Week 7 – 11th November

Writing your own Letter to the Editor…

• You have read an example letter and even spotted typical features of this type of writing

• TASK: Your local council have decided to introduce a ‘congestion charge’ to Bristol City Centre. This means at busy or peak times drivers will be charged £9.00 to enter the town between 07.00 and 18.00 hours.

• Write a letter to your local newspaper in which you offer your thoughts on this news

How to structure a letter to the Editor...

Use a business letter structure

Dear Sir / Madam salutation (to greet the reader)

Introduction outlines the topic of the writer’s opinion

Body paragraphs develop the argument logically, point by point

Topic sentences are clear

Conclusion restates the opinion, or is a call to action

The type of language to use in a letter to the Editor...

Formal/impersonal

Vocabulary appropriate to the issue

Use of examples

Use of statistics

Use of irony to provoke a response from the readers

Emotive words and phrases with persuasive power

Repetition of key words and phrases

Clever use of words – simple but persuasive

Success Criteria

• YOUR LETTER HAS TO:

• Communicate ONE stance or opinion (for OR against)• Use formal language • Offer a personal response or connection to the issue • Use complex (long) sentences (sentences with a

comma or a semi colon)

EXTENSION: Use a sense of irony or mild sarcasm

Week 9 – 25th November

Peer Read and Feed…back!

• In the last writing session you were asked to write a letter to an editor

• Now, you are going to read your partners letter and check it against the success criteria!

• Simply answer the 5 questions, in full sentences, on the next slide

• It’s important that you are KIND, HELPFUL and SPECIFIC! Feel free to write your responses on or around the letter!

Success Critique

1. Does the letter communicate ONE stance or opinion? (for OR against)

2. Does the letter use formal language? 3. Does the letter offer a personal response or

connection to the issue? 4. Does the letter use complex (long) sentences?

(sentences with a comma or a semi colon)

EXTENSION: Does the letter use a sense of irony or mild sarcasm?