Persuasive writing idea

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Persuasive writing idea
By Amy Lee

I have used letters to the editor from our local newspaper. There are usually letters from adults about school and young people. I have students to respond to the letter. This takes care of persuasive writing and business
letter writing which are two lang. arts standards from our middle schoolers. I have mailed the letters to the newspaper or the class chooses a letter or takes several responses and combines them and they sign their names to the one letter.
Also I have students write letters to our school administration. Last year our system hired a new director of cafeteria services and the students

were frustrated with some changes and wanted to suggested improvements to the director. For a lesson we wrote letters to the director and they were mailed to him.

Students enjoyed these writing assignments because there was the possibly their letters would be published in the newspaper or the administration would respond to their requests. This has happened.

The key is to make the lesson of persuasive writing to be meaningful and not just another writing assignment.