New
New
Year 6

Identifying features of a persuasive letter written to Sherlock Holmes

I can identify the structure and persuasive techniques in a letter written to Sherlock Holmes.

New
New
Year 6

Identifying features of a persuasive letter written to Sherlock Holmes

I can identify the structure and persuasive techniques in a letter written to Sherlock Holmes.

Lesson details

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.

Common misconception

Pupils may confuse rhetorical questions and standard questions.

Most questions demand an answer; in a rhetorical question, the question itself contains the implied, expected answer.

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

The tone of a formal persuasive letter can seem archaic - you may want to create and read several examples to tune children in to this tone, or you may wish to gather a bank of phrases that show this formality.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Some things are made explicit by the author. Other things we must __________ from what is written.
create
Correct answer: infer
deduct
embellish
Q2.
What inferences can we make from the following description? 'Watson was astonished to see Holmes standing over his bed at 3 o'clock in the morning, holding a pile of case notes.'
Correct answer: Holmes can sometimes be presumptuous.
Correct answer: Holmes is single-minded when he wants to solve a crime.
Holmes is always considerate towards others.
Holmes cares a lot about Watson.
Q3.
What character trait is shown in the following description? 'Holmes could instantly tell that the man was lying.'
diffident
presumptuous
assertive
Correct answer: shrewd
Q4.
What character trait is shown in the following description? 'I considered correcting him, but I decided not to.'
Correct answer: diffident
presumptuous
unflappable
shrewd
Q5.
Which word means 'calm under pressure'?
presumptuous
diffident
Correct answer: unflappable
shrewd
Q6.
Which description shows that Holmes is 'unflappable'?
Holmes barely looked up as Watson came in.
Correct answer: Holmes raised an eyebrow as the man raised his gun.
Holmes told the man, "Get out!"

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following might make Sherlock Holmes want to take on a case?
It is easy to solve.
Correct answer: It is a complex puzzle.
Correct answer: The person is in desperate need of help.
The police can solve it themselves.
Q2.
Put the features of a persuasive letter in the order they appear.
1 - salutation
2 - introduction
3 - paragraph 1
4 - paragraph 2
5 - conclusion
6 - sign-off
Q3.
Where in a persuasive letter would we most likely find the explanation of what needs investigating?
Correct answer: introduction
paragraph 1
paragraph 2
conclusion
Q4.
Which persuasive language feature has been used in the following sentence? 'Only you are capable of solving this mystery!'
Correct answer: flattery
veiled threat
presumption
rhetorical question
Q5.
Which persuasive language feature has been used in the following sentence? 'I look forward to hearing your solution in due course.'
flattery
veiled threat
Correct answer: presumption
rhetorical question
Q6.
Which of the following questions is a rhetorical question?
Is it safe for me to take this job?
Can I trust Mr Rucastle?
Correct answer: Wouldn't it be thrilling to solve this puzzle?

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