Persuasive Text – Grade 3
Arizona State Academic Reading Standard
Strand 3, Concept 3
Children need to learn a valuable lesson about how a reader can be affected by the
words of another (Reality Checks, p. 127). Persuasive text includes the author’s
position regarding a particular idea, subject, concept, or object. Good persuasive
pieces are built around opinions that use supportive facts to sway the reader.
Authors use emotional words and strategies to influence readers’ feelings.
The overall purpose of teaching persuasive text is to assist students in
understanding the intent of the author and making informed decisions.
Reality Checks by Tony Stead offers these questions to ask when reading a
persuasive text:
• Has the author played on your feelings to make you think like them?
• Is there evidence to back up opinions?
• Have they included facts and told you where they got them?
• Have they stuck to the point?
• Have you read any opposite arguments to get the opinions and facts from
the other side?
Basic Skills has created lessons to support instruction with persuasive text.
Resources included in this packet are:
™ Persuasive or Expository Text T-chart
™ Persuasive lessons
™ Assessments
Additional resources for persuasive text, tactics, and writing can be found in
Houghton Mifflin English.
Basic Skills
Grade 3
2/27/2009
Persuasive or Expository Text
Persuasive text is used to persuade or convince the audience to agree with the author’s point of view.
Expository text is used to inform the audience about a topic.
Author’s Purpose is the MAIN difference between persuasive writing and expository writing.
Persuasive
Expository
Author:
• writes to persuade or convince the audience
• focuses on his/her position or point of view
• includes only facts that support his/her position
• may slant or spin the facts to support his/her
position
• may emphasize some facts and minimize others
• may include their own opinion
• may use loaded/emotional words
Author:
• writes to inform the audience
• focuses on facts and information
• presents all facts to provide information about the
topic
• chooses facts to inform
• presents facts equally
• does not include their own opinion
• may write creatively using own voice or style to
present information
Examples:
advertisements, posters, letters to the editor, campaign
speeches, debates, reviews, essays, speeches,
editorials, letters, billboards, bumper stickers, commercials
Examples:
news articles, reports, travel brochures, character sketches,
lab reports, compare/contrast, resumes, response to
literature, minutes of a meeting, user’s guides, summaries,
magazine articles, notes
There are many similarities between persuasive writing and expository writing. Both begin with an introductory paragraph
followed by several supporting paragraphs about the same topic or argument. Persuasive and expository writing pieces end
with a conclusion that creatively restates what the entire piece is about.
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Lesson
S3C3, PO 1- Fact and Opinion
Objective:
Distinguish fact from opinion in persuasive text (e.g., advertisements,
product labels, and written communications).
Objective:
Learn the difference between fact and opinion in persuasive text.
Student friendly
Materials:
Teacher Copies for Transparencies: Coming Soon…A Movieplex Near
You, Charlie’s New Pony, No Green Spaces
Student Copy: Coming Soon…A Movieplex Near You, Charlie’s New
Pony,
No Green Spaces (all included on one page)
Cut-apart sentences: Coming Soon…A Movieplex Near You, Charlie’s
New Pony, No Green Spaces
Anticipatory Set:
Teacher states:
“Disneyland is the best place to go for vacation. I bet you feel that way,
too!”
“Hannah Montana is the greatest singer of all time! Everyone loves her.”
“Oriental Chicken Salad is the best food on McDonald’s menu. I know
you agree!”
“Math is a lot of fun! It’s the best subject in school!”
Teacher asks:
“Do you agree with everything that I said?”
“Was everything I said a fact or an opinion?”
Set the Purpose:
Sometimes authors or advertisers state their opinions in an attempt to
convince you to believe the same thing that they do or to convince you to
buy something that they are selling. When you read advertisements, labels,
flyers, or packages, or if you see something on TV, you need to be able to
decide what is fact and what is opinion. If you are able to tell the
difference between fact and opinion, you will be able to make better
decisions about what to believe or what not to believe.
Review Fact
and Opinion:
Fact: A fact is something that can be seen or proven.
Example: We are all students in elementary school.
Football is a team sport.
Opinion: An opinion is a person’s thoughts or feelings. Sometimes you
can tell an opinion because it has signal words, such as I think or I believe.
Example: I think our elementary school is the best school in Mesa!
Football is an exciting sport!
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Lesson
S3C3, PO 1- Fact and Opinion
Direct Instruction/
I Do
Teacher models as a think aloud to the class. Teacher provides all
responses.
Use Coming Soon… A Movieplex Near You to complete a T-chart to sort
fact statements from opinion statements. (Questions are neither facts or
opinions.)
To make creating the T-chart more efficient, sentences have been provided
for you to cut apart and place in a pocket chart, to use on an overhead, or
to use with chart paper.
Coming Soon… A Movieplex Near You
Are you tired of going to the same old movie
theaters? Are you tired of coming home with sticky
stuff on the bottom of your shoes? Are you tired of
sitting in those uncomfortable seats with the sound so
soft you can hardly hear it?
The new Movieplex is the answer to your
entertainment woes. Our theaters feature the latest and
greatest sound system. This sound system enhances
every sigh and sob, every step and squeak, every word
and whisper as you sit in our deluxe luxury recliners.
Each theater is cleaned and mopped after every
movie. Show times are scheduled to begin hourly.
Watching a movie at the Movieplex will be your best
viewing experience ever!
Fact: A fact tells about something that can be seen or proven. When I look
at this paragraph, I am looking for sentences that tell about something that
can be proven. Let’s see…
•
•
Basic Skills
Each theater is cleaned and mopped after every movie. (The
theater can be checked to be sure that it has been cleaned and
mopped after every movie.)
Show times are scheduled to begin hourly. (The schedule at the
theater can be checked.)
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Lesson
S3C3, PO 1- Fact and Opinion
Opinion: An opinion states a person’s thoughts or feelings. When I look
at this paragraph, I am looking for sentences that tell how the author feels
or what the author thinks. Let’s see…
•
•
•
Guided Practice/
We Do
The new Movieplex is the answer to your entertainment woes.
(Some will not agree that the Movieplex will solve all of your
movie viewing problems. It cannot be proven.)
Our theaters feature the latest and greatest sound system. (Some
will not agree that the sound system is the greatest sound system.
It cannot be proven.)
Watching a movie at the Movieplex will be your best viewing
experience ever! (Some will not agree that the Movieplex is the
best theater for viewing a movie. It cannot be proven.)
Use Charlie’s New Pony passage to complete a T-chart together. Cut-apart
sentences are provided for you. (Teacher provides support for students in
identifying facts and identifying opinions. Questions are neither facts or
opinions. Teacher should also ensure that students are able to provide
reasoning.)
Charlie’s New Pony
Charlie has a new pony. Charlie’s pony is a
Shetland, which is the smallest kind of pony. She is just
about 42 inches high at the shoulder.
I think Charlie’s pony is beautiful. Her coat is
brown and very pretty. Shetland ponies have thick coats
to keep them warm.
Charlie is lucky to have such a sweet little pony. A
pony is the best kind of pet. Don’t you agree?
Text adapted from Harcourt 3-2, TE p. 167
Fact
•
•
•
•
•
Charlie has a new pony.
Charlie’s pony is a Shetland, which is the smallest kind of pony.
She is just about 42 inches high at the shoulder.
Her coat is brown and very pretty. (Cut this sentence
into two parts and place the words “very pretty” in
the opinion column.)
Shetland ponies have thick coats to keep them warm.
Opinion
• I think Charlie’s pony is beautiful.
• Charlie is lucky to have such a sweet little pony.
• A pony is the best kind of pet.
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Lesson
S3C3, PO 1- Fact and Opinion
Independent
independently.
Practice/
You Do
Students use No Green Spaces passage to complete a T-chart
Cut-apart sentences are provided. (Teacher monitors to ensure students
are
correctly identifying facts and opinions. Questions are neither facts or
opinions.)
No Green Spaces
I believe our town is growing too fast. New stores
and office buildings are being built where there used to
be green spaces. I think our town needs open spaces.
The shopping mall on Center Street is a good
example of using up open space. When my mother was
a girl, that land was a green space with trees and a pond.
Then the pond was filled in and built over. Now there is
nothing there but a big, ugly mall. Do you miss having a
fishing pond?
Text adapted from Harcourt 3-2, TE p. 221
Fact
•
•
•
New stores and office buildings are being built where there used to
be green spaces.
When my mother was a girl, that land was a green space with trees
and a pond.
Then the pond was filled in and built over.
Opinion
• I believe our town is growing too fast.
• I think our town needs open spaces.
• The shopping mall on Center Street is a good example of using up
open space.
• Now there is nothing there but a big, ugly mall.
Closure: Today we learned the difference between fact and opinion in persuasive text. Turn to
your partner and discuss the difference between fact and opinion. Be prepared to share your
ideas with the class.
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Student Copy
Coming Soon… A Movieplex Near You
Are you tired of going to the same old movie theaters? Are you tired of coming
home with sticky stuff on the bottom of your shoes? Are you tired of sitting in those
uncomfortable seats with the sound so soft you can hardly hear it?
The new Movieplex is the answer to your entertainment woes. Our theaters feature
the latest and greatest sound system. This sound system enhances every sigh and sob,
every step and squeak, every word and whisper as you sit in our deluxe luxury recliners.
Each theater is cleaned and mopped after every movie. Show times are scheduled to
begin hourly. Watching a movie at the Movieplex will be your best viewing experience
ever!
Charlie’s New Pony
Charlie has a new pony. Charlie’s pony is a Shetland, which is the smallest kind
of pony. She is just about 42 inches high at the shoulder.
I think Charlie’s pony is beautiful. Her coat is brown and very pretty. Shetland
ponies have thick coats to keep them warm.
Charlie is lucky to have such a sweet little pony. A pony is the best kind of pet.
Don’t you agree?
No Green Spaces
I believe our town is growing too fast. New stores and office buildings are being
built where there used to be green spaces. I think our town needs open spaces.
The shopping mall on Center Street is a good example of using up open space.
When my mother was a girl, that land was a green space with trees and a pond. Then the
pond was filled in and built over. Now there is nothing there but a big, ugly mall. Do you
miss having a fishing pond?
Basic Skills
-- 7 --
Grade 3
2/27/2009
Teacher Copy
Coming Soon… A Movieplex Near You
Are you tired of going to the same old movie
theaters? Are you tired of coming home with sticky
stuff on the bottom of your shoes? Are you tired of
sitting in those uncomfortable seats with the sound
so soft you can hardly hear it?
The new Movieplex is the answer to your
entertainment woes. Our theaters feature the latest
and greatest sound system. This sound system
enhances every sigh and sob, every step and squeak,
every word and whisper as you sit in our deluxe
luxury recliners. Each theater is cleaned and mopped
after every movie. Show times are scheduled to
begin hourly. Watching a movie at the Movieplex
will be your best viewing experience ever!
Basic Skills
-- 8 --
Grade 3
2/27/2009
Teacher Copy
Charlie’s New Pony
Charlie has a new pony. Charlie’s pony is a
Shetland, which is the smallest kind of pony. She is
just about 42 inches high at the shoulder.
I think Charlie’s pony is beautiful. Her coat is
brown and very pretty. Shetland ponies have thick
coats to keep them warm.
Charlie is lucky to have such a sweet little pony.
A pony is the best kind of pet. Don’t you agree?
Basic Skills
-- 9 --
Grade 3
2/27/2009
Teacher Copy
No Green Spaces
I believe our town is growing too fast. New
stores and office buildings are being built where
there used to be green spaces. I think our town
needs open spaces.
The shopping mall on Center Street is a good
example of using up open space. When my mother
was a girl, that land was a green space with trees and
a pond. Then the pond was filled in and built over.
Now there is nothing there but a big, ugly mall. Do
you miss having a fishing pond?
Basic Skills
-- 10 --
Grade 3
2/27/2009
Coming Soon… A Movieplex Near You
Are you tired of going to the same old movie theaters?
Are you tired of coming home with sticky stuff on the bottom of
your shoes?
Are you tired of sitting in those uncomfortable seats with the
sound so soft you can hardly hear it?
The new Movieplex is the answer to your entertainment woes.
Our theaters feature the latest and greatest sound system.
This sound system enhances every sigh and sob, every step and
squeak, every word and whisper as you sit in our deluxe luxury
recliners.
Each theater is cleaned and mopped after every movie.
Show times are scheduled to begin hourly.
Watching a movie at the Movieplex will be
your best viewing experience ever!
Basic Skills
-- 11 --
Grade 3
2/27/2009
Charlie’s New Pony
Charlie has a new pony.
Charlie’s pony is a Shetland, which is the smallest
kind of pony.
She is just about 42 inches high at the shoulder.
I think Charlie’s pony is beautiful.
Her coat is brown and very pretty.
Shetland ponies have thick coats to keep them warm.
Charlie is lucky to have such a sweet little pony.
A pony is the best kind of pet.
Don’t you agree?
Basic Skills
-- 12 --
Grade 3
2/27/2009
No Green Spaces
I believe our town is growing too fast.
New stores and office buildings are being built where there used
to be green spaces.
I think our town needs open spaces.
The shopping mall on Center Street is a good example of using
up open space.
When my mother was a girl, that land was a green space with
trees and a pond.
Then the pond was filled in and built over.
Now there is nothing there but a big, ugly mall.
Do you miss having a fishing pond?
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Assessment
S3C3
Baseball Contest
The place to be on Saturday, April 26 is at
Liberty Elementary School’s Baseball Contest!
Our school has this fantastic baseball contest only once per year.
The contest will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the baseball field behind the school.
Boys and girls between the ages of six to twelve can participate in this contest.
The baseball contest is always fun for everyone!
Boys and girls can compete in hitting, catching, and throwing the ball.
You can even try to Beat the Clock!
Sign up for one of four fabulous events:
Knock It Out
of the Park
Hit as many balls as
you can out of the ten
pitches that the pitcher
will throw to you. How
many home runs can
you hit?
Golden Glove
Your fielding skills
will be tested in this
event. How many fly
balls can you catch out
of twenty pop flies hit
by the coach?
Strike Zone
You’ll be able to show
off your pitching skills
by pitching at a target.
How many times will
you be able to hit the
bull’s eye?
Beat the Clock
Start at homeplate
and run the bases
as fast as you can.
Will you be the
fastest base runner
of all?
All Kids Are All Stars!
Spectacular ribbons will be given to everyone! Trophies will be given to first place winners in
each event. First place winners will also win tickets to a baseball game!
This is the best event of the year. Be sure to plan on being there with your family!
Sign up by April 12th
Fill in the form and return it to Mrs. Roberts at Liberty Elementary School.
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Assessment
S3C3
Name: ______________________________________________________
Age:
______________________________________________________
Telephone Number: ____________________________________________
Mark the events you would like to enter.
_____ Knock It Out of the Park:
Hitting Contest
_____ Golden Glove:
Fielding Contest
_____ Strike Zone:
Pitching Contest
_____ Beat the Clock:
Base Running
Return this form to Mrs. Roberts at Liberty Elementary School
by April 12th.
Questions? Call (480) 311-4563
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Assessment
S3C3
1. Which of these statements is a fact?
a) The baseball contest is always fun for everyone!
b) This is the best event of the year.
c) Trophies will be given to first place winners in each event.
d) Spectacular ribbons will be given to everyone!
2. Which of these statements gives an opinion about the baseball contest?
a) It will take place on Saturday, April 26th.
b) The contest will begin at 10:00 a.m.
c) Liberty Elementary is the best place for the baseball contest.
d) The contest is for kids between the ages of six to twelve.
3. Which sentence would persuade you to attend the baseball contest?
a) The baseball contest is coming soon.
b) Start at homeplate and run the bases as fast as you can.
c) Be sure to plan on being there with your family!
d) This is a fantastic contest.
4. Which sentence persuades the reader to believe that this baseball contest is
the best?
a) The baseball contest is always fun for everyone!
b) You’ll be able to show off your pitching skills by pitching at a target.
c) Our school has a baseball contest only once per year.
d) First place winners will win tickets to a baseball game!
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009
Third Grade Persuasive Text Assessment
S3C3
1. Which of these statements is a fact?
a) The baseball contest is always fun for everyone!
b) This is the best event of the year.
c) Trophies will be given to first place winners in each event.
d) Spectacular ribbons will be given to everyone!
2. Which of these statements gives an opinion about the baseball contest?
a) It will take place on Saturday, April 26th.
b) The contest will begin at 10:00 a.m.
c) Liberty Elementary is the best place for the baseball contest.
d) The contest is for kids between the ages of six to twelve.
3. Which sentence would persuade you to attend the baseball contest?
a) The baseball contest is coming soon.
b) Start at homeplate and run the bases as fast as you can.
c) Be sure to plan on being there with your family!
d) This is a fantastic contest.
4. Which sentence persuades the reader to believe that this baseball contest is
the best?
a) The baseball contest is always fun for everyone!
b) You’ll be able to show off your pitching skills by pitching at a target.
c) Our school has a baseball contest only once per year.
d) First place winners will win tickets to a baseball game!
Basic Skills
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Grade 3
2/27/2009