Lesson video

Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's lesson.

Today, we are going to be writing part one of the main body of our persuasive letter using inspiration from a text.

In today's lesson, you will be using your plan to write the first part of the main body of a persuasive letter, inspired by the text front desk.

Here are some keywords, we are going to be using.

Credibility.

Evidence.

Veiled threats.

Presumption.

Well done.

Credibility is the fact that someone can be believed or trusted.

Evidence is facts or statistics used to back up a point.

Veiled threat is when the writer subtly threatens the reader.

Presumption is when the writer guesses or assumes the reader's opinion based on their character or their position.

Today, we're going to be writing part one of the main body of a persuasive letter, inspired by the text front desk.

We're going to begin by preparing ourselves for writing.

Then we're going to move on to writing part one of the main body.

Our persuasive letter can be structured like this.

We begin with an introduction.

Point one is the main body, paragraph one, which is all about the physical health benefits that the community playground would bring.

Point two is all about the mental health benefits of the playground.

And finally, we can end on our conclusion.

The introduction is the first paragraph of the letter.

It states the letter's purpose, arguments, or points.

The main body paragraphs explore key persuasive points in detail, backed up by evidence.

And finally, the concluding paragraph summarises the key information of the letter and it outlines the next steps.

We've already written our introduction and we've already planned our point one paragraph, all about children's physical health.

Now, today, we are going to use that plan to write this paragraph.

The purpose of a main body paragraph is to do all of these things.

We want to engage our reader, specify a key argument, and give the reader specific information.

Specific information is factual and detailed.

We can use this visual to help us remember to give specific, factual, detailed information in our main body paragraph.

This is helped by the fact that we'll be backing up our points with specific facts, statistics, and evidence and personal experiences.

The purpose of this letter is to convince your local council to fund a community playground in your local area.

To persuade your reader, you need to clearly outline some key benefits the playground would bring to your community.

We need to write really clearly and concisely in our main body paragraphs in order to persuade our recipient.

When writing persuasively, there are several persuasive techniques we can use.

Flattery.

Presumption.

Veiled threat.

Evidence.

We used flattery and presumption as persuasive techniques when we wrote the introduction.

Today, we're going to focus on using veiled threat and evidence.

Using these techniques appropriately can add credibility to our writing and make our writing more persuasive.

How credible our letter sounds means how trustworthy or reasonable it is.

Our recipient is much more likely to be persuaded to help us if they feel that they can trust the evidence that we give them.

Let's review these techniques now.

How can we add credibility to the point that the playground would benefit children's physical health? a, by including anecdotal evidence and personal experiences, b, by quoting evidence and statistics from trusted sources, c, writing in a formal tone.

Pause a video while you decide.

Well done if you spotted the a, b, and c, all add credibility to our persuasive writing.

This is something that we want to make sure, we achieve in our writing today.

Now, it's time for your first task.

Consider the key argument of the first paragraph of the main body that the community playground will benefit children's physical health.

Note down at least two pieces of evidence or personal experiences to add credibility to this claim.

If quoting research, makes sure to include the source of this information.

You could use these sentence scaffolds to help you.

Let's read them together.

According, hmm, official data, from my own personal experiences, pause the video while you complete your task.

Great work, everyone.

Here are some example sentences you might have written.

It's unlikely that they're going to be the exact same as your sentences, and that's great because we like to have variation in our ideas.

But if there is a sentence that I've written that you would like to magpie, you can do that too.

Let's read this sentence together.

According to the NHS's official data, children who were physically active for a daily average of 60 minutes significantly reduced their risk of future health problems. From my own personal experiences, I have noticed an improvement in my sleep when I have been physically active during the day.

This has also considerably improved my ability to focus in lessons.

Veiled threat is when the writer subtly threatens the reader.

We must use this technique carefully.

If we threaten the reader in an inappropriate or an aggressive way, they won't be open to persuasion.

They won't want to help us.

When considering how to use veiled threat effectively, we must consider our recipient, their character, their position and what is important to them.

There's no point in threatening somebody with something that they don't really care about.

That's not going to be very effective.

Now, our recipient is a local government councillor.

What might be important to them? Have a think.

And you could discuss this question with a partner.

A local councillor might care about a few things.

They might want to please their voters, they want to be re-elected.

We could tap into that with our veiled threat.

Which example of veiled threat will most effectively persuade our recipient? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you spotted the a is the correct example.

If voters were to perceive that you do not care for the needs of young people, this may be reflected in poor results at the next election.

Now, time for your second task.

Consider the key argument of the first paragraph of the main body that the community playground will benefit children's physical health.

Note down at least one example of veiled threat that you could use to subtly threaten and persuade your recipient.

You could use these scaffolds to help you.

If you were to refuse to tackle this issue.

Or as I'm certain you're aware, local elections are coming up soon and.

Pause the video while you complete your task.

Well done, everyone.

Here are some sentences you might include.

If you were to refuse to tackle this issue, voters' dissatisfaction with local government's lack of action may affect your party's chances of re-election.

Or as I'm certain you are aware, local elections are coming up soon and constituents have voice that children's wellbeing is a key issue for them.

Brilliant work, everyone.

Now that we've prepared ourselves for writing, it's time for us to write part one of the main body.

When we write, we always try to do these things.

We plan and say each sentence before we write it.

We use punctuation when we know the rules.

We showcase each sentence type we know.

We write letters neatly on the line in joined handwriting.

And we use spelling strategies to help spell words correctly.

We also check and improve our writing when we think we finished.

This is the success criteria that you will use today.

Let's read it together.

I have maintained a formal tone throughout the paragraph.

I have used evidence to enhance my writing's credibility.

I have used presumption to persuade the recipient.

I have used veiled threat to persuade the recipient.

Let's review our planning for the main body.

Here's my plan.

Let's read that one through together first, and then you can have some time to read your plan.

So my introductory sentence, I have included these notes.

To begin, or first and foremost, one primary benefit is two children's of the playground would be two children's physical health or wellbeing.

According to the most recent NHS data, there are higher levels of illness among children and young people.

This could be overcome with increased physical activity.

For example, the NHS recommends at least 60 minutes daily exercise for children.

The park would provide a safe playing space.

And encourage activity in team sports.

The link between improve physical health and improve mental health is well-documented and researched.

There are proven links between physical activity and improve mental wellbeing.

Take a moment to reread your planning.

Are there any edits you would like to make or any further ideas you would like to add before we begin writing? Well done, everyone.

First, I'm going to show you how to draught the main body paragraph of this letter.

You're going to help me check that I've met my success criteria.

Okay, everyone.

So I've stuck in my success criteria and I've written my topic sentence.

"To begin, a primary benefit of the community playground would be the positive impact on children's physical health." Now I need, I've made my point and now I need to back it up with evidence.

So I'm looking at my plan and I'm going with, according to recent NHS data, so I've actually specified that it's recent because that also adds more credibility to, it's not out-of-date, it's the most up-to-date research.

According to recent NHS data, the recommended 60 minutes, the recommended daily 60 minutes of exercise.

Exercise would provide much-needed opportunities, would provide much-needed.

No, this is a tricky word or opportunities for children to play safely.

Now, I am gonna expand on that slightly.

So really to make this really, really clear of how this evidence links to the key point.

So if they're able to play safely, this is going to be encouraging them.

So encouraging physical activity and participation in team sports.

So remember when we are writing persuasively, we need to make sure our points are crystal clear, so that our reader understands exactly what we are asking of them or the point that we are making.

Okay, so let's reread that sentence.

"According to recent NHS data, the recommended daily 60 minutes of exercise would provide much-needed opportunities for children to play safely, encouraging physical activity and participation in team sports." Now, I'm gonna go in with some presumption.

I have no doubt that you are already aware of the proven link.

Now this is my linking sentence, so I want to kind of give a little bit of a nod to the next section.

So I'm gonna link now, physical wellbeing to mental health between physical wellbeing and mental health.

I'm gonna do a dash it.

Now again, I'm making it really, really clear.

Now I want to put it back on the councillors that we all understand this is a really important issue.

The playground would help alleviate some of the problems that can lead to these issues.

So as councillors, it's your job to help the community by doing this, okay? It is therefore evident.

Remember, I'm keeping it really formal that the playground, no, I could say that the playground is vital, but I did that in my introduction.

I used the word vital.

So I'm gonna go with is crucial, means the same thing, but I'm varying that language across different paragraphs is crucial to our community's wellbeing.

And I'm not just saying children's wellbeing because actually children's wellbeing is the whole community's wellbeing, isn't it? So it's best or better for our entire community if our children's physical and mental health is well looked after.

And now, I'm gonna finish on some veiled threat.

Remember, we're writing to a local council, so they're gonna care what voters care about.

So it is therefore evident that the playground is crucial to our community's wellbeing and is an issue that voters issue that voters feel incredibly strongly about.

Okay, now that's me finished off with my linking sentence.

Let's just have quick look read through.

"To begin, a primary benefit of the community playground would be the positive impact on children's physical health.

According to recent.

." So I have maintained a formal tone through the paragraph.

Now let's see.

Have I used evidence? "According to recent NHS data, the recommended daily 60 minutes of exercise would provide much-needed opportunities for children to play safely, encouraging physical activity and participation in team sports." So I've used NHS data and I've also referred to my discussions with voters there to also back up my point.

Presumption is the next one.

"I have no doubt that you are already aware of the proven link between physical wellbeing and mental health." So here I'm presuming that the recipient already knows and understands this data.

"It is therefore evident that the playground is crucial to our community's wellbeing and is an issue that voters feel incredibly strongly about." So I've landed here by referring to how this is a key voting issue.

So I've ended on some veiled threat.

I've met all of my success criteria, and thank you so much for your help with writing this paragraph.

Thank you so much for your help, just now, everyone.

Now, it's your turn.

Using your success criteria and your plan to guide you, draught the main body of your persuasive letter.

Make sure you re-read each sentence as you write and check for edits and improvements you can make.

Pause the video while you complete your task.

Brilliant work, everyone.

Here is an example outcome that we may have included.

To begin, I am certain that you're already aware that the physical health of the young people in our community is vital.

Studies have shown that access to outdoor play facilities not only promotes physical health, but also enhances cognitive development and social skills in children.

By investing in a community playground, we are investing in the future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of our town.

In my discussions with local constituents, it has become clear that children's health is a key voting issue.

Surely you will agree that funding this community playground should therefore be at the top of your agenda if you wish to seek re-election? Now, take a moment to reread through your writing and double-check that your writing has met all the success criteria.

If you would like to, you could also magpie some ideas from my model.

Great work, everyone.

Well done, everyone.

That brings us to the end of our lesson where we have been writing part one of the main body of a persuasive letter, inspired by a text.

The purpose of the main body of a persuasive letter is to clearly state the writer's most persuasive points, maintaining the credibility of their argument.

Specific information should be used in the main body paragraphs to further explain the writer's points and to add supporting evidence.

Veiled threat, evidence and presumption can be used to help persuade the reader.

Plans and success criteria can be used to support the writing process.

I hope you're feeling so proud of the writing that you have produced in our lesson, today.

Well done!.