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- Year 3
The features of a persuasive letter
I can identify the layout and linguistic features of a persuasive letter.
- Year 3
The features of a persuasive letter
I can identify the layout and linguistic features of a persuasive letter.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The purpose of a persuasive letter is to try to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour.
- Letters written from a character's point of view are written in the first person.
- A persuasive letter has a specific layout: a salutation, two paragraphs and a sign-off.
- Persuasive letters have distinctive linguistic features in order to achieve their purpose.
- A range of persuasive techniques can be used to increase the pressure on the reader to act.
Keywords
Purpose - the aim of the text
Persuasive writing - trying to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour
Layout - the way a text is structured
Persuasive techniques - language structures or devices used in writing to try to change someone’s mind or behaviour
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to identify opinions and reasons in a persuasive letter.
Look for sentences where the writer expresses their emotions and a reason for why they are feeling that way.
To help you plan your year 3 English lesson on: The features of a persuasive letter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 English lesson on: The features of a persuasive letter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'The Day the Crayons Quit': reading and writing persuasive letters unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2016 Harper Collins edition of ‘The Day the Crayons Quit', written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does writing in the 'first person' mean?
Q2.What is a letter?
Q3.What are features of something?
Q4.What does persuade mean?
Q5.Which of the following would be a suitable way to start writing a letter?
Q6.Which of these words might a writer use when writing in the first person?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the vocabulary to the correct definition.
the aim of the text
distinctive qualities or characteristics of something
the way a text is structured
a piece of writing that someone sends to someone else