Monday 6th JulyWALHT: recognise and select appropriate language when writing formally

Formal

• Writing to someone you don’t know.

• Examples: non-fiction such as

instructions, official letters and

explanations or reports.

• Sophisticated vocabulary with no

contractions.

This week you are going to revise a formal style of writing and write a very important letter.

.Informal

• Writing to someone you know well

such as friends and close family.

• Examples: emails and texts to

people you know.

• Simple vocabulary with contracted

spellings.

WALHT: recognise and select appropriate language when writing formally

Task 1: Which sentences are formal? Use the criteria on the right to help you explain why…

1. I am writing to inform you of my decision.

2. I hope it didn’t rain when you were on holiday.

3. Unfortunately, I am requesting your assistance with a private matter.

4. Are your mum and dad well? Hope all is good as usual.

5. My family and I are delighted to accept your request.

Formal

• Writing to someone you don’t know.

• Examples: non-fiction such as instructions,

official letters and explanations or reports.

• Sophisticated vocabulary with no

contractions.

Task 2: Use formal vocabulary to assist you when converting this letter from informal to formal.

Dear manager,

I’m writing to ask about a refund.

The food I ate at your place was improperly cooked

and it made me feel very horrible. I want to make it

clear that I was lucky I didn’t die. I am requesting

that my money is given back to me immediately.

At first, the food I consumed tasted excellent but

unluckily, shortly after I started eating. You are a

smart man so I know you will help me.

Chat soon.

Task 3: Place these modal verbs in a table based on how likely they are to

go to the park.

Revision: Modal verbs are used to show how certain or often things are to

happen.

You could have a free meal.I have to speak to the chef.

I will speak to the chef.I shall ask the chef to bake a cake.I may offer a free dinner for two.

I ought to apologise to the customers.We rarely have issues with hygiene.

We occasionally close the restaurant .You won’t regret your decision.

I often win prizes for baking cakes.I must apologise immediately.

I sometimes work in the kitchen myself.I can’t sanction a refund.

We never use inferior ingredients.

Tuesday 7th July

WALHT: Investigate features of a formal letter

Task 2 - Find and highlight:

Paragraphs

Persuasive language

Formal language choices

Introduction

Questions

Summary

Dear Sea Parks,I am writing to complain about your policy of keeping killer whales in captivity for entertainment purposes at your venues. I strongly feel that you are not only breaching the most basic of animal rights by keeping the whales in your pools but also believe that you are harming them in the process too. You will agree when I explain why this is unacceptable.

Firstly, killer whales are very large animals that, by their very nature, need vast room to swim and hunt within. It is a well-known fact that they can swim up to 100 miles a day whilst in the wild and I believe that you are restricting this instinct by holding them in small pools at your parks. Surely it must frustrate the whales and cause them stress being held in captivity like this.

In my opinion, making the whales perform to audiences on a daily basis is a cruel practice and one that you should be deeply ashamed about. Killer whales were not born to perform and should not need to be bribed to do the tricks that you ask of them. Would you enjoy being made to perform for food on a daily basis? Would this not be humiliating? I ask that you think carefully about the impact that these shows have on the whales’ lives and put yourself in their shoes for a moment or two to consider how they must be feeling every single day.

Finally, I was shocked to find out recently that whales living in captivity typically live shorter lives than those in the wild. How do you feel knowing that you are responsible for this? It is not right that you are allowed to be involved in affecting the whales’ lengths of life in this way.

In summary, I believe that you need to stop your shameful practice and release the whales back into the wild as soon as possible. It is outrageous that you have been allowed to get away with this for such a long time and I will do all I can to help ensure the safe release of the whales back into their natural habitat.Yours sincerely,

Dear Sea Parks,I am writing to complain about your policy of keeping killer whales in captivity for entertainment purposes at your venues. I strongly feel that you are not only breaching the most basic of animal rights by keeping the whales in your pools but also believe that you are harming them in the process too. You will agree when I explain why this is unacceptable.

Firstly, killer whales are very large animals that, by their very nature, need vast room to swim and hunt within. It is a well-known fact that they can swim up to 100 miles a day whilst in the wild and I believe that you are restricting this instinct by holding them in small pools at your parks. Surely it must frustrate the whales and cause them stress being held in captivity like this.

In my opinion, making the whales perform to audiences on a daily basis is a cruel practice and one that you should be deeply ashamed about. Killer whales were not born to perform and should not need to be bribed to do the tricks that you ask of them. Would you enjoy being made to perform for food on a daily basis? Would this not be humiliating? I ask that you think carefully about the impact that these shows have on the whales’ lives and put yourself in their shoes for a moment or two to consider how they must be feeling every single day.

Finally, I was shocked to find out recently that whales living in captivity typically live shorter lives than those in the wild. How do you feel knowing that you are responsible for this? It is not right that you are allowed to be involved in affecting the whales’ lengths of life in this way.

In summary, I believe that you need to stop your shameful practice and release the whales back into the wild as soon as possible. It is outrageous that you have been allowed to get away with this for such a long time and I will do all I can to help ensure the safe release of the whales back into their natural habitat.

This is a formal letter written to persuade…Task 3 - Comprehension questions

1. Find and copy one word that informs us of Sea Parks’ purpose for keeping the killer whales.

2. In paragraphs two, three and four, what reason does the writer give to show how unfair it is to keep whales in captivity?

3. List two words from paragraph two that suggest how the whales feel in captivity.

4. What fact is used to persuade the reader in paragraph four?

5. If you were Sea Parks, would you be persuaded by this letter? Explain why or why not.

Wednesday Task 1: Sequence these paragraphs and justify how you have put them in order.

I am writing to you as I would like to make a proposal to improve the school. I believe that changing the school bell to a musicsystem would help to make the school a better place for the pupils and the staff. Although the school bell is traditional, musicwould create a more positive atmosphere around school. Music could inspire the pupils and influence them by motivating and encouraging focus. After all, if students are happy with their learning environment, they are more likely to achieve more.

Through installing speakers that would project music around the school, pupils would become more involved in school life and take more interest in the school itself. This would make the whole experience more enjoyable for pupils, staff and visitors. Pupils could vote and select representatives who would be in charge of choosing the music. Important announcements could be made through the speaker system and the mood of the school could be dictated by the type of music played. For a small donation, pupils could request music and the proceeds could go to the school or to a charity.

The bell is a part of the school’s heritage and history; however we now live in an era where libraries are becoming museums for books as pupils move towards using technology, such as IPads, laptops and even mobile phones to conduct research for their homework. Times and technology are changing. Already one third of the schools in the Lancashire have adapted to this new idea and a recent survey (involving teachers and students) has shown that over 85% agree that the school bell is outdated andmusic helps to create a positive learning environment.

Of course the school bell works, there’s no confusion over what the bell means: generations reminisce over the ‘good old days’ and often include the school bell when referring back. However, the school bell was once new, but now it’s old and outdated. Overall, I strongly believe that the majority of pupils will appreciate listening to music between lessons and it will improve school life. Thank you for considering my ideas. I look forward to hearing your opinions on this matter.

A

B

C

D

I chose paragraph ___ first because… I chose paragraph ___ second because… I put paragraph ___ at the end because…

Wednesday 8th July

WALHT: select persuasive vocabulary and appropriate conjunctions for effect.

Task 2 - Add appropriate subordinating conjunctions below.

1. The food I ate made me feel unwell ____ I did not need to take a day off school.

2. Unfortunately, I kept eating my salad ____ I noticed that there was a caterpillar on it.

3. My mum comforted me ____ I was crying.

4. I am writing to you ____ the chef did not listen to my concerns.

These are 10 subordinating conjunctions. They are used at the beginning of a subordinate clause which is a clause

that doesn’t make sense on its own.

Role Play –

Task 3 – Write sentences that would work to persuade me to not set you any homework next week!

ThursdayA paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea.

Paragraphs break up long chunks of writing making it clearer and more interesting for the reader.

If you have three separate ideas/arguments in a letter, then each one would be written in a separate paragraph.

A paragraph can be built using the PEE technique

I have always believed that school uniforms are an important part of the education system. They ensure that all children are treated equally as children do not need to stress about buying trendy clothes. I am certain that they help most children to feel like they are an important part of the school community as this is what they have told me. In summary, uniforms benefit the lives of children by making them feel relaxed and part of a team.

Thursday warm up

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one

main idea.

PEE enables you to make a point, give evidence for it and then explain it. This

makes your argument extremely clear to the.

reader

1. What is the topic (point) of this paragraph?

2. Does the introduction sentence tell you what the paragraph will be

about?

3. Does each sentence relate to the topic?

4. Does the paragraph have a concluding

(explaining) sentence?

I have always believed that school uniforms are an important part of the education system. They ensure that all children are treated equally as children do not need to stress about buying trendy clothes. I am certain that they help most children to feel like they are an important part of the school community as this is what they have told me. In summary, uniforms benefit the lives of children by making them feel relaxed and part of a team.

Task 1:

WALHT: create a detailed argument within a paragraph

Redditch Council are planning to close Arrow Valley Park to the public.

Habitats will be removed to make way for a rubbish dump and waste

incinerator.

A new road will be built so rubbish trucks can enter and exit.

WALHT: create a detailed argument within a paragraphTask 2: Make a list of all the negative consequences if the council proceeds.

Closed park Habitats removed

Dump and incinerator

New road

Nowhere for people to exercise so…

Children will no longer have access to playground and become unfit and bored

Where will people walk their dogs?

WALHT: create a detailed argument within a paragraph

Task 3: Write a paragraph for one of the other subheadings

Turn your points into a powerful argument to persuade the council not to do this. Tell them why it is bad, what the consequences will be and the benefits of keeping the park like it is.

If you proceed with this dangerous plan, then it will have devastating consequences for the local community. Firstly, there will be nowhere for people to exercise outdoors in a safe and natural environment. It is a fact that hundreds of enthusiastic joggers, cyclists and

walkers visit the park every week and this helps them to keep fit and healthy. Unfortunately, a closed park means that children will no longer have a safe space to meet and play which is a vital part of growing up and keeping active. If the park is closed where will people walk their dogs? It is extremely unfair to expect them to walk in more built up areas, which could result in accidents. It is obvious that dogs prefer natural surroundings.

Please reconsider as I have now made you aware that a closed park is bad news for everybody within the local community.

Friday 10th JulyWALHT: write a persuasive letter

Now that you have all the skills needed to write an effective formal letter you can save Arrow Valley Park.

Firstly, we will recap writing an introductionand concludingparagraph. Then you can use your list from yesterday as a plan to form the main paragraphs of your letter.

Dear Redditch Council

I am aware that you are planning to.. In my opinion, it is obvious that this is a huge mistake… Let me explain

Firstly, (Use PEE for your first argument)

Secondly, (Use PEE for your second argument)

Thirdly, (Use PEE for your third reason)

To summarise,

Yours sincerely,

Greeting

Introduction

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

Conclusion

Sign off

IntroductionIntroduce yourself.

Say why you are writing and what you intend to

achieve.

Briefly outline the points you will be making in your

letter.

Friday 10th JulyWALHT: write a persuasive letter

Conclusion

Summarise the key points you

have made.

Reaffirm what you would like to happen next.

Sign off.

I am writing to inform you…The purpose of my letter is…

I will make it clear that…

I think you will now agree…On the whole…

For the reasons I have stated above…In conclusion,

Yours sincerely,Yours truly,

Kind regards,

Ensure that you use formal language and persuasive sentence openers. You could set your letter out similarly to this:

Friday 10th JulyWALHT: write a persuasive letter