Starter quiz
- Which cohesive device has been used here? 'The police have been hopeless: they have hardly done any investigation at all.'
- relative complex sentence
- semi-colon
- compound sentence
- colon to explain ✓
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- Which cohesive device has been used here? 'I know you will be more helpful because you have skills that the police do not.'
- relative complex sentence
- adverbial complex sentence ✓
- compound sentence
- colon to explain
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- Which cohesive devices could be used to connect these two ideas? 'I was hoping the police would be helpful. They have not been of any use.'
- the co-ordinating conjunction 'but' ✓
- the fronted adverbial 'however' following a semi-colon ✓
- the subordinating conjunction 'as'
- the fronted adverbial 'in addition' following a semi-colon
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- Which example joins these ideas correctly? 'I am desperate for your help. I am completely desperate.'
- I am desperate completely desperate for your help.
- I am desperate - completely desperate - for your help. ✓
- I am desperate (I am completely desperate) for your help.
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- Which example uses a colon to explain correctly?
- I am furious: they have been completely useless. ✓
- I am furious they have: been completely useless.
- I am furious they have been: completely useless.
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- Which two persuasive techniques are used here? 'I know that you will have already thought of a solution: your incredible powers of investigation are unmatched.'
- rhetorical question
- presumption ✓
- flattery ✓
- veiled threat
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Exit quiz
- Which of these examples are expressions of gratitude?
- I am so thankful to you for taking the time to read this letter. ✓
- You have now read all my arguments.
- I have set out what I believe to be true; now, you can decide whether to help.
- Thank you so much for taking the time to consider this matter. ✓
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- Which of the following are we likely to find in the conclusion to a persuasive letter?
- a respectful sign-off ✓
- detailed reasons and evidence
- an expression of gratitude ✓
- a range of persuasive techniques ✓
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- Which of the following expressions of gratitude have the appropriate formal tone for a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes?
- I truly appreciate you considering this matter. ✓
- Thanks so much for reading my letter!
- I am truly grateful to you for having taken this matter seriously. ✓
- I'm so glad you've read this letter.
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- Which example here uses a semi-colon correctly?
- Thank you so much for your help it is; truly appreciated.
- Thank you so much; for your help it is truly appreciated.
- Thank you so much for your help; it is truly appreciated. ✓
- Thank you; so much for your help it is truly appreciated.
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- Which of these is not a rhetorical question?
- So are you going to help? ✓
- Surely you can see that you must help?
- Do you not agree that this must be resolved immediately?
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- Which is the most appropriate sign-off to a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes?
- Can't wait to hear from you,
- Yours faithfully, ✓
- All the very best,
- Lots of love,
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Writing is most successful when structure, content and vocabulary are planned.
- The conclusion should use a range of persuasive techniques to drive home the point of the letter.
- Within the paragraph, ideas are connected using cohesive devices.
- A formal letter finishes with a sign-off from the writer.
Common misconception
Pupils may use a semi-colon in an incorrect position.
What is either side of the semi-colon must be capable of being a complete sentence; the two parts must be closely-related to each other in meaning and content.
Keywords
Persuasive technique - a structure or device used in writing to try to change someone’s mind or behaviour
Cohesive devices - language structures that develop text cohesion
Semi-colon - a punctuation mark used to connect two complete sentences
Gratitude - thankfulness to someone for something they have done
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