New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding and planning open letters

I can explore the various purposes of an open letter and use examples to inspire my own.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding and planning open letters

I can explore the various purposes of an open letter and use examples to inspire my own.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Open letters are letters with intended recipients but made publicly available for anyone to read.
  2. Open letters may be written to raise awareness on topics or galvanise the public.
  3. Open letters can be written by anyone to any person, group or indeed thing.
  4. Open letters have various purposes such as: entertain, complain, encourage, provide hope.
  5. Open letters are usually inspired by a topic that the writer feels strong positive or negative emotions towards.

Common misconception

Students may believe that open letters have to be written to those in powerful positions.

There are open letters on a wide range of topics and niches. All that an open letter requires is a strong feeling about something.

Keywords

  • Hobbyist - a person who pursues a particular hobby

  • Galvanise - shock or excite someone into taking action

  • Conquest - the act of taking control or possession of land

  • Ocmplacence - a feeling of calm satisfaction that prevents you from trying harder

Tell students what/who you would write an open letter to. This will help students share their genuine interests, which is important as open letters portray strong opinions.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need Siegfried Sassoon's 'Soldier's Declaration'. It is in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the key term with the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:form,text type

text type

Correct Answer:purpose,why the text is being written

why the text is being written

Correct Answer:audience,who the text is addressed to

who the text is addressed to

Q2.
Which of the following are examples of text form?
Correct answer: email
Correct answer: blog
Correct answer: letter
explanation
reason
Q3.
Which of the following are purposes in writing?
Correct answer: explain
Correct answer: persuade
Correct answer: argue
letter
blog
Q4.
In writing, what do we mean by structure?
Correct answer: the way a text is organised
the way a text uses language
the way a text is analysed
Q5.
Which of these is the less strong emotion?
Correct answer: boredom
hate
awe
distraught
love
Q6.
If we are writing a letter hoping to persuade someone to do something, why is it important that we understand what they think?
to identify the reason for doing something
to show that you are a caring person
Correct answer: to anticipate any objections they might have

6 Questions

Q1.
What is an open letter?
a letter that is never officially sent
a letter intended to be read by one person only
Correct answer: a letter with a specific recipient, made public for everyone to read
Q2.
Which word means to shock or excite someone into taking action?
pursue
Correct answer: galvanise
conquest
Q3.
Every open letter is prompted by ...
frustrations.
love.
Correct answer: a strong feeling about a topic.
social justice.
Q4.
In his open letter 'A Soldier's Declaration' what does Siegfried Sassoon accuse those at home of being?
cowards
Correct answer: complacent
brutal
brave
Q5.
Why did Siegfried Sassoon write 'A Soldier's Declaration'?
Correct answer: to express his disapproval and encourage an end to war
to report on his victories on the battlefield
to say goodbye to his loved ones
Q6.
What might be the purpose of an open letter titled: 'An open letter to Mondays'?
to galvanise the public
to express awe
Correct answer: to complain

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.