Teaching kids persuasive writing for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) can be a rewarding and important process. It’s essential to equip students with the skills to develop strong arguments and present them clearly.

Here’s a guide for parents on how to help their kids succeed with persuasive writing:

1. Understand what the CAASPP Writing Task is

• The CAASPP requires students to write clearly, logically, and persuasively on a given topic.
• Students must take a position on an issue and support it with evidence, reasoning, and examples.
• The writing should be coherent, well-organized, and error-free.

2. Focus on the Structure of Persuasive Writing

A persuasive essay typically follows this structure:

• Introduction: Begin with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention (e.g., a fact, quote, or question). Clearly state the position on the issue with your 2- 3 reasons you are choosing to persuade the reader (thesis statement).
• Body Paragraphs (usually 2-3): Each paragraph should present one reason for the stance. The reasoning should be supported by evidence such as facts, statistics, personal experiences, or logical arguments.
• Counterargument (optional): Acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and explain why it is weaker or less valid than your position.
• Conclusion: Restate the thesis and summarize the key points. End with a call to action or a strong closing statement.

3. Teach the Importance of a Strong Thesis Statement

• Help your child understand that the thesis statement is the backbone of their argument. It should clearly convey what they are trying to persuade the reader to believe or do.
• Practice brainstorming strong, debatable thesis statements. For example:
  • “School uniforms should be mandatory because they promote equality and reduce distractions.”
  • “The use of technology in the classroom enhances student learning and prepares them for the future.”

4. Support Ideas with Evidence

• Teach students to gather evidence to support their arguments. This could include facts, statistics, quotes from experts, or examples.
• Encourage them to find evidence that is reliable and credible.
• For example: If arguing that school uniforms help reduce bullying, your child might refer to studies or reports that show the positive impact of uniforms on reducing peer pressure or improving school culture.

5. Teach Effective Transitions

• Transitions are important for the flow of ideas between paragraphs and sentences.
• Teach your child how to use words like:
  • For adding information: furthermore, additionally, moreover
  • For introducing an example: for instance, such as, for example
  • For showing contrast: however, on the other hand, although
• Practice writing sentences with transitions to help the writing flow smoothly.

6. Focus on Writing Clearly and Concisely

• Encourage your child to write in clear, simple language that is easy to understand.
• Avoid overly complex sentences or long-winded explanations. CAASPP assessments reward clarity and precision.
• Teach them how to break down long ideas into shorter, more digestible sentences.

We will continue next week talking about the next steps.

Happy prepping!