Key points:
Twenty years ago, when I began my career as an ESL teacher in Houston, Texas, I remember the difficulties of teaching persuasive writing to English learners. I had students who were bright, enthusiastic, and full of ideas, but they faced real challenges turning those ideas into coherent arguments on paper. Many struggled with grammar and sentence structure, while others found it difficult to organize their thoughts logically or construct arguments that flowed convincingly.
I spent countless hours guiding them through the writing process, giving them feedback, and encouraging them to think critically. It was rewarding work, but it was time-consuming and often made me wish there was a way to give them the support they needed, instantly, while they worked.
Fast forward to 2023 and my classroom has been transformed in ways I never anticipated. ai-powered tools have entered the educational landscape and changed the way I teach writing, particularly persuasive writing. With the help of ai, my students can receive real-time feedback, grammar and vocabulary suggestions, and even guidance on how to structure their arguments. This support means they can learn and improve as they write, without having to wait for me to read each draft. ai has become an invaluable ally and has helped me create a more dynamic and supportive environment where students can thrive.
1. Assess student needs and select ai tools
Before diving into ai integration, it's essential to understand where each student needs support. Whether they struggle with grammar, vocabulary, organization, or critical thinking, identifying these specific challenges allows for a targeted approach to using ai.
Example: In my class, I noticed that students like Adel often had insightful ideas but had difficulty structuring them effectively. His essay, “Money Can't Buy Happiness,” included valuable reflections on emotional fulfillment and references to The Great Gatsby, but his ideas were scattered and the language needed refinement. ai could have helped you structure your argument, offering specific guidance on organization and clarity.
Select the right ai tools
- For grammar and language support: tools like grammatically and Quillbot can be useful for detecting grammatical errors, punctuation, and writing problems. While the free versions cover basic errors, the premium versions offer advanced style and tone suggestions, which can take students' writing to the next level.
- To structure and outline: ChatGPT either Google Gemini They are useful for generating outlines and generating ideas. For example, students can ask ChatGPT to say “Help me outline a persuasive essay on solar energy” and it will provide them with a structured outline.
- To improve vocabulary: word melody is great for paraphrasing and finding synonyms, while Thesaurus.com is useful for making quick vocabulary adjustments, allowing students to diversify their language and avoid repetition.
2. Introduce ai tools in the classroom
Explaining how each tool will be used and setting clear expectations is crucial for effective integration. Guiding students through the features helps them feel comfortable with the technology and confident in using it independently.
Example: I created a short tutorial on Grammarly, showing students how it detects grammatical errors and offers suggestions. This helped students like Nour, passionate about his plea to save the Ganges River, polish their language, ensuring that his message about river pollution resonated clearly with readers.
3. Start with ai-assisted brainstorming and outlining
Introduce a topic (for example, “Why Solar Energy is Essential” or “Money Can't Buy Happiness”) and explain the goals of persuasive writing. Emphasize the need to present a compelling argument to influence the reader.
ai Group Brainstorming for Pros and Cons
Organizing students into groups to brainstorm using ai tools like ChatGPT can help deepen their understanding of their topics. By generating pros and cons lists, students practice critical thinking while considering opposing points of view.
Example: Students enter their topic into IA and ask the pros and cons. For “solar energy,” ai could respond with advantages like “reduces carbon emissions” and “it is a renewable resource,” and challenges like “high installation costs” and “weather dependence.” Students discuss these ideas and add their points of view, developing a nuanced argument.
Create and customize schemas with ai
Once the ai provides a basic outline, encourage students to personalize it by adding specific examples or perspectives they want to explore.
Example: For Nour's request, I encouraged him to add personal reflections on the cultural and spiritual significance of the Ganges River, which made his work more authentic and relatable.
4. Guided writing with ai support for language and structure.
Encourage students to write their essays in stages, focusing on one section at a time. For example, teach them how to craft a clear thesis statement and support it with specific details.
Develop counterarguments
Using the disadvantages generated during brainstorming, students can write a counterargument paragraph that acknowledges the opposing points of view and explains why their position is still strong.
Example: In “Why Solar Energy is Essential,” students could address installation costs as a disadvantage and then counteract this by explaining the long-term financial and environmental benefits.
Real-time language support with ai tools
Grammar tools like Grammarly provide real-time checks, while vocabulary tools like Wordtune help refine language.
Example: I advised students to keep Grammarly active while writing to receive immediate feedback on language problems.
Refining sentences with ai
Teach students to use ai tools to refine sentences, helping to improve clarity and fluency.
Example: If Ammar writes: “Renewable energy is safer and more affordable,” ai might suggest: “Renewable energy is a safer and more affordable option.” This makes Ammar's point sound polished and impactful.
5. Final evaluation and feedback using ai tools
Certain ai tools, such as Microsoft Publishercan evaluate clarity, coherence and grammar. Using them for pre-assessments allows students to independently identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
Example: Have students review ai scores and comments before submitting their drafts for teacher evaluation, allowing them to tackle final problems.
6. Setting goals and tracking progress
Help students set specific writing goals and use ai to track improvements over time, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivating continued progress.
Example: A student might aim to “Reduce grammatical errors by 20 percent in the next essay.” Tracking such progress helps students take ownership of their development.
7. Encourage ai-backed peer review
Matching students for ai-supported peer review combines ai assistance with peer insights. This approach expands feedback and allows students to learn from each other.
Example: Nour and Ammar used ai to review each other's work. Nour provided feedback on clarity, while Ammar suggested improvements in language, enriching students' understanding and skills.
8. Address potential challenges with ai integration
Some teachers may be concerned that students will become too reliant on ai, which could impact their independent writing skills. Emphasize that ai is a supporting tool, not a replacement. Encourage students to write independently before using ai to refine their work.
Monitoring how they use ai and reviewing original drafts can help teachers ensure balanced and thoughtful engagement with the tool.
Encourage reflection on the use of ai
After using ai, ask students reflective questions such as: “How did ai help you clarify your argument?” This encourages them to see ai as an aid to learning, not a shortcut.
9. Reflect and refine your approach
Finally, after each ai-integrated lesson, have students reflect on their experience. Adjusting tools and methods based on feedback ensures continuous improvement in teaching effectiveness.
Integrating ai into persuasive writing instruction has transformed my approach, allowing me to offer real-time feedback, structured support, and personalized learning experiences. ai enables students to overcome language barriers, think critically, and express themselves more effectively—skills they will carry far beyond the classroom. By carefully using ai, teachers can support students' unique writing journeys, helping them find clarity and confidence in their voices.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=();t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)(0);
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘6079750752134785’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);