Year 5 - English
Understanding the purpose, layout and features of a persuasive letter
'Front Desk': persuasive 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 take inspiration from a scene in the text 'Front Desk' to write a persuasive letter to elected councillors. They build up persuasive writing skills, including flattery, presumption, evidence and veiled threat. Pupils apply a variety of conventions of formal letter writing.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify the purpose and features of a persuasive letter in preparation for writing based on 'Front Desk'.
Key Notes
- To persuade is to convince someone to do something through reasoning or argument.
- A persuasive letter is often highly formal in tone.
- Paragraphs are used to structure a persuasive letter.
- Flattery, presumption and veiled threat are examples of persuasive devices.
- A persuasive letter contains an address, return address, greeting and sign-off.
Vocabulary To Learn
- purpose: the aim of the text
- persuasion: the action or process of trying to change someone's mind or behaviour
- recipient: the person who receives a letter
- linguistic feature: language features that help the text achieve its purpose
- persuasive technique: a structure or device used in writing to try to change someone's mind or behaviour
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may be unaware of the layout features of a formal letter.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
To persuade is to convince someone to do something through reasoning or argument. A persuasive letter is often highly formal in tone.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'purpose'
the aim of the text.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may be unaware of the layout features of a formal letter. Correction: Ensure that pupils know that a persuasive letter starts with the date, a greeting, is organised by paragraphs and ends with a sign-off.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Editing the main body of a persuasive letter, inspired by a text Study Guide
- Identifying linguistic features and persuasive techniques Study Guide
- Planning and writing the conclusion of a persuasive letter, inspired by a text Study Guide
- Planning part one of the main body of a persuasive letter Study Guide
- Planning part two of the main body of a persuasive letter Study Guide
- Planning the introduction of a persuasive letter, using inspiration from a text Study Guide
- Reading aloud a persuasive letter, inspired by a text Study Guide
- Understanding the context of 'Front Desk' Study Guide
- Writing part one of the main body of a persuasive letter, inspired by a text Study Guide
- Writing part two of the main body of a persuasive letter, inspired by a text Study Guide
- Writing the introduction of a persuasive letter, using inspiration from a text Study Guide
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