Year 10 - English
Considering and evaluating persuasive letters
Non-fiction: letter writing
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils complete a deep dive into letter writing. They first explore what the letter form is used for, before thinking about the use of modality, personification, active voice and passive voice. They then evaluate some persuasive letters before writing their own.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to consider the effectiveness of modal verbs, personification and active voice in persuasive letters.
Key Notes
- Using words with medium and high modality can convey a sense of confidence and obligation onto your writing.
- However, only using words with high modality can make your tone seem too direct.
- Using personification can create an emotional connection between the reader and the subject.
- Using active voice can ensure the reader's focus is on the subject.
Vocabulary To Learn
- persuade: convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument
- modal verbs: verbs that indicate likelihood, ability, permission or obligation
- active voice: where the subject of the sentence performs the action onto the object
- direct: moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping
- obligation: an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That you should always use words with high modality (must, need, have to) to make your writing seem persuasive.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Using words with medium and high modality can convey a sense of confidence and obligation onto your writing. However, only using words with high modality can make your tone seem too direct.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'persuade'
convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: That you should always use words with high modality (must, need, have to) to make your writing seem persuasive. Correction: Exclusively using words with high modality can make your tone seem too direct and, therefore, make the reader feel defensive.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Conceptualising letter-writing and understanding the letter form Study Guide
- Considering and using active and passive voice in persuasive letter writing Study Guide
- Considering and using personification in persuasive letter writing Study Guide
- Using modality in persuasive letter writing Study Guide
- Using modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter Study Guide
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