Writing an open letter
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write an open letter using emotive language, antithesis and satire.
Key learning points
- Open letters are letter written to a particular person or group but which are made publicly available for all to read.
- Siegfried Sassoon uses antithesis, emotive language and personal pronouns to make his open letter a powerful protest.
- The methods used in an open letter will differ depending on the purpose of writing.
- Satire can also be used in open letters to criticise a person or idea in an amusing way.
- Successful satire usually involves any of the following: a clear target, humour, exaggeration, irony and parody.
Keywords
Antithesis - the direct opposite
Satire - a humorous way of criticising ideas or people, especially to make a political point
Blunt - saying what you think without trying to be polite
Parody - to copy the style of something or someone else in a humorous way
Common misconception
Students may think that Sassoon's style of open letter is the only way to write an open letter.
Open letters can have a range of purposes. Those that will never be read by the recipient or where the writer doesn't expect to create change (e.g. open letter to Mondays) will typically involve more humour.
Teacher tip
Before students write their own short open letter in LC2, create a sentence using satire as a class, under the visualiser or on the whiteboard to ensure confidence in this technique.
Equipment
You will need Siegfried Sassoon's 'A Soldier's Declaration'. It is available in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the terminology with the correct definition.
the type of text
the reason for the writing
the intended reader of the text
Q2.What is an open letter?
Q3.Every open letter is prompted by ...
Q4.Which of the following uses emotive language?
Q5.What does it mean to analyse a piece of writing?
Q6.Which of the below uses colloquial language?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What word beginning with 's' would you use to describe the criticism of someone or something in a humorous way?
Q2.What does it mean to parody?
Q3.Which of the below sentences uses satire?
Q4.Who does Sassoon write his open letter 'A Soldier's Declaration' on behalf of?
Q5.Which of the below is not an ingredient of satire?
Q6."I am not protesting against the military conduct of the War, but against the political errors and insincerities ...". This sentence uses:
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Writing an open letter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Writing an open letter, 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.
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