Key learning points

1. We can imagine Sherlock Holmes receiving lots of letters from potential clients asking him to help.
2. We can imagine Holmes would only take on interesting cases, perhaps from people in desperate need.
3. A letter to Holmes would have been formal in tone, given his position in society.
4. A persuasive letter contains elements of both persuasion and explanation.
5. 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