.
- I can write a paragraph for each reason, with an example.
- I can finish with a conclusion that sums up my argument.
- I can use strong words like 'must' and 'should'.
The big idea
A persuasive text tries to convince the reader to agree with a position. Advertisements, letters to the editor and debates are all persuasive.
Most persuasive texts follow this structure:
- Introduction: state your position clearly and preview your reasons.
- Body paragraphs: one reason per paragraph, starting with a topic sentence and backed by evidence or an example.
- Conclusion: restate your position and finish with a strong final sentence.
Read this short example: Every school should have a vegetable garden. Gardens teach students where food comes from. When children plant, water and harvest their own vegetables, they learn how food grows. Gardens also get students outside and moving. Digging, carrying watering cans and pulling weeds are all great exercise. Who wouldn't want fresher, healthier lunches? For these reasons, every school must start a vegetable garden.
Persuasive writers choose strong language. Modal verbs such as 'must' and 'should' sound more certain than 'might' or 'could'. Rhetorical questions draw readers in. Emotive words such as 'fresh', 'healthy' and 'unfair' make readers feel something.
Persuasive writing is most convincing when the reasons are supported by facts or examples, not just opinions repeated loudly.
Worked examples
Finding the position
What is the writer's position in the vegetable garden text?
- Look at the title and first sentence.
- 'Every school should have a vegetable garden.'
- The writer is for school vegetable gardens.
Answer: The writer believes every school should have a vegetable garden.
Planning a body paragraph
Plan a paragraph for the position 'Children should have a pet'.
- Topic sentence: Looking after a pet teaches responsibility.
- Evidence or example: Feeding a dog every morning and evening becomes a daily habit.
- Link back: This is why every child should have the chance to care for a pet.
Answer: A paragraph with a topic sentence, an example and a link back to the position.
Strengthening language
Make this sentence more persuasive: 'Maybe we could recycle more.'
- Replace the weak words 'maybe' and 'could' with a strong modal verb.
- Add a reason to make it convincing.
Answer: We must recycle more to keep our beaches and parks clean.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
What is the main purpose of a persuasive text?
to convince the reader — Persuasive texts aim to convince the reader to agree.
Which is the strongest modal verb?
must — 'Must' shows the highest level of certainty and obligation.
In the garden text, which sentence is a rhetorical question?
Who wouldn't want fresher, healthier lunches? — It is a question asked for effect; the writer expects everyone to agree.
Where does a writer restate their position?
in the conclusion — The conclusion restates the position and sums up the argument.
Which sentence gives evidence rather than just an opinion?
Pulling weeds and carrying watering cans are physical activities. — It gives a specific example that supports the argument about exercise.
What do we call the part of a persuasive text that introduces the writer's position? Type one word.
introduction — The introduction states the position.
Type the modal verb in: 'Students should wear hats outside.'
should — 'Should' is the modal verb.
In a well-planned persuasive text, how many main reasons go in each body paragraph? Type a number.
1 — Each body paragraph develops one reason.
Watch out for
- Thinking that repeating an opinion makes it stronger. Reasons and evidence are what persuade.
- Switching sides partway through. Choose a position and keep it throughout.
- Putting all the reasons in one long paragraph. Give each reason its own paragraph.
Tips for parents
- Let your child persuade you about something real, such as a later bedtime, using reasons.
- Point out persuasive techniques in catalogues, cereal boxes and junk mail.
- Ask, 'What is your evidence?' to push beyond 'because it's good'.
Go further
- Hold a mini family debate on a fun topic (for example, 'Dogs make better pets than cats').
- Write a letter to a local council member about a playground improvement (keep it as a practice letter unless you decide to send it together).
- Design a poster that persuades people to save water, using a slogan and a rhetorical question.