Activity: Persuasive Letter Writing

Desired Outcome: By considering the type of text I am creating, I can independently select ideas and relevant information for different purposes, and organize essential information or ideas and any supporting detail in a logical order. I can use suitable vocabulary to communicate effectively with my audience.

Level: Fourth Level (Scottish Curriculum)

Introduction: 1. Begin the activity by discussing the purpose and characteristics of persuasive writing. Explain that persuasive writing aims to convince the reader to agree with a particular point of view or take a specific action. 2. Provide examples of persuasive texts such as advertisements, opinion pieces, or persuasive letters. 3. Explain that students will be writing a persuasive letter to convince someone to support a cause or take action on an issue they care about.

Activity Steps:

Step 1: Choosing a Cause 1. Ask students to brainstorm a list of causes or issues they feel strongly about. Encourage them to think about topics related to their community, school, or personal interests. 2. Once students have generated a list, have them choose one cause they would like to focus on for their persuasive letter.

Step 2: Researching and Gathering Information 1. Instruct students to conduct research on their chosen cause. They can use books, websites, or other resources to gather relevant information and supporting evidence. 2. Encourage students to take notes and organize their findings based on the main points they want to address in their persuasive letter.

Step 3: Planning the Persuasive Letter 1. Provide students with a persuasive letter planning template or guide. This should include sections for an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 2. Instruct students to use the template to plan their persuasive letter. They should consider the purpose of their letter, their target audience, and the main points they want to convey.

Step 4: Writing the Persuasive Letter 1. Once students have completed their planning, have them begin writing their persuasive letter. Remind them to use suitable vocabulary and persuasive techniques to effectively communicate their ideas. 2. Encourage students to use a logical order when presenting their ideas and supporting evidence. They should also consider the tone and language they use to engage their audience.

Step 5: Peer Review and Revision 1. Pair students up and have them exchange their persuasive letters for peer review. 2. Instruct students to provide constructive feedback on the clarity, organization, and persuasiveness of their partner’s letter. 3. Encourage students to revise their letters based on the feedback received.

Step 6: Sharing and Reflection 1. Provide an opportunity for students to share their persuasive letters with the class. They can either read them aloud or display them for others to read. 2. After the sharing session, facilitate a class discussion on the effectiveness of persuasive techniques used in the letters. 3. Ask students to reflect on their own writing process and identify areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Extension: For students who finish early or require an additional challenge, they can be encouraged to create a visual aid or presentation to accompany their persuasive letter. This could include images, graphs, or statistics to further support their arguments.

Assessment: Assessment can be based on the students’ ability to select relevant information, organize ideas in a logical order, use suitable vocabulary, and effectively persuade their audience in their persuasive letter.