Give a Little: Persuasive Writing for the Holiday Season

About This Resource

A free Grade 9 ESL writing worksheet on persuasive writing with a holiday-season theme: a model letter asking students to support a school food drive, persuasive techniques (rhetorical questions, the rule of three, emotive language and a call to action), answering a counter-argument and organizing a letter. Students analyze, practice each technique and write their own appeal. Includes a timed lesson plan, a six-activity worksheet, an editable Word version and answer key.

Overview

Students study how a writer persuades readers to take action during the holiday season. They read a model letter from a student council member asking classmates to support a school food drive, then identify the techniques it uses: a rhetorical question to hook the reader, the rule of three, emotive language, direct address (you, we), a counter-argument with a reply and a clear call to action. Students practice each technique, organize their own ideas and write a persuasive letter about a holiday-season cause they care about, such as a toy collection, a clothing swap or a visit to an elderly care home.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Persuasive Writing for the Holiday Season
Category: Writing
File Type: PDF
File Size: 227.9 KB
Published: 11 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 9 ESL (ages 14–15), B1 50 minutes Persuasive writing analyzing techniques organizing ideas formal letter conventions

Student Task

Ask: "What is one good cause our school could support this season?" Collect ideas.
Read the model letter together, then do activities 1 and 2.
Students complete activities 3 to 6 on their own. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Use

Technique hunt: students find persuasive techniques in real charity posters or adverts chosen by the teacher.
Pitch it: groups give a 60-second spoken appeal for their cause and the class votes for the most persuasive.
Counter-argument tennis: one student gives an objection, the next replies starting with However.

Differentiation

Support: give a letter frame with paragraph starters (I believe…, First…, Second…, Some people say…, However…, Let's…). Challenge: students include one statistic from a reliable source and explain why it strengthens their argument.

Answer Key & Assessment

Activities 1 to 5 check identifying and using persuasive techniques (answer key included). Activity 6 shows whether students can write a complete persuasive letter.

Learning Objectives

Identify persuasive techniques in a model letter.
Use rhetorical questions, the rule of three, emotive language and a call to action.
Write a persuasive letter that answers a counter-argument.

Teacher Tips

Keep causes realistic and positive, and avoid asking students to bring money. Emphasize that persuasive writing should be honest: emotive language is powerful, but facts must be true.

What's Included

8-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (6 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Editable Word version of the worksheet
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)