Writing tips · from our courses

Proof you can see

Persuasive writing tips taken from real student work in our courses. Flick through to see the skills your child will learn, one tip at a time.

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Before and after

Real students, a few weeks apart. Here's how their writing grew once they learned how a persuasive piece fits together.

Real student sample · Year 2

Before: one handwritten paragraph titled Is It Cruel To Keep Animals In Cages? The student says it is sometimes good and sometimes not good, then lists a few loose reasons.
Before: 1 paragraph · about 45 words

What changed

SkillBeforeAfter
Clear opinionup front Partly Yes
Other sideargues back No Yes
Organised reasonsFirstly / Secondly / Thirdly No Yes
Proper endingwraps it up No Yes
After, page 1 of 3: Basketball Is The Best Sport. Opening paragraph stating her opinion and arguing against people who disagree, then a paragraph starting Firstly.

Page 1 of 3

After: 5 paragraphs · about 170 words
  1. Clear opinion up front. She tells the reader exactly what she thinks in the first line.
  2. Takes on the other side. "Some people think… but they are WRONG" means she's arguing, not just listing.
  3. Organised reasons. Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, each with its own paragraph.
  4. A proper ending. "In conclusion" pulls it together and brings back her main point.

Persuasive writing tips

One tip at a time.

Lower Primary student writing sample with tip: Refute what your opponent might say
Refute what your opponent might say Lower Primary

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