NAPLAN persuasive writing asks your child to take a side on an issue and convince the reader to agree, all in 40 minutes. It’s one of the two text types that can appear in the NAPLAN writing test, and because students don’t know which type they’ll get, it’s worth practising regularly. This guide covers what the persuasive task asks for, a simple structure your child can remember, a worked example, and tips for each year level.
What the persuasive task asks for
The prompt gives a topic, usually phrased as a question or a statement, such as “Should every school have a vegetable garden?” Students decide their position and write to persuade a reader. They can argue for, against, or a balanced view that still reaches a clear conclusion, but a firm, single position is usually easiest to write well under time pressure.
Persuasive writing is marked against 10 criteria, out of a total of 48. The criterion unique to this text type is persuasive devices: how well your child uses techniques to strengthen their argument. Full details are in NAPLAN writing marking criteria explained.
A simple persuasive structure
A five-paragraph plan works for almost any prompt and helps with text structure, paragraphing and cohesion at the same time.
| Part | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Hook the reader, state your position clearly, and preview your reasons. |
| Reason 1 | Your strongest argument, explained with an example, fact or personal experience. |
| Reason 2 | A second argument, developed in the same way. |
| Reason 3 or rebuttal | A third reason, or answer what someone who disagrees might say. |
| Conclusion | Restate your position in new words, sum up the reasons, and finish with a strong final line or call to action. |
A memory aid many children like is OREO: Opinion, Reasons, Examples, Opinion again.
NAPLAN persuasive writing examples
Here is an original example written to the prompt “Should every school have a vegetable garden?”, showing the kind of opening and body paragraph that scores well at Year 5 level.
Example introduction
Imagine biting into a crunchy carrot that you planted, watered and pulled from the ground yourself. Every school in Australia should have a vegetable garden, because gardens teach students where food comes from, get them moving outdoors and bring the whole school community together.
Why it works: the opening line draws the reader in (audience), the position is unmistakable, and the three reasons give the reader a map of the argument (text structure).
Example body paragraph
Firstly, a school garden is a classroom without walls. When students grow tomatoes, they measure how tall the plants are, record rainfall and learn which insects help or harm. Isn’t it better to learn science by doing it rather than just reading about it? Students who see food growing are also far more likely to try eating it.
Why it works: “Firstly” signals the structure (cohesion), the specific examples develop the idea (ideas), and the rhetorical question and the strong claim are persuasive devices used with purpose.
Example conclusion
Vegetable gardens give students knowledge, exercise and a sense of belonging, and they cost very little to start. It is time for every school to pick up a shovel and start growing.
Persuasive writing tips by year level
- Year 3: state the opinion in the first sentence, give two reasons with a “because”, and use a new paragraph for each reason. Practise on paper, as Year 3 handwrites.
- Year 5: aim for three reasons, each with an example. Add one or two devices, such as a rhetorical question or a “Did you know…?” fact. See the Year 5 writing guide.
- Year 7: start using rebuttal (“Some people argue that… however…”) and more formal vocabulary. Vary sentence openings.
- Year 9: build a sustained, nuanced argument with precise vocabulary, a controlled tone and devices woven through the whole piece rather than bolted on.
Persuasive devices to practise
- Rhetorical questions: “Wouldn’t you rather…?”
- Modal verbs that show certainty: must, should, will
- Conditional statements: “If every school did this, then…”
- Emotive language: “heartbreaking”, “thrilling”
- Facts and statistics (made-up statistics are risky, so a general fact or example is safer)
- Repetition and groups of three: “healthier, happier and smarter”
- Direct address to the reader: “You can help by…”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sitting on the fence. A wishy-washy position makes the whole piece less persuasive.
- Listing instead of explaining. Three well-developed reasons beat six one-line reasons.
- No paragraphs. Paragraphing is worth up to 3 marks in persuasive writing, and it also lifts text structure and cohesion.
- Running out of time for the conclusion. Leave 5 minutes to finish and check.
- Overusing devices. Five rhetorical questions in a row sounds forced. Choose a few and use them well.
- Forgetting to check. Punctuation and spelling together are worth 11 marks, and a quick reread catches many errors.
For topics to practise with, see free NAPLAN writing prompts.
Persuasive writing FAQs
Can my child argue both sides?
Yes, a balanced discussion is allowed if it reaches a clear conclusion. For most children, though, choosing one side makes it easier to write a strong, well-structured piece in 40 minutes.
Should my child use “I think”?
Stating a personal opinion is fine and is listed as a persuasive device in the marking guide. Older students often get a stronger effect by stating the opinion confidently without “I think”.
How many reasons should a NAPLAN persuasive have?
Two or three well-developed reasons is the sweet spot. More reasons usually means each one gets less explanation.
Related guides
- NAPLAN Writing: A Parent’s Guide to the Writing Test
- NAPLAN Narrative Writing: Examples and Tips
- NAPLAN Writing Marking Criteria Explained
- Free NAPLAN Writing Prompts
- NAPLAN Writing Sample Answers by Proficiency Level
Example paragraphs are original and written by MyNaplan. Marking information based on the 2026 NAPLAN persuasive writing marking guide, © ACARA, CC BY 4.0.