Year 4 Writing – Week 9 – Persuasive texts

Day 1: To learn the features of persuasive texts.

This is an example of a persuasive text

Look at the advert to the left. Which

words stand out? What makes you

want to visit this place?

Watch the video below (Part 1) to find out more about it:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=short+examples+of+persuasive+writing+for+kids&docid=608014730022029851&

mid=F43A8EF15F6CBB184FBBF43A8EF15F6CBB184FBB&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

What is a persuasive text?

A persuasive text is a text which argues a point of view, to convince someone to do something or agree

with the author. It can also convince someone to want to buy a product or service or to visit somewhere.

It can take the form of:

A letter Advert/poster Article Speech Book/film review

How it’s organised will depend on who the audience is and who is writing it.

If it’s trying to convince someone to do something or agree with the author’s point of

view, it could be written in paragraphs.

How can I write persuasively?

homework

Task 1.

a) If you were trying to persuade the reader

in a particular way, what rhetorical

questions could you ask about this topic?

People waste so much food.

b) Use the internet to search for ‘Rule of

Three’ examples – how many do you

recognise?

c) Create your own Rule of Three text for

one of the pictures below and discuss

your idea with someone at home.

Task 2: Look at the adverts below. What would make them appeal to children? Think of 3 or

more things. Make a list.

Week 9 Writing

Day 2: To learn the features of persuasive texts.

How is a persuasive text organised?

If you want to

convince

someone to

do something

or see your

point of view

it can be

organised like

this.

Read the text below:

Example text: Going out in the sun

Going out in the burning sun without sensible protection is extremely dangerous. You can get sunburn, cancer and eye problems as a result.

The first reason is that you can get extremely sunburnt. Skin can get quite red and painful. This happens because a person’s skin gets too much ultraviolet light from the sun.

The second reason is that you can get horrible skin cancers because of damaging light rays. Too much ultraviolet radiation can cause tumours, which can lead to major health problems.

Another reason is that too much time out in bright sunlight can damage your eyesight. Too much ultraviolet light from the sun can cause problems over time.

Remember to wear a hat, put on a shirt, use sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Without protection it can be dangerous.

Example text: Going out in the sun (Let’s look at it closer)

Going out in the burning sun without sensible protection is extremely dangerous. You can get sunburn, cancer and eye problems as a result.

The first reason is that you can get extremely sunburnt. Skin can get quite red and painful. This happens because a person’s skin gets too much ultraviolet light from the sun.

The second reason is that you can get horrible skin cancers because of damaging light rays. Too much ultraviolet radiation can cause tumours. Another reason is that too much time out in bright sunlight can damage your eyesight. Too much ultraviolet light from the sun can cause problems over time.

Remember to wear a hat, put on a shirt, use sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Without protection it can be dangerous.

Opening paragraph: Include opening

statement and a list of arguments.

Main body paragraphs: Include one argument

in each paragraph. Support argument with at

least one reason.

Concluding paragraph: Summarise your

arguments and restate your point of view.

Time connectives can be used to

begin the main body paragraphs.

What are the main features of persuasive text? Use mainly the present tense.

Children spend too much time doing homework. Dogs are the best pets for kids.

Logical connectives are used to make it flow. Children spend too much time doing homework and therefore, are not doing enough fitness. Dogs are the best pets for kids because they are great friends.

Time connectives are used to begin the main body paragraphs in arguments or letters. Firstly, secondly, finally

Use facts and opinions to get the reader interested. (Try to make the opinions sound like facts) Liverpool is the greatest city in the world! (opinion) Liverpool is the birthplace of The Beatles music group. (fact)

Use strong, emotive language. It is outrageous that children have mobile phones in school! This is the best burger anywhere!!! I strongly believe that children should have pets!!

Use powerful verbs and strong adjectives. The yummiest, smoothest chocolate that actually melts in your mouth! I agree that children should be sprinting and jumping their way to fantastic fitness!

Rhetorical questions are sometimes used. (A question used for effect – a direct answer is not expected) Do you want to feel great? Could you really agree to this?

Often use exaggeration. (Information is over the top or slightly untrue) If I get one more piece of homework, I’m going to move to the moon!!

Often use modal verbs. (i.e. can, could, may, might, must, will, would, should, need, ought to, had better) Children should eat healthy meals so that they can grow up strong.

Look at the text below: What are the features?

Healthy Lunches Are Needed

Children should eat healthy lunches in school every day. I strongly believe that every child should drink milk, eat plenty of

wholesome fruit and vegetables and avoid damaging sweets and fizzy drinks.

Firstly, children need to drink milk in order to make their teeth and bones super strong.

Some schools provide milk for children and this is an excellent idea.

Secondly, all children must eat enough fruit and vegetables each day so that they will stay healthy. Some children do not

eat enough fruit and vegetables and therefore get sick more often. It is outrageous to think that only an incredible 18% of

children in the UK are eating five or more fruits and vegetables a day!

Lastly, children need to eat less sweets and drink more water and sugar free drinks. I urge schools to ban sweets and fizzy

drinks because they rot teeth, cause obesity and lead to more serious conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. It is

disgraceful that children in the UK drink the most fizzy drinks in all of Europe – with a whopping 40% of all 11-15 year olds

guzzling them at least once a day!

In conclusion, children should have healthy lunches every day. If they drink milk, eat

more fruit and vegetables and drink more water then they will grow up to be strong and healthy.

Present tense

Logical connectives

Time connectives Facts and opinions

Strong, emotive language

Powerful verbs and adjectives

Modal verbs

Now it’s your turn.

Task 1: Look at the text below and find as many features of persuasive texts as you can. You can

underline, highlight or circle words. Remember to label words to tell which feature they are.

Extension – Make a key with labels to highlight different features.

Children Should Stop Watching Television!

I strongly believe that watching television is bad for children. It is not in the least educational, it creates terrible laziness

and it increases bad behaviour.

Firstly, because television involves watching, not thinking, it is not educational. When children are not thinking, they are

not using their imagination, which is tragic! A lack of thinking and imagination can also affect a child’s schoolwork.

Secondly, when watching television, students are sat for long periods of time. Sitting still for a long time can create bad

habits like not wanting to play outside, which in turn has been shown to affect a child’s health, weight and friendships.

Finally, there are countless shows on television that are not appropriate for children to watch. Some of these show

horrendous swearing, being mean, bad manners and fighting. If children watch shows that have these things in them, it’s

possible they will think these behaviours are OK in real life. This means that children could become extremely rude and

violent. Would anyone really want to become like that?

In conclusion, it’s obvious that children watch too much television and should be stopped. This is because children’s

education, physical fitness and behaviour are at risk. Make yourself smarter, fitter and better behaved TODAY by not

watching television!

Task 1 (Answers)

Children Should Stop Watching Television!

I strongly believe that watching television is bad for children. It is not in the least educational, it creates terrible laziness and it increases

bad behaviour.

Firstly, because television involves watching, not thinking, it is not educational. When children are not thinking, they are not using their

imagination, which is tragic! A lack of thinking and imagination can also affect a child’s schoolwork.

Secondly, when watching television, students are sat for long periods of time. Sitting still for a long time can create bad habits like not

wanting to play outside, which in turn has been shown to affect a child’s health, weight and friendships.

Finally, there are countless shows on television that are not appropriate for children to watch. Some of these show horrendous swearing,

being mean, bad manners and fighting. If children watch shows that have these things in them, it’s possible they will think these behaviours

are OK in real life. This means that children could become extremely rude and violent. Would anyone really want to become like that?

In conclusion, it’s obvious that children watch too much television and should be stopped. This is because children’s education, physical fitness and behaviour are at risk. Make yourself smarter, fitter and better behaved TODAY by not watching television!

Key – Features of Persuasive Texts Use mainly the present tense. (Answers will vary) Logical connectives are used to make it flow. Time connectives are used to begin the main body paragraphs in arguments or letters. Use facts and opinions to get the reader interested. (Try to make the opinions sound like facts) Use strong, emotive language. Use powerful verbs and strong adjectives. (2 or 3 examples of each) Rhetorical questions are sometimes used. (A question used for effect – a direct answer is not expected) Often use exaggeration. (Information is over the top or slightly untrue) (There could be more examples) Often use modal verbs. (i.e. can, could, may, might, must, will, would, should, need, ought to, had better)

Week 9 Writing

Day 3: To learn the language used in popular advertisements.

What can an advert lead the reader to believe they will become should they use the product?

How do adverts catch your attention and stick in your memory?

• They ask questions to draw you in. • They use alliteration, rhyme and wordplay to come up with catchy slogans. (Alliteration – Words

which start with the same letter or sound.) (Wordplay – Use words in a clever way, such as in onomatopoeia.) (A slogan is a memorable phrase, i.e. We care, we share!)

• They use positive comments made by other customers. • They use humour to make you like them. • They focus on a sense that appeals to you, e.g. taste, smell, feel…

Watch the following video. Whilst watching, think of and list any language or scenes which help to catch your attention and stick in your memory. You may need to stop the video at certain points. (Please stop the video at the end of the Frosted Flakes advert)

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=persuasive+commercials+for+kids&view=detail&mid=70C23

Task 1: List language or scenes which help to catch your attention and stick in your memory. (On paper or on a copy of this sheet) (You may choose one of the adverts or do all four in the video)

Questions to draw you in

Catchy slogans, language or wordplay

Positive comments

Use of humour Senses that appeal to you

Terms, i.e. Special offer, free, number one

Extension Look at the adverts below. How have they been made to appeal to the reader? Think of the use of emotive language, pictures, colours and design.

Week 9 Writing

Day 4: To understand how persuasive texts are used to interest people in travel.

Watch the following video. Whilst watching, think of the images and words used.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tv+commercial+for+disneyworld+paris&doci

How is this appealing? What would make you want to go to Disney World after

watching this advert?

Look at the travel brochure on the following page. Let’s look at the features that

make it appeal.

Come to California for the trip of a lifetime!! An absolute

must see and the Greatest Place on Earth!!!

So many things to do and see. Why would you want to go anywhere else?

Beautiful, historic, incredible!! California has it ALL!!!!!

Come to California for the trip of a lifetime!! An absolute

must see and the Greatest Place on Earth!!!

So many things to do and see. Why would you want to go anywhere else?

Beautiful, historic, incredible!! California has it ALL!!!!!

Strong emotive

language, use of

the imperative,

adjectives and

exaggeration.

Facts and

information

with an

emphasis on

lots of natural

beauty and

recreation

opportunities

for the whole

family. Also

telling the

benefits of

visiting various

places.

Bright,

appealing

presentat-

ion through

use of

bright

colours,

pictures

and text,

showing

people having fun.

Rhetorical

question

The people making a brochure or TV advert to travel somewhere want to persuade the viewer

to go there. They need to make it sound like the greatest place on Earth. To do that they must

use techniques to convince them that it is a great place to visit.

Task 1: Watch the following video. Watch the moving images and listen to the language. List 4

things which you think might make people watching the video want to go there. Write down 4

or more features you would include if you were writing your own travel advert or brochure.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=travel+adverts+for+families+on+tv+&&view

What would make people want What are some features you would

to go there? put in your own advert?

________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ _______________________________

Extension – Make a travel brochure/leaflet using persuasive language for a country of your

own choosing.

Week 9 Writing

Day 5: To imagine and draw an alien planet and begin planning a persuasive text.

Hello, and welcome to the planet Minoo in the Ameratsu system. My name is

Sordisian. Today I’m going to tell you a bit about my planet. Perhaps by the end you

might even want to go there. It’s a brilliant place to visit. Have a look at my advert.

Minoo

Minoo is a place of eternal beauty! A place of luscious forests, towering mountain peaks,

stunning plant life and yellow sandy beaches! Incredible views can be found everywhere. Spot

a graceful Tallonian eagle flying effortlessly through the clear blue sky, or a Girena giraffe

quietly munching on leaves in a blue-green meadow.

You can visit the amazing Crystal waterfalls that pour out gooey purple liquid!

There’s more!! Sedonia city is a vast city of forty million Minoovans

with huge crystal palaces and streets of gold and silver. The City Link transport system gets

everyone from one part of the planet to another in seconds, as it travels at the speed of light!

In Sedonia City, there’s fabulous fun for all the family at Alien Park! Are you ever bored at the

weekend? Do you long for something exciting to do? Why not zoom by City Link to Alien Park

and enter an amazing world? A world of two-headed dragons, giant kangaroos and tiny twelve

horned millipedes! Marvel at flying crocodiles or be enchanted by soft, fluffy billabearas, a bit

like your planet’s koala bears!

There is also a cool café (Yes, we do serve Earth food) and a stunning shop.

Only 5 minutes from Sedonia City! There’s absolutely no time to lose! For a limited time ONLY

all kids get FREE entry to Alien Park!!

And if that’s not enough, you can pay a visit to Celesto Stadium and watch live Corgia Billatong

League action! (Billatong is a mix between Earth football and hand ball.) Exciting, breath-

taking action! A must-see for ALL!!!

As a special reward to thank you for your interest, all kids will fly FREE to Minoo on the

luxurious Intergalactic Airways. Come today!!

Dare to dream BIG!!!! DARE MINOO!!!!

Now let’s use the structure and imitate the language to design our own idea for an

advert.

★ Write in present tense: In Sedonia City, there’s fabulous fun for all the family at

Alien Park!

★ Ask 3 questions: Are you ever bored at the weekend? Do you long for something

exciting to do? Why not zoom by City Link to Alien Park and enter an amazing world?

★ Use powerful verbs and adjectives – words that try and make you think everything

is absolutely wonderful. I’ve underlined most for you.

★ Tell your reader what to do by using bossy imperative verbs: Marvel at flying

crocodiles or be enchanted by soft, fluffy billabearas!

★ Information and facts are provided. A place of luscious forests, towering mountain

peaks, stunning plant life and yellow sandy beaches! As well as opinion: Minoo is a

place of eternal beauty!

★Appealing and emotive language is used: For a limited time ONLY all kids get FREE

entry to Alien Park! Exciting, breath-taking action! A must-see for ALL!

★ Round off with a catchy slogan: Dare to dream BIG! DARE MINOO!

Now it’s your turn!

Task 1: On blank paper, draw/colour an alien planet you’d like to persuade others to

visit. Give it a name. You can use some of my ideas if you want. Look back at the

language and features I’ve highlighted above. Use those to design your own ideas to

attract visitors to the new planet.

Below, I’ve included a planning sheet to write down some ideas. Keep it simple for

now as there will be a chance to plan each paragraph next Monday.

Underlying Structure Jot down your ideas in note form Ask a question to the reader to draw them in. E.g. Do you…

Tell the reader what there is to see and do. Aim for 3 things. E.g. Don’t miss…

Use some bossy, imperative verbs. E.g. Marvel, be enchanted

Use appealing language. E.g. For a limited time ONLY, exciting, breath-taking action!

End with a catchy slogan. E.g. Dare to dream BIG! DARE MINOO!

End of Year 4 Writing – Week 9