Considering and using active and passive voice in persuasive letter writing
I can identify and analyse the effects of active and passive voice and consider in which circumstances which is more effective.
Considering and using active and passive voice in persuasive letter writing
I can identify and analyse the effects of active and passive voice and consider in which circumstances which is more effective.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- We might see active voice as more direct, concise and confident.
- We could see passive voice as less direct, more detached and objective.
- Potentially, we might see active voice as more appropriate in more persuasive writing circumstances.
- However, we might use passive voice if we want to avoid responsibility or make a complaint.
Keywords
Active voice - where the subject of the sentence performs the action onto the object
Passive voice - where the object is acted upon by the subject of the sentence
Direct - moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping
Subtle - making use of indirect methods to achieve something
Objective - not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts
Common misconception
That the connection between the subject and object of a sentence doesn't matter in persuasive writing.
Using active or passive voice can affect the tone of your writing and how the reader responds to it.
Equipment
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).
Lesson video
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