Students need to learn how to write persuasive essays. This skill is critical because it is often tested. Writing a research paper may be more difficult, but students can’t be expected write one in an hour. Therefore, since writing a persuasive essay doesn’t require any research, students will continue to be tested on their ability to write them for some time.
The good news is that learning to write a decent persuasive essay is pretty easy. Much of it is just structuring your ideas and arguments in a sensible way. Beyond that, there are a few more tricks that one can use to enhance one’s skills quickly. These persuasive essay worksheets and activities will help students master these tricks.
Creating Persuasive Attention Catchers Activity – Students practice creating persuasive leads that immediately push the reader toward their side of the argument.
Creating Persuasive Attention Catchers | RTF
Creating Persuasive Attention Catchers | PDF
Creating Persuasive Attention Catchers | Preview
Persuasive Introductory Paragraphs Review Worksheet – Students read five introductory paragraphs and determine what the body paragraphs of each essay will be about by identifying the preview points. This activity should give students a better understanding of the relation of introductory paragraphs to the body.
Persuasive Introductory Paragraphs Review Worksheet | RTF
Persuasive Introductory Paragraphs Review Worksheet | PDF
Persuasive Introductory Paragraphs Review Worksheet | Preview
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet – Students get emotional about essays sometimes. This can lead them into picking positions that are harder to support. In this activity students learn that you can argue BOTH sides of a topic, not just the one side with which you personally agree. Students practice arguing both sides of a four different topics.
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet | RTF
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet | PDF
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet | Preview
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 2 – Here’s another persuasive essay worksheet to help students practice approaching writing prompts logically. In this double-sided worksheet students practice arguing both sides of a selection of topics. This helps students learn to be strategic when approaching a topic, instead of responding emotionally.
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 2 | RTF
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 2 | PDF
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 2 | Preview
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 3 – Here is yet another double-sided worksheet where students practice brainstorming arguments on both sides of controversial persuasive essay topics. These activities help them learn to brainstorm points quickly and to choose the side of an argument that is easier for them to support when writing a persuasive essay.
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 3 | RTF
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 3 | PDF
Arguing Both Sides Worksheet 3 | Preview
Boxes and Bullets Persuasive Essay Outline – A lot of students really hate the term outline. These same students generally like to hear the phrase boxes and bullets. So I made this boxes and bullets worksheet. Sure, it’s just an outline for a persuasive essay, but boxes and bullets sounds way cooler. This activity is great to do before actually writing the essay. It allows others to see that the structure of an essay before it is fully developed. This activity sheet also includes a comment area for peer review.
Boxes and Bullets Persuasive Essay Outline | RTF
Boxes and Bullets Persuasive Essay Outline | PDF
Boxes and Bullets Persuasive Essay Outline | Preview
Persuasive Essay Examples – Sometimes it’s easier to spot other’s mistakes than one’s own mistakes. This persuasive essay worksheet tests that idea. Students read two persuasive essay examples and identify problems with each. Then, they answer a serious of questions to help them evaluate and improve each essay.
Persuasive Essay Examples | RTF
Persuasive Essay Examples | PDF
Persuasive Essay Examples | Preview
Persuasive Essay Rubric– Here’s a rubric that I’ve used to grade my students’ five-paragraph persuasive essays. This also includes a handout on the structural order of a cookie-cutter persuasive essay.
Persuasive Essay Rubric | RTF
Persuasive Essay Rubric | PDF
Persuasive Essay Rubric | Preview
Typed Persuasive Essay Rubric – Here’s yet another rubric I’ve used to grade my students’ five-paragraph persuasive essays. This one is set up for a typed assignment and includes formatting fields designed to prepare students for MLA format.
Typed Persuasive Essay Rubric | RTF
Typed Persuasive Essay Rubric | PDF
Typed Persuasive Essay Rubric | Preview
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Persuasive Essay Topics
How to Write Persuasive Essays
Narrative Essay Topics
How to Write Narrative Essays
Research Paper Topics
Adura
/ June 2, 2023Thank you so much. This has truly helped me in my exams and throughout the beneficial journey of my school year.
Ellen Davis
/ October 31, 2020How will I be able to check my work, when I print it out to work on them? Where are the answers?
Mr. Morton
/ December 7, 2020I guess it depends on what you are working on.
On what are you working?
Kareema Coles
/ February 24, 2020Ummm the pdf version is not working…is the link still valid?
Mr. Morton
/ February 24, 2020Which link?
K. Folchi
/ October 21, 2019This is an amazing website with fabulous ideas and printable ready to go lessons!!! Thank you so much! I wish I could meet you!!!
Nisha
/ February 12, 2019Thank you very much for this amazing resource and great ideas. They are extremely comprehensive and well designed. Thank you very much for your kind consideration and not adding a Price-tag to your valuable resources. Highly appreciated.
Sandra Conner
/ October 18, 2018Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your work with us. As teachers, we are always in need of fresh material. I teach college level creative writing classes, and your worksheets help my students. Sometimes I change the essay topics to fit their particular age group or interest, but having these examples laid out for us and made available for use in our classrooms is wonderful.
ACardona
/ August 31, 2018Lifesaver! Thank you for the great ideas and guidance. I am a new teacher, and finding this site has made a true turn around in my instruction. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Elaine
/ August 29, 2018Thank you for these great step by step resources
Macca Malbrán
/ July 3, 2018Despite all the negative comments above, you should keep up for the ones (like me) who are absolutely grateful for these material.
Thanks for sharing!
Best.
mariam
/ June 2, 2018I give this website 3stares only for the info but in general 1star
Mr. Morton
/ October 8, 2018I give your comment 0 stars because your position lacks support or evidence of any kind. Complete some of these worksheets and begin your argument again.
mariam
/ June 2, 2018that’s stupid from where do u get the worksheets
Mr. Morton
/ June 29, 2018I wrote them.
demy
/ April 30, 2018I did not see any activities that required the student to write an entire essay.
Mr. Morton
/ June 29, 2018https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/writing/persuasive-essay-topics/
Lamar Mohamed
/ December 2, 2017Thank you for this information! They helped me in my exam so much!
LizP
/ June 3, 2017These are fantastic resources! Thank you so much for sharing them. I only wish I had found them earlier in the school year!
Mr. Morton
/ August 1, 2017There’s always next year…
maria.leon
/ February 14, 2017Thank you so much for all you do for teachers. I love an use practically everything on your Website!
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2017That’s awesome. Thanks for visiting my website.
Soham Garg
/ January 24, 2017I really like this website
Shenard McDougal
/ December 20, 2016How can a teacher get the answers to the worksheets?