Lesson video

Hello, it's Mr. Brown here with your English lesson for today, and we are going to be planning the introduction of a persuasive letter.

So let's get started, shall we? The outcome for today's lesson is I can plan the introduction of a persuasive letter about school uniform.

The key words we will be using in this lesson are purpose, formal tone, and introduction.

Let's say those together.

My turn first and then your turn, purpose, formal tone, introduction.

Perfect, well done.

Let's look at the definition for those words.

The purpose is the aim of the text.

Formal refers to a style of writing, which is serious, impersonal, and factual in tone.

An introduction is the opening paragraph of a nonfiction text that encourages the reader to read on.

The lesson outline, we will start our lesson today by looking at the introduction of a persuasive letter.

Then we'll move on to planning the introduction.

We are writing a persuasive letter to the Prime Minister to persuade them to make school uniform compulsory across the United Kingdom.

And compulsory means that everybody has to do it, so everybody would have to wear a school uniform.

This is a formal letter, and therefore should be written using a formal tone.

Formal writing can be identified by its serious, unemotional and impersonal tone.

Formal tone is the effect created by choosing serious and factual language.

Let's check our understanding.

Formal writing can be identified by its A, relaxed and personal tone, B, serious unemotional and impersonal tone, or C, emotive language and personal anecdotes.

Formal writing can be identified by A, B, or C? Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Let's see if you were right.

Formal writing can be identified by its serious unemotional and impersonal tone.

Well done if you said B.

This is a formal letter, and therefore should follow the standard way to structure a formal letter.

There are three areas we need to carefully adhere to, which means stick to when writing a formal letter.

Number one is the address and date.

There is a way of presenting the address and date in a formal letter, and we have to stick to it.

Number two, the greeting and complimentary close.

So the way you open your letter and close your letter in terms of a greeting and a complimentary close, the way you say goodbye.

And number three paragraphs, we have to write in paragraphs, and we will look at that as we analyse and move forward to write this letter.

Let's look at an example of the address, date and beginning of a persuasive letter to see what we are aiming for.

Ah, so here we can see we have the sender's address in the top right corner, aligned right, so aligned to the right side of the page.

We have the date also aligned to the right underneath the sender's address, we have the recipient's address, the person who the letter is to, and a greeting.

"Dear Prime Minister" with a comma at the end.

In today's lesson, we'll be focusing on the introduction of our persuasive letter.

The introduction is the opening paragraph of a nonfiction text that encourages the reader to read on.

And it's the same in our letter.

We want the reader to be able to read that introduction, know what this letter is all about and want to keep reading.

Here is an example of an introduction.

My name is Mr. Brown, and I am a teacher at Oak National Academy.

I have noticed that there are many schools across the country that do not require their pupils to wear a uniform.

Consequently, I am writing to ask you to make school uniform compulsory, as I believe this will have a hugely positive impact on children throughout the United Kingdom.

Let's check our understanding.

The introduction is found in which part of a letter? Is it A, the beginning, B, the ending, or C, both? A, B.

C, you decide.

Pause the video and make a decision now.

Welcome back.

Let's see if you found the right answer.

The introduction is found in the beginning of a letter.

Well done if you said A, the beginning.

The introduction of a formal letter should include the following three sentences: an introductory sentence, a sentence setting up the argument, and a sentence where you reveal the purpose of the letter.

Let's look at each sentence in more detail.

So here we have an introductory sentence.

It's "My name is Mr. Brown, "and I'm a teacher at Oak National Academy." This sentence establishes the identity of the writer, who they are and states what their position is in the context of the letter.

In this example, the sentence provides credibility to the letter by indicating that it comes from a teacher who likely has firsthand and knowledge about educational matters.

So in this first sentence, I've revealed what my name is and what position I am.

I'm a teacher, and who I work for, Oak National Academy.

So straight away I've told the reader who is sending a letter, what position they have as well, and that gives some credibility because the fact I'm a teacher and my letter is about an educational matter.

So I have some experience about that.

Let's look at number two, setting up the argument.

I have noticed that there are many schools across the country that do not require their pupils to wear a uniform.

So this sentence highlights an observation made, something I've noticed, indicating that a prevalent issue within schools has been identified.

It sets up the argument by introducing the topic of school uniforms and implying that there are inconsistencies across the country in this area.

So this is setting up the argument.

Then number three, the purpose of the letter.

"Consequently, I'm writing to ask you "to make school uniform compulsory, "as I believe this will have a hugely positive impact "on children throughout the United Kingdom." This sentence states the purpose of the letter.

It expresses a belief that implementing a compulsory school uniform policy would be beneficial for children nationwide.

It serves as the call to action urging the recipient to consider and potentially act upon the proposal.

Let's check our understanding.

Which of these sentences would not feature in an introduction? Is it A, an introductory sentence? B, a concluding sentence.

C, a sentence sharing the purpose of the letter.

A, B, and C, which one would not feature in an introduction? Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Let's see if you were right.

So we know A, an introductory sentence does feature in an instruction, and we also know that C, a sentence showing the purpose of the letter features in an instruction.

So B, a concluding sentence was the correct answer.

It would not feature in an introduction.

Well done if you said B.

Time for a task.

Match each sentence to its purpose within an introduction.

So we have an introductory sentence, setting up the argument and the purpose of the letter.

Which one states the purpose of the letter and serves as the call to action? Which one establishes the identity of the writer and states what their position is in the context of the letter? And which one highlights an observation made indicating that an issue has been identified? Pause the video and match each sentence to its purpose within an introduction now.

Welcome back.

Let's see if you were right.

So an introductory sentence establishes the identity of the writer and states what their position is in the context of the letter.

A sentence setting up the argument.

Well that highlights an observation made indicating that an issue has been identified.

And the purpose of the letter, well, that states the purpose of the letter and serves as the call to action.

Well done if you matched those correctly.

Let's move on to planning the introduction.

We will now plan the introduction of our own persuasive letter to the Prime Minister asking for school uniform to become compulsory.

We will write in note form and use this structure.

So you can see we have a structure which has three parts.

One for each sentence in the introduction.

When writing in note form, we will A, write in full sentences, B, not write in full sentences or C, use full sentence punctuation.

A, B, or C? When writing in note form, we will which one? Pause the video and decide now.

Welcome back.

Let's see if you were right.

When writing in note form, we will B not write in full sentences.

We will not write in full sentences when we are writing in note form.

Okay, let's have a look first of all at our introductory sentence.

So this is the sentence which establishes the identity of the writer.

So you need to say who you are and states what their position is in the context of the letter.

So if this letter was about football, and you were a fan of a particular team or you were a player in your local football side, then that would be your position.

When I wrote the letter, I used my position as a teacher to be able to give some context.

You are going to be writing from the position of a pupil.

So that's your position.

So you may say that you are a pupil.

You might want to say what year group you're in and what school you go to.

So let's have a look.

I have put Mr. Brown Dash teacher at Oak National Academy.

Now that's not a full sentence, and that's absolutely fine.

We are writing in notes form in our planning.

Number two.

This sentence highlights an observation made indicating that a prevalent issue within schools has been identified.

So I've put here noticed many schools across UK don't require uniform.

And that's it.

This sentence, remember it sets up the argument by introducing the topic of school uniforms. So that's all we need to do.

And number three, well this is where you give the purpose of your letter.

It expresses a belief that implementing a compulsory school uniform policy would be beneficial for children nationwide and it serves as the call to action.

So I've put consequently make a school uniform compulsory.

Positive impact across the UK.

That's it.

So now it's over to you.

I would like your you to write your plan for the introduction of your own persuasive letter to the Prime Minister asking for school uniform to become compulsory.

Now remember, we are writing in note form, and we're using this structure.

You have a row for your introductory sentence, a row for setting up the argument, and a row for the purpose of the letter.

Your job is to make notes.

Okay, it's over to you now.

Pause the video and write the notes for your plan for the introduction now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Let's see how you got on.

So for my introductory sentence, I just had Mr. Brown dash teacher at Oak National Academy.

Setting up the argument, I've put noticed many schools across UK don't require uniform, and purpose of the letter, simply consequently make a school uniform compulsory dash positive impact across the UK.

You might notice that I have used a capital letter and a comma after consequently, and that's because I know that that is going to start my sentence.

It's a type of formal adverbial, formal front adverbial that we will look at in future lessons.

But I've given it the capital letter 'cause I know that will start my sentence.

So it just helps me to remember to include a capital letter for that particular word.

Let's summarise the learning that we've done today.

A formal letter should be written using a formal tone.

Formal writing can be identified by its serious, unemotional and impersonal tone.

An introduction can contain three sentences, an introductory sentence, a sentence setting up the argument, and a sentence sharing the purpose of the letter.

Brilliant work Today.

I am sure that you are now familiar with the introduction, planned and ready to write in the future.

I will see you again very soon.