How can you tell they’ve got it: Persuasive Writing?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Write an argument essay with a clear claim supported by at least three pieces of evidence; Acknowledge and respond to a counterclaim rather than ignoring opposing views; Use linking words and phrases (however, furthermore, consequently) to connect claims, reasons, and evidence. Or just try it together: If your child wants to convince you to let them stay up later, can they write down clear reasons and examples to support their case rather than just saying "because I want to"?

English Writing Composition Ages 11–14

Persuasive Writing

Your child can write to persuade, backing a claim with reasons and proof. They face the other side's view rather than ignore it.

In curriculum terms

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence — including introducing claims, acknowledging counterclaims, organising reasons logically, maintaining a formal style, and providing a concluding statement

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Write an argument essay with a clear claim supported by at least three pieces of evidence
Acknowledge and respond to a counterclaim rather than ignoring opposing views
Use linking words and phrases (however, furthermore, consequently) to connect claims, reasons, and evidence

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child wants to convince you to let them stay up later, can they write down clear reasons and examples to support their case rather than just saying "because I want to"?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Choosing Form and Tone for Your Audienceages 9–10Argument writing extends KS2 identifying audience and purpose

Writing for an audienceages 9–11Writing extended arguments with acknowledged counterclaims and formal style requires the prior ability to produce coherent, organised writing appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience

Justifying Views About Textsages 10–11Supporting claims with evidence extends KS2 providing reasoned justifications

Cohesion and Transitions Across Writingages 11–14Writing arguments with logically organised reasons, acknowledged counterclaims, and a formal concluding statement requires command of varied transitions, cohesive devices, and paragraph-linking strategies

Evaluating Arguments in Non-Fictionages 11–14Writing arguments benefits from reading skill of evaluating arguments and claims

Writing Techniques for Effectages 11–14Argument writing benefits from conscious application of rhetorical and literary devices drawn from reading — the student who can use tricolon or contrast intentionally will write more persuasive arguments

Persuasive Writingthis skill · ages 11–14

Unlocks

Modern Archaeology and Egyptian Ethicsages 10–12Thinking critically about the ethics of displaying mummies or returning artefacts requires the structured argument-writing skills developed in English — claims, evidence, counterclaims

Formal Debatesages 12–14Debating requires skills in constructing arguments with evidence from argument writing

Who Really Built the Pyramidsages 12–14Evaluating competing explanations (e.g., who built the pyramids?) requires the argument-construction and evidence-weighing skills from English persuasive and analytical writing

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 ACARA · 1 NSW · 1 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9E5LA02low confidenceYear 5 · Language

understand how to move beyond making bare assertions by taking account of differing ideas or opinions and authoritative sources

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

EN3-UARL-02low confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 3

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2E5LA02low confidenceEnglish · Level 5 · Language strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Cohesion and Transitions Across Writingages 11–14 Developed Informational and Explanatory Writingages 11–14 Planning, Revising and Editing Writingages 11–14 Research & Source Evaluationages 11–14

All Writing Composition skills →