KS1 & KS2 English curriculum

This unit uses and builds on using persuasive devices in the Year 5 unit 'School uniform: persuasive letter writing'. Pupils continue to use flattery, questioning, presumption and veiled threat with increasing sophistication to persuade the recipient of the letter, this time working to include robust reasons and evidence to persuade a detective to take on a case. To persuade effectively, pupils build knowledge of the character of Sherlock Holmes ahead of letter writing. This unit prepares pupils for more character analysis in the Year 6 unit ''A Kind of Spark': narrative writing'.

1. Building knowledge of the historical context of 'Sherlock Holmes'
2. Understanding 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'
3. Exploring conventions of detective fiction
4. Exploring vocabulary for a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'
5. Planning a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'
6. Writing the first half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'
7. Writing the second half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'
8. Analysing the main character in 'Sherlock Holmes'
9. Identifying features of a persuasive letter written to Sherlock Holmes
10. Exploring a fictional mystery in the Victorian era
11. Generating persuasive techniques for a letter to Sherlock Holmes
12. Writing the introduction to a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes
13. Writing the first paragraph of a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes
14. Writing the second paragraph of a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes
15. Writing the conclusion of a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes
16. Peer editing a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes

• A letter can be written or typed and sent to a recipient as a means of communication.
• A letter can be sent in an envelope via post.
• Persuasive techniques can be used in a letter to persuade the reader of the writer's position.
• Flattery, veiled threat and presumption are examples of persuasive techniques.
• Reasoning is used to strengthen the writer's position in a persuasive letter.
• Evidence or anecdotes may be used to justify points in a persuasive letter.
• Letters can be written to people known to us or not known to us.
• Letters can be formal in tone or colloquial in tone.
• The introduction and conclusion of a persuasive letter often mirror each other.
• Paragraphs of a persuasive letter are ordered coherently.