Using modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter.
Key learning points
- Offering ideas for further steps to the recipient of your letter can make your argument more persuasive.
- Using words with medium and high modality can convey confidence and a sense of obligation.
- Using personification can evoke an emotional reaction in the reader.
- Using active voice can focus the reader’s attention onto the subject.
Keywords
Persuade - convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument
Modal verbs - verbs that indicate likelihood, ability, permission or obligation
Direct - moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping
Active voice - where the subject of the sentence performs the action onto the object
Obligation - an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment
Common misconception
That you should be very direct, almost aggressive in your persuasive writing.
While directness can convey confidence, an overly direct tone can be off-putting for the recipient and cause them to become defensive.
Teacher tip
You could ask pupils to write their persuasive letter for homework if you'd prefer to spend more time on the planning aspect.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human' is the definition of ...
Q2.'Verbs that indicate likelihood, ability, permission or obligation' is the definition of verbs.
Q3.'To convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument' is the definition of which word beginning with 'p'?
Q4.In formal letter writing, the sender's address goes ...
Q5.In formal letter writing, the date goes ...
Q6.Match the words with the level of modality.
low modality
medium modality
high modality
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Q2.Which use of personification creates a positive reaction?
Q3.Using words with low modality in your writing can indicate a sense of ...
Q4.'An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment' is the definition of which word beginning with 'o'?
Q5.Which example uses passive voice?
Q6.Which of the following sentences uses words with high modality?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Using modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Using modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive 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.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Non-fiction: letter writing unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.