Open or Closed

This persuasive writing worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they develop argumentative writing, civic reasoning, critical thinking, and evidence-based explanation skills. By responding to a focused prompt about balancing national security with opportunities for newcomers, students use historical examples from Ellis Island and later immigration laws to form and defend an opinion, strengthening both writing structure and civic understanding.

Learning Goals

• Opinion & Argument Writing (Grades 5-6) – Write a clear, organized paragraph that states a claim and supports it with reasons and evidence.
• Civics Understanding – Examine immigration policy through the lens of rights, responsibilities, and national priorities.
• Historical Connections – Use examples from past immigration experiences and laws to support modern arguments.
• Critical Thinking – Evaluate trade-offs and justify a position using logical reasoning and historical context.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary writing, social studies, and civics standards.
• Clear Writing Prompt – Helps students focus on claim development, evidence use, and paragraph structure.
• Flexible Use – Suitable for classroom debates, independent writing, assessments, or social studies integration.
• Supports Civic Engagement – Encourages respectful discussion of complex policy issues at an age-appropriate level.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen persuasive writing, historical reasoning, and civic awareness while engaging with real-world policy questions. By connecting past immigration experiences to present-day debates, learners practice supporting claims with evidence and developing informed opinions. It’s a thoughtful, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our Immigration and Ellis Island collection.