Mini-Lesson

Persuasive Writing

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Objective: Students will write a persuasive letter.

1. Start a discussion about movies that are based on books. Ask: Have you ever seen a movie that was based a book you had read? How did the movie compare with the book? Which did you like better, and why?

2. Tell students that the classic picture book, Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendack, has been made into a movie. To learn about the new film, have students read the timeforkids.com story, A Wild Movie.

3. Then ask: If you could turn one book into a movie, what book would you choose? Which actors would you cast to play the main characters? Challenge students to write a letter to a film director persuading him or her to turn the book they chose into a movie. Have them use this graphic organizer to plan and write the letter.