Animal welfare issues provide an authentic context, audience, and purpose for students to develop their persuasive writing skills. The learning experiences within this unit encourage students to consider animal welfare issues ranging from local, national and international levels and to write persuasively about these.

The daily actions of every one of us, directly and indirectly, affect animals and their welfare. Consequently, there are a vast degree of viewpoints and social and ethical dilemmas surrounding animal welfare. Such a context will encourage students to see their writing as meaningful and a useful way to express their opinions, feelings, needs, and desires.

It is hoped that by seeing learning experiences as relevant and purposeful, students will be more engaged in the writing process. In addition, writing and reading persuasive texts about animal welfare issues will help students develop greater knowledge and understandings of these concepts and therefore support them in becoming informed, responsible and compassionate citizens now and in the future.