Should Every Classroom Have a Pet? — Persuasive Writing — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 3 persuasive writing writing prompt.
Year 3 · English · Persuasive Writing
Should Every Classroom Have a Pet? — Persuasive Writing — Answers
The prompt
Some people think every classroom should have a class pet, such as a fish, a guinea pig or a stick insect. Others think pets do not belong at school.
What do you think? Write to persuade your principal to agree with you.
A good persuasive text has:
• An introduction that clearly says what you think.
• Three reasons, each in its own paragraph, with an explanation or example.
• Persuasive words such as must, should, definitely and everyone knows.
• A conclusion that repeats your opinion in a new way.
Persuasive devices
Learn the tools persuasive writers use.
- Rhetorical question
- Strong modal word
- Appeal to feelings
- Fact or statistic
- Repetition
- Who wouldn't want to learn with a furry friend?
- A pet teaches kindness. A pet teaches patience. A pet teaches responsibility.
- Every classroom definitely needs a pet.
- Studies show children who care for animals are more responsible.
- Imagine how sad a lonely guinea pig would be on the weekend.
Answer: Rhetorical question → Who wouldn't want to learn with a furry friend?; Strong modal word → Every classroom definitely needs a pet.; Appeal to feelings → Imagine how sad a lonely guinea pig would be on the weekend.; Fact or statistic → Studies show children who care for animals are more responsible.; Repetition → A pet teaches kindness. A pet teaches patience. A pet teaches responsibility.
- AI think pets are okay sometimes.
- BSome people like pets and some do not.
- CEvery classroom should definitely have a pet, and here is why.
- DPets are animals that live with people.
Answer: Every classroom should definitely have a pet, and here is why.
A strong opinion statement is clear, confident and tells the reader what the text will argue.
Plan
Fill in your opinion and three reasons. Each reason needs a 'because' or an example.
Answer: Every classroom should have a pet.
Answer: A pet teaches responsibility because students have to feed it and clean its cage every day.
Answer: A pet helps students feel calm. Watching fish swim can help a worried student settle down.
Answer: A pet makes science real. We can learn about what animals need instead of only reading about it.
Answer: A class pet is not just an animal; it is a teacher with fur, feathers or fins.
Write
Model answer: Every classroom should definitely have a pet. Who wouldn't want to learn next to a furry friend? Firstly, a class pet teaches responsibility. If students have to feed a guinea pig and clean its cage every day, they learn that other living things depend on them.
Success criteria:
- Introduction states my opinion clearly
- Three reasons, each in its own paragraph
- Each reason has an explanation or example
- At least two persuasive devices are used (rhetorical question, strong words, appeal to feelings)
- Conclusion repeats my opinion in a new way
- Linking words such as firstly, secondly, finally are used
- Sentences are punctuated correctly and spelling is checked
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.