New
New
Year 10
AQA

Using modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter

I can use modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Using modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter

I can use modality, personification and active voice to write a persuasive letter.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Offering ideas for further steps to the recipient of your letter can make your argument more persuasive.
  2. Using words with medium and high modality can convey confidence and a sense of obligation.
  3. Using personification can evoke an emotional reaction in the reader.
  4. Using active voice can focus the reader’s attention onto the subject.

Keywords

  • Persuade - convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument

  • Modal verbs - verbs that indicate likelihood, ability, permission or obligation

  • Direct - moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping

  • Active voice - where the subject of the sentence performs the action onto the object

  • Obligation - an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment

Common misconception

That you should be very direct, almost aggressive in your persuasive writing.

While directness can convey confidence, an overly direct tone can be off-putting for the recipient and cause them to become defensive.

You could ask pupils to write their persuasive letter for homework if you'd prefer to spend more time on the planning aspect.
Teacher tip

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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6 Questions

Q1.
'The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: personification, personify
Q2.
'Verbs that indicate likelihood, ability, permission or obligation' is the definition of verbs.
Correct Answer: modal
Q3.
'To convince (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument' is the definition of which word beginning with 'p'?
Correct Answer: persuade, persuasive, be persuasive
Q4.
In formal letter writing, the sender's address goes ...
on the left-hand side.
in the middle.
Correct answer: on the right-hand side.
Q5.
In formal letter writing, the date goes ...
above the sender's address.
Correct answer: below the sender's address.
above the recipient's address.
below the sender's address.
Q6.
Match the words with the level of modality.
Correct Answer:may,low modality

low modality

Correct Answer:should,medium modality

medium modality

Correct Answer:must,high modality

high modality

6 Questions

Q1.
'Moving towards a place or object, without changing direction and without stopping' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Correct Answer: direct
Q2.
Which use of personification creates a positive reaction?
Correct answer: 'The paper seemed to smile warmly at me.'
'The paper seemed to smile coldly at me.'
'The paper seemed to watch me unnervingly.'
Q3.
Using words with low modality in your writing can indicate a sense of ...
confidence.
Correct answer: uncertainty.
directness.
Q4.
'An act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment' is the definition of which word beginning with 'o'?
Correct Answer: obligation
Q5.
Which example uses passive voice?
Correct answer: 'The exams were taken by the students.'
'Students take exams.'
'Students can feel stress when thinking of exams.'
Q6.
Which of the following sentences uses words with high modality?
'You should consider scrapping exams to aid student health and wellbeing.'
Correct answer: 'You must take students' future employment prospects into consideration.'
'You might want to consider the emotional impact of exams.'