Persuasive / Opinion Writing Unit (Designed for Common Core)

This is a complete unit for teaching persuasive or opinion writing. I can't imagine you'll need anything else. I've included everything I use to teach this in my classroom.
*Complete, elaborated, fully-developed and classroom-tested lesson plans for 4 weeks. (Connect, Teach, Active Engagement, Link, Closure) - for those of you who have to "spell it all out" as I do.

They are actually SCRIPTED lessons! So even a new teacher will feel like a seasoned pro with these lesson plans.

More included:
*Hyperlinks to research sources
*All the support material mentioned in each lesson including 7 full-length articles or letters (meant to be viewed on Smart board),
*5 Posters of Types of Leads
*Posters of Powerful Persuasive Words
*Posters of Transition Words
*2 Persuasive Writing Templates (one simple, one more advanced)
*A Persuasive Writing Checklist

Here are the Common Core standards for Persuasive writing(3rd grade), and all are met with this product. It meets most or all standards for other grade levels as well.

ELACC3W1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
a. Introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
b. Provide reasons that support the opinion.
c. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for example) to connect opinion and reasons.
d. Provide a concluding statement or section.

These also apply...
ELACC3W4: With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
ELACC3W5: With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1–3 up to and including grade 3.)
ELACC3W7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
ELACC3W10: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.