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Year 6

Peer editing a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes

I can edit my own and my peer's persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes.

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New
New
Year 6

Peer editing a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes

I can edit my own and my peer's persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Editing is a critical part of the writing process.
  2. Writing is most successful when editing is used to rethink, rephrase and reconsider first ideas.
  3. Editing can be done by oneself, with a peer or with a teacher.
  4. Editing is most successful when it is chunked by punctuation, sentence structure, vocabulary and cohesive devices.
  5. A growth mindset helps us benefit most from editing.

Common misconception

Pupils may have difficulty in making edits to their work in a practical way - where to write extra words etc.

Writing double-spaced is a good way of allowing room for editing - or you may want to have pupils re-draft the report completely, depending on your school's approach.

Keywords

  • Editing - the process of revising and refining a piece of writing, focusing on improving its punctuation, sentence structures and language

  • Punctuation - a set of standardised symbols and marks used in written language to structure sentences

  • Text cohesion - refers to how a text flows to maintain the interest of the reader and achieve text purpose

  • Vocabulary - the language choices made by the writer

You may wish to have pupils peer-edit the whole letter, or just one section of it, for each of the three tasks in this lesson. You may wish to add in additional input and checks for understanding based on your assessment of the children's work and common errors in prior lessons.
Teacher tip

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are expressions of gratitude?
You've got to the end of the letter!
Correct answer: Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this letter.
Correct answer: I am so grateful to you for taking the time to read this far.
Those are my arguments. What do you reckon?
Q2.
Which of the following are we not likely to find in the conclusion to a persuasive letter?
Correct answer: detailed reasons and evidence
a respectful sign-off
an expression of gratitude
a range of persuasive techniques
Q3.
Which of these persuasive techniques have the appropriate formal tone for a persuasive letter to Sherlock Holmes?
Correct answer: I am certain that you will already have a solution in mind.
You've already cracked it, haven't you?
Correct answer: I know you will not allow the community to suffer any longer.
You're going to solve this - I can feel it in my bones!
Q4.
Which example here uses a semi-colon correctly?
I cannot wait to hear from you I am certain you alone can solve this puzzle.
I cannot wait to hear; from you I am certain you alone can solve this puzzle.
Correct answer: I cannot wait to hear from you; I am certain you alone can solve this puzzle.
I cannot wait; to hear from you I am certain you alone can solve this puzzle.
Q5.
Which of these is not a piece of presumption?
I am certain that you will already have a solution in mind.
No doubt you are eager to help us immediately.
Correct answer: Surely you can see that you must help us?
I cannot wait to hear your solution to this puzzle.
Q6.
Why is 'Yours sincerely,' an appropriate sign-off to a letter to Sherlock Holmes?
because it is informal
because it shows our affection for him
Correct answer: because it shows respect and politeness
Correct answer: because it is formal

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What punctuation is missing from this sentence? 'Although they claim to have investigated they have made almost no progress.'
colon
Correct answer: comma
semi-colon
dashes
Q2.
What piece of punctuation could be added to this sentence? 'I am at my wits' end the police have been no help at all.'
comma
dashes
Correct answer: colon
Q3.
Which cohesive device would best combine these pieces of information to improve text cohesion? 'Only Sherlock Holmes can solve this puzzle. The remarkable Sherlock Holmes.'
Correct answer: parenthesis using dashes
a compound sentence
a complex sentence
a semi-colon
Q4.
Which of the examples use cohesive devices appropriately?
I know you are a busy man. I need your help.
Correct answer: I know you are a busy man, but I need your help.
Correct answer: I know you are a busy man; however, I need your help.
Correct answer: I know you are a busy man. However, I need your help.
Q5.
Which of these examples show emotive vocabulary appropriate for a formal persuasive letter?
a big dog
Correct answer: a vast, demonic hound
local people are scared
Correct answer: local people are utterly terrified
Q6.
What are the problems with this sentence from a formal persuasive letter? 'I'm sure you'll jump at the chance to give us a hand!'
Correct answer: it contains contractions
Correct answer: it contains informal language
it is too short
the writer is presuming the reader will co-operate