Persuasive Writing — Writing Pack

British & IGCSE › Checkpoint 6 English (Cambridge Primary 0058)

Persuasive writing tries to convince the reader to think something, believe something or, most of all, do something: approve a plan, join a club, give money to a charity, change a rule. Opinion writing wants the reader to understand and agree. Persuasive writing pushes further and wants the reader to act. In this pack you will learn the persuasive techniques, the PEEL paragraph and how to finish with a powerful call to action.

1. What is persuasive writing?

How your writing is marked (25 marks)

2. Features and persuasive techniques

3. How to structure persuasive writing

PEEL example: *Firstly, shade trees would protect our health.* (Point) *Last June, the temperature in the playground reached 42 degrees, and our school nurse treated eleven pupils for headaches in one week.* (Evidence) *This shows that the heat is not just uncomfortable but dangerous. How can we enjoy break time when we are worried about fainting?* (Explain + rhetorical question) *This is why trees are not a luxury but a necessity.* (Link)

How to start: openings you can adapt

• Polite and direct (letter): I am writing to ask you to consider an idea that would make a huge difference to every pupil in our school.
• A rhetorical question: Have you ever tried to play football at noon in July, with no shade at all?
• Imagine…: Imagine a playground full of green trees, cool shade and happy, healthy children.
• A shocking fact: Every day, our school throws away more than two hundred plastic bottles.
• For a speech: Good morning, everyone. I want to ask you one simple question: what would you do to help a child who cannot afford a single book?

How to end: calls to action you can adapt

• Polite request (letter): I hope that you will discuss this proposal at the next staff meeting. I would be delighted to help in any way I can.
• Urgent: The summer is only a few months away. Please act now, before another child falls ill.
• Together: Together, we can make our school cooler, greener and happier. Will you help us?
• Repetition (speech): Bring one book. Bring one smile. Bring one reason for a child to read.
• A picture of the future: Just imagine how proud we will all feel when the first trees give us shade.

4. Useful phrases and vocabulary

5. Strong sample answers

Timing plan for Section B (about 30 minutes)

6. Common mistakes

Practice tasks

1. Write a letter to your local council to persuade them to build a safe cycle path near your school. (Plan only.)

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   Layout: Dear Sir or Madam, … Yours faithfully, + full name (you do not know the name). P1: hook (rhetorical question about cycling on busy roads) + problem + aim. P2 PEEL safety: cars drive fast, a near accident last month (anecdote). P3 PEEL health: more pupils would cycle and exercise. P4 PEEL environment: fewer cars, cleaner air, less traffic outside school. P5 counter-argument: cost or space. Answer: a quiet side road could be used, and families would use it every day. P6 call to action: please visit the area and include the path in next year's plans.

2. Name the persuasive technique in each: (a) 'Nine out of ten pupils said they feel too hot at break.' (b) 'Together, we can make a difference.' (c) 'Do we really want our children to suffer?' (d) 'quick, cheap and easy'

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   (a) statistics / facts. (b) inclusive language (together, we). (c) rhetorical question with emotive language. (d) rule of three.

3. Write a PEEL paragraph for the aim 'Our school should have a weekly reading hour.'

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   Example: 'Firstly, a reading hour would improve our English. (P) Our teacher told us that pupils who read for twenty minutes a day meet thousands of new words every year. (E) This means that a weekly reading hour would make us stronger writers and help us in every subject. Who would say no to better results? (E) That is why reading time deserves a place on our timetable. (L)'

4. Make this demand polite and persuasive: 'Give us a longer break. We want it now.'

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   Example: 'I am writing to ask you to consider making our break ten minutes longer. I truly believe this small change would help us return to lessons calmer and more focused.'

5. Write a counter-argument and answer it for the aim 'Our school should start a recycling club.'

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   Example: 'Some people may argue that a recycling club would take too much of the teachers' time. However, Year 6 pupils have offered to run it themselves at lunchtime, so teachers would only need to check on it once a week.'

6. Which ending is a call to action? (a) 'That is all I wanted to say.' (b) 'Please sign our petition at the school office before Friday.'

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   (b), because it tells the reader exactly what to do and when. (a) just stops the writing and does not persuade anyone.

7. Why might a writer use the rule of three in the final line of a speech, e.g. 'Bring one book. Bring one smile. Bring one reason for a child to read.'? Give all the possible effects.

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   To make the message memorable and easy to repeat. To create rhythm, which sounds powerful when spoken aloud. To emphasise the key action (bring). To build up to the most important idea in the last part. To leave the audience with a strong, emotional final picture that encourages them to act.