Starter quiz
- Which of the following features is not included in an introduction to a persuasive letter?
- introductory sentence saying why you are writing
- summary of what has happened
- persuasive techniques
- detailed reasons and evidence for why the reader should help ✓
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- What makes the following a good introductory sentence? 'I know you are a very busy and important man; however, I need your assistance with a very serious problem.'
- It includes a semi-colon to improve text cohesion. ✓
- It includes a piece of flattery. ✓
- It includes a summary of the events that have occurred.
- It says why you are writing. ✓
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- What is the purpose of using cohesive devices?
- to improve the flow of the text ✓
- to show how ideas connect together ✓
- to separate ideas
- to combine ideas into one sentence ✓
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- Which cohesive device is shown in the following sentence? 'Although there were no signs of injury on the body, large dog prints were found nearby.'
- complex sentence ✓
- compound sentence
- fronted adverbial
- semi-colon
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- Which cohesive devices are seen in the following sentence? 'The police have thoroughly investigated; despite this, they have not found anything.'
- relative complex sentence
- formal fronted adverbial ✓
- adverbial complex sentence
- semi-colon ✓
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- Why is a veiled threat an effective persuasive technique?
- It makes the reader feel valued and respected.
- It makes the reader feel guilty for not helping. ✓
- It makes the reader feel scared of the writer.
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Exit quiz
- Which of the following will we include in a persuasive paragraph of our letter to Sherlock Holmes?
- a reason why we think Holmes should investigate ✓
- evidence to support the reason ✓
- a summary of what has happened
- persuasive techniques ✓
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- Which of the following is not a persuasive technique?
- presumption
- flattery
- reason ✓
- veiled threat
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- Which sentences include a persuasive technique?
- Many local people feel very unsafe.
- If you refuse to help, they will continue to suffer. ✓
- Some people are threatening to leave the village.
- Surely you must want to prevent this happening? ✓
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- After which word should the colon be placed in the following sentence? 'I urgently need your help the community is feeling very unsafe.'
- need
- your
- help ✓
- community
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- Which sentence has a colon for explanation in the correct position?
- I am in danger if the Hound: is real it is said to kill members of my family.
- I am in danger if the Hound is real it is said to kill: members of my family.
- I am in danger if the Hound is real it is said: to kill members of my family.
- I am in danger if the Hound is real: it is said to kill members of my family. ✓
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- Which persuasive technique is used in the following sentence? 'Without your help, I am concerned that the village itself will soon be deserted.'
- veiled threat ✓
- flattery
- presumption
- rhetorical question
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Writing is most successful when it is planned.
- The paragraph should give a reason (followed by evidence to support that reason) why the recipient should help.
- We should include a range of persuasive techniques in the paragraph.
- Within the paragraph, ideas are connected using cohesive devices.
- A colon can be used after a main clause to introduce an explanation which is also a main clause.
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle to use a colon to explain correctly.
Explain that there must be what could be a complete sentence on either side of the colon and the section after the colon must explain what comes before the colon.
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
Colon - a piece of punctuation placed after a complete sentence that can introduce an explanation
Reason - an explanation or justification
Evidence - information or facts to show something is true
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