Key learning points

1. The purpose of a persuasive letter is to try to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour.
2. Letters written from a character's point of view are written in the first person.
3. A persuasive letter has a specific layout: a salutation, two paragraphs and a sign-off.
4. Persuasive letters have distinctive linguistic features in order to achieve their purpose.
5. A range of persuasive techniques can be used to increase the pressure on the reader to act.

Keywords

• Purpose - the aim of the text

• Persuasive writing - trying to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour

• Layout - the way a text is structured

• Persuasive techniques - language structures or devices used in writing to try to change someone’s mind or behaviour

Common misconception