Brilliant Activities for Persuasive Writing

Transcription

1 Brilliant Activities for Persuasive Writing Activities for 7 11 Year Olds Paula Goodridge Brilliant Publications

2 Acknowledgements We are grateful to the National Coal Mining Museum for allowing us to include the extract on Women and children which appears on page 54. Copyright of this text belongs to the National Coal Mining Museum. We are grateful to the World Wildlife Fund for allowing us to reuse an article which appeared in WWF Projects, Spring 2002 on page 65. Copyright of this text belongs to the WWF. Published by Brilliant Publications 1 Church View Sparrow Hall Farm Edlesborough Dunstable Bedfordshire LU6 2ES brilliant@bebc.co.uk The name Brilliant Publications and the logo are registered trademarks. Written by Paula Goodridge Illustrated by Pat Murray Cover designed and illustrated by Lynda Murray ISBN First published and printed in the UK The right of Paula Goodridge to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act Pages 7 9, 11 12, 14 15, 18 19, 21 23, 25 27, 29 31, 33 34, 36 38, 40 42, 44, 46 49, 51 52, 54 57, 60 63, 65 69, 71 72, and may be photocopied by individual teachers for class use, without permission from the publisher. The materials may not be reproduced in any other form or for any other purpose without prior permission from the publisher.

3 Contents Chapter subjects... 4 Introduction... 5 Year 3 Section 1 1 Letter of complaint Book review Advertisement Year 4 Section 2 4 Mr Wizzy The job The interview The first challenge The advertisement The end of the story (optional narrative) Year 5 Section 3 10 Killing animals for food Car pollution Wearing school uniforms The spaceship debate Women and children in the mines Year 6 Section 4 15 Jamie s Owl Wildlife Trade Campaign Persuasive rap Advertising challenge Junk mail challenge

4 Chapter subjects Page no. Year 3 Section 1 1 Letter of complaint persuading a company to give a refund 6 2 Book review persuading someone to read a book 10 3 Advertisement fact or fiction? 13 Year 4 Section 2 4 Mr Wizzy getting to know the character the children will need to persuade description writing a character grid 16 5 The job writing an application persuading Mr Wizzy that you are the best 20 6 The interview writing and acting out an interview persuasive talk 24 7 The first challenge designing a drink and showing Mr Wizzy your written information leaflet/flyer. Persuading Mr Wizzy to manufacture a product 28 8 The advertisement designing an advertisement to sell a product 32 9 The end of the story writing an optional narrative to end the story 35 Year 5 Section 3 10 Killing animals for food for or against? Looking at a two-sided argument Car pollution designing a persuasive poster Wearing school uniform writing a letter of persuasion to headteacher The spaceship debate selling a personality Women and children in the mines examining a real issue and using information provided to form their own opinion 53 Year 6 Section 4 15 Jamie s Owl a verbal debate. Listening to others views and putting across your own opinions Wildlife Trade Campaign understanding persuasive language writing a letter to an MP Persuasive rap persuasion through performing and music Advertising estate agency persuasion Junk mail challenge designing a persuasive piece of junk mail 76 4

5 Introduction The aim of this book is to give teachers of Key Stage 2 children some activities to focus on persuasive language and to stimulate persuasive writing. Each chapter contains a lesson plan, a text to promote reading skills and discussion, and worksheets to promote activities within Literacy Hour. All activities are compatible with the National Literacy Strategy. The texts and worksheets are photocopiable. The texts could be photocopied onto OHPs so that they can be read by the whole class. The book is divided into four sections, one for each year of Key Stage 2. In Section 1 the activities for Year 3 are based upon a letter of persuasion, a book review and an advertisement to distinguish between fact and fiction. In Section 2 the activities for Year 4 are based upon a letter of application, an interview, advertisements, leaflets or flyers, as well as incorporating the promotion of reading skills through given texts. The children are introduced to persuasive language through a fictional context, looking at a character called Mr Wizzy who owns a drinks factory. The activities follow on to make up a mini topic which can be extended or reduced to suit the needs of the children. In Sections 3 and 4, for Years 5 and 6, the activities look at real issues and raise persuasive language in the form of debates and differences of opinion, specifically looking at lists, posters, articles, two-sided written arguments, letters and poetry. The chapters include lesson plans, a text, and a written or speaking and listening activity to promote the use of persuasive language. Most of the activities are open in terms of differentiation by outcome, so may be used with the whole class. Differentiated sheets are included in this book where necessary so that children of lower ability have more guidance or less to do in quantity. Suggested extension activities are for the most able children who need to be further challenged with their abilities. Some follow-on activities are suggested if teachers want to undertake more activities. Assessment is covered through the outcome of the children s work. Have they fulfilled the aim of the activity as set out in the lesson plans? Written tasks may be assessed in more detail alongside the criteria as set out in the National Curriculum. 5

6 1. Letter of complaint Year 3 Aim The children will write a letter of complaint to try to persuade a shop/ company to give them a refund. Text The text shows a letter (1a) written by a lady who has bought a pair of trousers, which ripped after two days. She is writing to persuade the company to give her a refund or another pair of trousers. Read the text with the children. Discuss what it is she is complaining about. How do they know she is not happy? Discuss what she is trying to persuade the company to do. How does she do this? Look at key words or phrases in the text. When you are happy that the children understand the content of the letter, tell them you want them to write a letter like this one. The children must complain about something they have bought, which has then gone wrong or broken, such as a toy, clothing, a watch. Not only must they say what the problem is but they must state what they want done about it. Do they want their money back or do they want another item sent to them? How will they persuade the company manager to do this? Give each child a photocopy sheet (1b or 1c). Sheet 1b is for the less able child. Revise letter formats if you need to, to help them get started. You may like to write in an address together to save time. After some time stop the children and ask volunteers to read the beginnings of their letters. Then remind them that they need to be asking for a refund as well as complaining and give them some more time to complete the task. Plenary Bring the group together again. Read some of the letters and discuss how persuasive they are. A way of extending more able children would be for them to send an to persuade you to do something, for example make playtime longer. 6

7 1a 23 Word Street Plimpton Woolshire PL34 4LT 25 March 2002 Dear Sir/Madam I am writing to your company to complain about a pair of trousers I bought at my local store last week. The trousers ripped after just two days, which I think is really bad. I took the trousers to my local store but they would not give me another pair because I had lost the receipt. I think this is TERRIBLE! I paid a lot of money for these trousers and I would like a refund. I am sending the trousers back to you. Please send me my money to the above address. If you do not do this I will come and see the manager myself!! Yours faithfully Mrs Abbott This page may be photocopied for use by the purchasing institution only. 7

8 1b Name Red Road Ham Town Hampshire H76 3FG... Dear... Yours This page may be photocopied for use by the purchasing institution only.

9 1c Name This page may be photocopied for use by the purchasing institution only. 9

10 2. Book review Year 3 Aim The children will write a book review persuading a friend to read a recommended book. Text First, read a simple story with which the children are already familiar, for example Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or a story you have used before. Use a big book if possible as it will be easier for them to spot information later. Then, give the children the text (2a) and ask them what they think it may be, for example a story, information. Explain the term book review if they are unsure. Read through the text together, revising terms such as author, illustrator, and so. Do the children think the writer of the review enjoyed the book? How do they know this? Discuss words used, such as super, fantastic. Discuss the marks out of ten box. Explain to the children that they are going to write their own book review using the class book you have read to them. They must say the book is really good and persuade a friend to read it. How could they do this? Discuss words they could use to describe the story exciting, wonderful, funny, etc. What marks out of 10 could they give it? Would it persuade a friend to read it if they gave it 4/10? Go back to your big book to think about the author and the illustrator. Do they like the illustrations? How could they describe the artwork? Give each child a photocopy sheet (2b) and allow them some time to write. The more able children could choose one of their own books to review. After 15 minutes stop them and ask volunteers to read some of their writing. Ask which adjectives they have chosen, etc. Let the children finish their work. Plenary Read some of the children s work. Does the writing make you want to read the book? As a follow-up session they could re-draft their reviews to go on display or to show the headteacher. 10

11 2a Sally and the Limpet Author: Illustrator: Simon James Simon James This is a really funny book. Poor Sally gets a limpet stuck to her finger and can t get it off. She tries lots of ways but in the end she has to go back to the seaside and let the limpet go back to its own pool. She learns that some creatures are happiest left where they are in the first place. The story is easy to read and it has lots of fabulous pictures. They really made me laugh. Simon James is a great author and a brilliant artist. I liked it best when Sally gets cross because no one can help. You should read this book because it is well written, fun, yet it has a message at the end so we can learn from it too. Sally is a comical character and so are the other people she meets. You will really like it! Words to describe this book: fantastic, super, great, brilliant! Marks out of ten: 10/10 This page may be photocopied for use by the purchasing institution only. 11

12 2b Book review by... Title:... Author:... Illustrator:... I liked this book because... The best bit is when... You should read this book because... Words to describe this book... Marks out of ten: 12 This page may be photocopied for use by the purchasing institution only.