Prepare materials for the first lesson. Review the attendance list and sort the names into small groups you believe will stay on task and work well together. Decide on a topic about which the children will likely have strong opinions, such as lengthening the school year or permitting vending machines on campus. Make enough copies of a list of persuasive strategies so that you can eventually pass them out.
Begin the first lesson with a game. Write out the topic you have chosen where all students can see it clearly. Divide the class into the groups you determined previously and tell them to prepare arguments in favor of the topic or against it. Each group will choose a member to present their argument orally to the class. Award prizes to teams that successfully compose arguments that meet your specifications.
Analyze the arguments that your students used after they are all finished speaking. Try to link each of them to one or more persuasive strategies on the list you previously prepared. Identify the strategies by writing them out on the board and write the names of students who used these strategies next to them. This will reinforce the idea that they already understand persuasive strategies. Pass out the lists of persuasive strategies.
Present a number of topics that the children will find relevant or inspiring. Ask them to choose from these and prepare written arguments that use at least one of the strategies on their lists. If you think they are capable, allow students to come up with their own topics.
In the following lesson, review basic writing skills that you have previously taught the children. Remind them when the review is over that they already know how to be persuasive and are just putting their knowledge into writing. Assign a minimum length and due date for the written arguments.