Writing to Persuade - Lesson 4 - Using Facts and Opinions PowerPoint

In Lesson Four of a persuasive writing series, students are taught the powerful technique of using facts and opinions to enhance the persuasiveness of their writing. The lesson defines a fact as a statement that can be proven true with evidence, such as "London is the capital city of England." In contrast, an opinion is a personal viewpoint, like "London is the world’s most exciting city." The objective of the lesson is to show students how to effectively blend both facts and opinions to achieve the purpose of the text—to persuade the reader.

The lesson continues by providing examples of statements and asking students to classify them as facts or opinions, thereby sharpening their discernment between the two. A key strategy introduced is "assertion," where a writer presents opinions as if they were facts to strengthen their argument. Students are then encouraged to apply this technique in their own writing by crafting a paragraph about their hometown using both facts and opinions to attract tourists. The lesson concludes with a plenary discussion on how the use of facts and opinions can serve the purpose of the writing, thereby reinforcing the lesson's core teaching point.