Supporting Details

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• Tell students that they are going to try to persuade the principal to turn the gym into an indoor playground.
• Explain that persuade means to convince. Tell them that in order to persuade someone of something, you need to use supporting details.
• A supporting detail is a detail that helps explain why someone should listen to you.

Guided Practice

• Use a large piece of chart paper and begin to write a letter to the principal. Start with something like, “Dear Principal, We would like you to consider adding an indoor playground to the gym. Here is why we think this is a good idea...”
• Pass out index cards to each student and encourage them to think of a reason why the principal should listen to them. Ask them to draw a picture and/or write words using as much detail as possible.
• Ask students to share out their supporting details with the class, and add several of the reasons to the letter.
• Tell your students that now they will get a chance to write a letter to their parents to convince them of something.

Independent working time

• Ask the class to think of something they would like to convince their parents to get or do (e.g. get a pet, go on a trip, stay up later, etc.).
• Pass out the Write a Persuasive Letter worksheet to each student and send them to work independently after they tell you what they are going to write about.
• Circulate around the classroom work with individual students as needed.