Identifying features of a persuasive letter written to Sherlock Holmes
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify the structure and persuasive techniques in a letter written to Sherlock Holmes.
Key learning points
- We can imagine Sherlock Holmes receiving lots of letters from potential clients asking him to help.
- We can imagine Holmes would only take on interesting cases, perhaps from people in desperate need.
- A letter to Holmes would have been formal in tone, given his position in society.
- A persuasive letter contains elements of both persuasion and explanation.
- The explanation must be coherent and a range of persuasive devices can be used.
Keywords
Persuasive writing - writing where we are trying to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour
Explanation - the detailed steps that led to something happening
Persuasive techniques - language structures or devices used in writing to try to change someone’s mind or behaviour
Formal tone - the effect created by using serious, factual language
Common misconception
Pupils may confuse rhetorical questions and standard questions.
Most questions demand an answer; in a rhetorical question, the question itself contains the implied, expected answer.
Teacher tip
The tone of a formal persuasive letter can seem archaic - you may want to create and read several examples to tune children in to this tone, or you may wish to gather a bank of phrases that show this formality.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Some things are made explicit by the author. Other things we must __________ from what is written.
Q2.What inferences can we make from the following description? 'Watson was astonished to see Holmes standing over his bed at 3 o'clock in the morning, holding a pile of case notes.'
Q3.What character trait is shown in the following description? 'Holmes could instantly tell that the man was lying.'
Q4.What character trait is shown in the following description? 'I considered correcting him, but I decided not to.'
Q5.Which word means 'calm under pressure'?
Q6.Which description shows that Holmes is 'unflappable'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following might make Sherlock Holmes want to take on a case?
Q2.Put the features of a persuasive letter in the order they appear.
Q3.Where in a persuasive letter would we most likely find the explanation of what needs investigating?
Q4.Which persuasive language feature has been used in the following sentence? 'Only you are capable of solving this mystery!'
Q5.Which persuasive language feature has been used in the following sentence? 'I look forward to hearing your solution in due course.'
Q6.Which of the following questions is a rhetorical question?
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Identifying features of a persuasive letter written to Sherlock Holmes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Identifying features of a persuasive letter written to Sherlock Holmes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'Sherlock Holmes': descriptive and letter writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.