In this article, the author shares his experience in teaching persuasive writing to 3rd graders. He began his instruction with a focus on how he could shift the students from rote work on persuasive pieces to actually writing to persuade. For students, careful modeling is the linchpin of any new learning. So, to begin a unit on persuasive writing, he asked the students to think about how they came to their beliefs and to explore the strategies others have used in working for justice. The author describes a writing lesson that helps students organize their thoughts around the question of influences and life lessons. He shares how he builds on his students' lives and passions to help them create their persuasive essays.