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I can identify the structure and persuasive techniques in a letter written to Sherlock Holmes.

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2023), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Key learning points

We can imagine Sherlock Holmes receiving lots of letters from potential clients asking him to help.
We can imagine Holmes would only take on interesting cases, perhaps from people in desperate need.
A letter to Holmes would have been formal in tone, given his position in society.
A persuasive letter contains elements of both persuasion and explanation.
The explanation must be coherent and a range of persuasive devices can be used.

Common misconception

Pupils may confuse rhetorical questions and standard questions.

Most questions demand an answer; in a rhetorical question, the question itself contains the implied, expected answer.

Keywords

Persuasive writing - writing where we are trying to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour
Explanation - the detailed steps that led to something happening
Persuasive techniques - language structures or devices used in writing to try to change someone’s mind or behaviour
Formal tone - the effect created by using serious, factual language

Content guidance

Contains subject matter which individuals may find upsetting.

Supervision

Adult supervision suggested.

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Hi, I'm Mr. Buckingham, and I'm so glad you've decided to join me for today's lesson.

We're going to be taking our first steps today towards writing a persuasive letter in character to Sherlock Holmes.

And what we learned today is going to be a really important part of that letter.

I think you're going to find it really helpful.

So let's make a start.

Today's lesson is called Identifying Features of a Persuasive Letter Written to Sherlock Holmes from our unit called, \"Sherlock Holmes, Descriptive and Letter Writing.\" By the end of today's lesson, we'll be able to identify the structure and persuasive techniques in a letter written to Sherlock Holmes.

So we're going to be looking at an example letter to Sherlock Holmes today, and exploring some of the features that make it really effective.

You'll find a copy of that letter in the additional materials for this lesson, and I'll read it to you as well during the lesson.

Let's get to work.

Here are our keywords for today's lesson.

My turn, your turn.

Persuasive writing explanation, persuasive techniques, and formal tone.

Well done.

So in persuasive writing, we're trying to convince someone to do something or to change their mind or behaviour.

And when we give an explanation, we're giving the detailed steps that led to something happening.

Persuasive techniques are language structures or devices used in writing to change someone's mind or behaviour.

And a formal tone is the effect we create by using serious factual language.

Here's our lesson outline for today.

We're going to start off by reading and understanding a persuasive letter, and then we'll move on to looking at some language features used in a persuasive letter.

So, as we know, crime was common in Victoria, London, and many people, particularly the wealthy, were fearful of all that crime.

The police, at that time, were mostly thought of as keeping the peace rather than actually investigating crimes.

And as a result, people really liked the idea of a private detective like Sherlock Holmes who could solve crimes and catch criminals that maybe the police weren't able to do.

So people might have asked Holmes for help in several ways in those times, maybe by visiting Baker Street in person, maybe by sending a telegram, which was a very short message, or maybe by writing a letter.

In the stories of \"Sherlock Holmes,\" we know that Holmes is very famous all over Britain for his detective skills.

So we can imagine he might have received a huge number of letters.

So let's imagine Holmes receiving many requests for help.

Thinking about what we know about Holmes' personality, what kind of problems would really appeal to him and who might he agree to help? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done, great thinking.

So maybe Holmes would want to solve cases which were challenging because he would consider easy cases to be beneath him.

We know he's very intelligent, he loves a puzzle, so he might want to solve tricky cases instead of easy ones.

He might also want to solve cases which the police have been unable to solve, perhaps to show off to the police about how much better he is than them at solving crime.

And we also know that Holmes has a caring side, so perhaps he would want to solve cases from people in very difficult situations or who are really desperate for help.

So, if we were writing a letter to Holmes, we would want to make sure we are showing him that we're desperate for help and that our puzzle is a tricky one that's been worth solving and maybe also that the police have failed to help us.

Great thinking.

So reimagine Holmes receiving hundreds and hundreds of letters, that means that the people who wanted his help would need to write persuasive letters.

They would need to persuade him that he should take their case to solve and not one of the hundreds of others.

So what would they be trying to make Holmes think and feel in their persuasive letter? Pause the video and chat to the person next to you or have think for yourself.

Well done.

Good thinking.

So, potential clients, people who wanted his help might want Holmes to think the following things.

Maybe that their case is interesting, exciting, maybe that only he can solve the case because it's so very challenging and maybe that they're desperate for help and he's their only hope.

And finally, that if he doesn't help, there could be terrible consequences that things might get even worse.

So we might wanna try and make Holmes feel all these things in a letter so that he'll pick our case to solve.

So in a moment, I'm going to read to you an example persuasive letter to Holmes from a potential client, Jean McAllister.

And remember, this is a fictional situation.

It's a fictional example letter that I'm going to read to you, but let's explore some of the vocabulary it contains before we read it.

We've got this word nonplussed.

If you are nonplussed, you are confused.

We've got a great word here.

Imperative.

If something is imperative, it needs to be done.

It's imperative that you do your homework.

It needs to be done.

Assistance is help.

If someone is esteemed, they have a good reputation.

So Sherlock Holmes is an esteemed detective.

If things deteriorate, they get worse.

You might have heard people say the situation has deteriorated, it's worsened.

Meticulous means careful.

So if you've done meticulous work, you've done careful work.

Reassured means made to feel better.

I'm sure we've always try to reassure people if they're upset or if they're angry, perhaps that things are going to improve.

If an explanation is illuminating, it's helpful.

So maybe a teacher might say, \"Oh, that was a really illuminating answer that you just gave.\" And if you tarnish something, you harm or damage it.

You often hear people say, \"Oh, that's really tarnished their reputation, it's made their reputation worse.\" And finally, something is impeccable.

If it's perfect, maybe you've done some impeccable work this week in school.

So now I'm going to read to you the example letter from Dean McAllister to Sherlock Holmes, 6th of January 1890.

\"Dear Mr. Holmes, I am aware that you are an incredibly important and busy man.

However, I'm writing to ask your assistance in a matter which has left me completely nonplussed.

Last week, my sister Julia went missing from her bedroom, which had been locked from the inside, leaving no explanation whatsoever.

She simply vanished without trace in broad daylight.

I'm at my wits end and I'm certain that you, and you alone will be able to solve this perplexing mystery.

It is imperative that my sister is found immediately.

She's been very unwell lately and could be in great danger.

In addition, Julia, who is only 18, has left her vital medicine at home.

Without it, she will soon be in some pain.

As I am sure you can imagine, my mother and father are completely devastated.

However, I am sure that if an esteemed detective such as yourself were to agree to investigate, they would be greatly reassured.

Who else but the remarkable Sherlock Holmes could solve this baffling puzzle.

Indeed, I am certain that without your help, they will deteriorate further.

Prior to contacting you, I have, of course, been in communication with the Metropolitan Police.

However, I regret to say that they have been of no use whatsoever: although they sent a constable to the house, the fellow plainly had no idea what he was doing.

He simply bumbled around for a few minutes and then he left.

I am certain, Mr. Holmes, that you will have more luck using your meticulous techniques and extraordinary brain power.

I know that you'll be desperate to help a family in great distress.

In fact, I already feel relieved simply knowing that you are considering the matter.

I must thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Would you not agree that this is a most puzzling and concerning matter? I am convinced that you'll see the solution instantly, and I am already looking forward to hearing what I'm sure will be an illuminating explanation.

I have heard much of your kindness to those in desperate need.

It'll be a great shame if you were to tarnish your impeccable reputation by refusing to help in this instance.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully, Ms. Jean McAllister.\" Okay, now that we've heard the letter, can you answer the questions based on your understanding? Pause the video and have a try.

Well done.

Good work.

So what has happened to Julia? She has gone missing from her locked bedroom.

Why might Julia be in pain? Her medicine is still at home and she's been very unwell.

Who else has Jean contacted about this matter? Well done, she's contacted the Metropolitan Police, the London Police, but they were no help.

And who else is Jean concerned about other than her sister? It's her parents because they're very distressed that their daughter has gone missing.

Really good understanding, well done.

So let's look at how this letter is structured and you might want to have the copy in front of you from the additional materials.

Now, it starts off with a salutation, a greeting, and that's when Jean greets the recipient of the letter, in this case, Sherlock Holmes.

She says, \"Dear Mr. Holmes,\" then we have an introduction and this is where Jean explains what has happened to her sister.

Then we have our first persuasive paragraph.

Jean gives the first reason here where she believes Holmes should help.

And then, Jean gives the second reason she believes Holmes should help.

In the second persuasive paragraph, recording that paragraph two, then comes the conclusion, which is where Jean really asks Holmes to help.

And finally, the sign-off, which is where Jean ends her letter politely and gives her name by saying, \"Yours faithfully, Jean McAllister,\" we call that the sign-off.

So look carefully at that letter.

What are the two main reasons that Jean gives for why she thinks Holmes should help? Pause the video and see if you can find the two which are the main reasons she believes Holmes should help.

Have a go.

Well done, good job.

So the main two would be that the police have not been helpful and that her sister is very unwell and could be in pain.

So each of those was the subject, the main subject of one of those two big persuasive paragraphs.

Really, well done if you spotted those two reasons.

Good job.

So you might have spotted that the letter contains sections of persuasion and sections of explanation about what has happened.

So where can you see these different sections and why does the letter need both? Pause the video and chat to the person next to you or have a think for yourself.

Well done.

Good thinking.

So, the explanation in the introduction is where Jean sets out the problem because without this, Holmes would have no idea what he was been asked to investigate.

So that's really important that we explain what is the problem, what do we need investigating? And that was put in the introduction here.

And the rest of the letter, paragraph one, paragraph two, and the conclusion were persuasive, and we need that persuasion because the writer needs to make sure that Holmes takes on this case, they have to convince him that this is something worth his time amongst all the other cases that he could choose.

So we need both explanation and persuasion in a persuasive letter.

So can you match the paragraph to its purpose? You can refer to the letter if you like to help you.

Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Good job.

So what was the purpose of the introduction? Well, that was to explain what has happened.

Paragraph one was where we said the first reason Holmes should investigate because Julia is unwell.

Paragraph two says the second reason Holmes should investigate because the police have been no use.

And the conclusion gives that final attempt at persuading Holmes to help.

So it doesn't give more reasons necessarily, it just really focuses on persuading Holmes that we really need his help in this case.

Really well done for matching those.

So let's do our first task for this lesson.

And this is going to be a discussion.

If you're at home doing this, then you can just discuss with a person at home or you can have a think for yourself.

So I'd like you to discuss as a class, this statement, \"Sherlock Holmes will refuse to help Jean McAllister.\" So first of all, I'd like you to take two minutes to decide whether you agree or disagree with this statement and why.

Then I'd like you to take another minute to practise what you were saying out loud using the prompt.

I'm going to show you in a moment to help you.

And then, you'll take part in a discussion trying to respond to what people before you have said, using, I agree or disagree with that person because of this reason.

So here's a prompt to help you with your statement.

You could say, \"In my view, Holmes would or wouldn't take this case because of this.\" And you could say, \"In addition, he would feel this.\" Remember those reasons we said why Holmes might want to help, think back to those as you plan your response to this statement.

So, pause the video now, take your two minutes to decide, your minute to practise, and then take part in that discussion.

And if you're on your own, you can still do the first two steps and then maybe you could try and say your persuasive statement to someone at home or you could say it to yourself out loud.

Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Really good job.

So here are some possible responses you might have heard in the discussion or you might have come up with yourself.

Maybe someone said this: \"In my view, Holmes wouldn't take this case because it's not very intriguing or challenging.

Julia could have just left of her own accord.

He may also believe that Jean is exaggerating how badly the police are handling it.

And he may think this case is too simple for him.\" On the other hand, maybe someone said this, \"In my view, Holmes would agree to take this case because it is an intriguing puzzle.

He would enjoy the fact that the room was locked from the inside would make this a challenge to solve.

In addition, he would want to help the family because they are so desperate and to find Julia because she will be in pain.\" So I wonder which side of the debate you came down on.

Really well done for stating your views so clearly.

Good work.

So now we're going to move on to looking in more detail at that same letter from Jean McAllister, looking really carefully at the language features that have been used.

So you will have noticed that example letter was very formal in tone.

There are no contractions like I'm or don't.

And the language used is very serious.

Why would people have used as formal tone when they were writing to Sherlock Holmes? Pause the video and chat to the person next to you or think for yourself.

Well done.

Good thinking.

So, in the stories, remember Holmes is a very famous person and he's known for his intelligence.

People would've wanted to show their respect for his skills and for his amazing intelligence and brain power.

So they might have used a formal tone as a result almost to impress him, to show that they respect his intelligence.

And persuasive writing doesn't always have a formal tone like we've seen in this letter.

It depends very much on who the recipient of the letter is, who we are writing to.

If you are writing to your teacher, you might use a different tone to if you're writing to your head teacher, if you're writing to a parent, you would use a different tone than if you're writing to someone else's parent maybe.

So the tone of our persuasive letter will change depending on the audience because Sherlock Holmes is quite a serious formal person.

We are using quite a serious formal tone in this letter.

So we said that we're writing a formal persuasive letter because we're writing to Sherlock Holmes.

So let's look in more detail of the kind of language that is used in this letter.

And you can see I've put an example of part of the letter here.

We've got formal language that's appropriate to Sherlock Holmes.

So we've used words like assistance instead of help.

We've written from the first person, I, and, me, that perspective where we are speaking as the person who's writing, which is always the case when we're writing a letter usually.

And we can see the word, me, there.

We've used a mixture of tenses to show past events and present feelings.

Let me show you.

I've got am, which is the present tense to show that Jean's saying she is aware now in the present, but we've also got, went missing, and had been showing the past tense, showing things that have already happened.

And we'll need both in a letter.

We've used formal-fronted adverbials.

That's words like, \"However,\" we know a fronted adverbial is a sentence starter followed by a comma.

This however, is a formal-fronted adverbial that shows a contrast.

And finally, we are addressing the reader.

We've said things like you and your, because we're talking directly to Sherlock Holmes, to our reader.

So these techniques, these language features all help to build that formal tone and they're all appropriate to a persuasive letter like this.

So can you spot any of these language features in this explanation section of the letter? Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Great job.

So what formal language can we see? Well, we've got things like completely devastated instead of very upset.

We've got the first person, for instance, I, and we've got a mixture of tenses we've got has left, and will soon be.

Those are two different tenses, the past, and the future tenses.

We've also got are here, which shows the present tense.

We've got a formal-fronted adverbial in addition.

And we're addressing the reader.

We're saying, you, we're talking directly to Sherlock Holmes.

Now not every paragraph of the letter will include all of those language features, but we'll spot them throughout a persuasive letter because they help to build that formal tone and to show that we are talking to our reader, talking to Sherlock Holmes.

So in addition to those language features, there are several persuasive techniques.

They're used all the way through that letter.

And these are techniques which are really useful for helping to persuade our reader to take on our case, in this case, for Sherlock Holmes to take on our case.

So we're going to consider four in detail and you're going to be able to use these in your own writing going forward.

So let's make sure we really grasp them now.

So the first technique is called flattery, can you say that? Flattery.

Well done.

So flattery is when you are saying nice things, positive things about the reader.

For instance, \"I'm certain that you are the only person with the intelligence required to solve this problem.\" Can you see how there we are saying how we think Sherlock Holmes is intelligent and that he's the only person who can solve the problem? We're flattering him.

We are saying these nice things about him to get him on the side, to make him think, \"Oh, they really know how good I am at my job.\" Another technique is called a veiled threat.

Your turn.

Well done.

Now, a veiled threat is suggesting bad things that will happen if they don't help.

So you might say this, \"I have always greatly admired your work and I would hate to be disappointed in you on this occasion.\" So can you see that second part? I would hate to be disappointed with you in you on this occasion is showing us, \"Oh, if you don't help us, I'm going to be disappointed.\" So it's almost a threat, but we're not directly threatening him because that wouldn't be persuasive.

We are saying, \"This will be a negative consequence if you don't help, I will be disappointed in you if you don't help.\" So, is flattery or veiled threats being used in each of these examples? Pause the video and have a try.

Good job.

Well done.

So, A says, \"I hope I can rely on your discretion.\" The consequences of mishandling this matter could be disastrous for us both.

Hmm, we're saying a negative thing that could happen if he doesn't do it.

So that's gonna be a veiled threat.

B says, \"Many intelligent people have failed to solve this problem.

However, I'm certain you will succeed.\" Well, again, we're trying to say, \"Oh, you are way cleverer than everyone else.\" So that is flattery.

C says, \"You are unparalleled.\" That means unrivalled, unmatched, reputation precedes you, comes before you.

\"And it is for this reason that I have contacted you before anyone else.\" Again, we're trying to say how impressive he is.

So that's definitely flattery.

Really good job for spotting those.

Now there are some other persuasive techniques that I employed or used in the letter.

Let's learn two more.

One is presumption, tricky word, presumption.

Well done.

So presumption is acting as if they've already agreed to help.

We're presuming that Sherlock Holmes has agreed to help us, for instance, \"I am very much looking forward to hearing your solution to this difficult issue.\" Well, Holmes has just received the letter.

He hasn't responded at all yet, has he? So in the letter, Jean is saying, talking, acting as if he's already agreed to help her, which we know is not the case.

But by doing that, it almost gives him the suggestion that he should be helping her and that makes it persuasive.

Another technique is a rhetorical question, and I'm sure you've heard that term before.

And a rhetorical question is when we ask a question that doesn't require an answer, where in fact the answer to the question is suggested in the question itself.

So, for instance, who else could possibly solve such a mystery? Wouldn't it be wonderful to resolve this swiftly? In that first example, we are saying, \"Well, no one else could be possible, could possibly solve the mystery.\" And in the second we're saying, \"Of course, it would be wonderful to resolve this swiftly.\" Can you see how the answer to the question is actually there in the question itself? We are suggesting that's the only possible answer to the question, and that's what makes it a rhetorical question.

The answer is already there.

We're not expecting a different answer from the reader.

So can you match each example to the relevant persuasive technique? Is it showing presumption or a rhetorical question? Pause the video and try and work it out.

Well done.

Good job.

So A says, \"Wouldn't solving this case be the icing on the top of your impressive career?\" It ends with a question mark.

So it must be a rhetorical question.

B says, \"I cannot wait to tell all my acquaintances how easily you solve my problem.\" Well, again, not suggesting he's already agreed to solve it, which he hasn't.

So that's presumption.

C says, \"How often have you come across a problem So in need of your help in solving it?\" It's a rhetorical question, and D is presumption.

It says, \"I know you'll find this case as intriguing as I do, and I eagerly await your response.\" He might not give a response, we're presuming that he will.

So it's an example of presumption.

Now sometimes, a sentence can use more than one of these persuasive techniques.

Here's an example.

\"I know that your immense intelligence will allow you to solve this matter very swiftly.

I, therefore, await your swift response with anticipation.\" I wonder what you spotted there.

I can see some flattery, immense intelligence, and presumption.

It says, \"I'm awaiting your swift response.\" Well, he hasn't agreed to respond, so we are presuming that he will it's presumption.

Let's look at another one.

\"Surely you would not wish to tarnish your impeccable reputation by refusing to resolve this puzzle?\" Hmm, there's a few things going on there.

We can see a veiled threat.

\"You're going to tarnish your reputation if you don't help.\" There's a rhetorical question and there's flattery.

We are saying that he has an impeccable reputation right now.

So there's an awful lot going on there, even in just one sentence.

So what persuasive techniques can you spot in this example? I've written the four there.

Read the example and see what you think it contains.

Have a go.

Well done.

Good thinking.

So there's definitely a veiled threat.

We're saying there'll be damage.

His reputation if it doesn't help, there's a rhetorical question, would you not agree, this? And finally, there's some presumption.

\"I know you will leave no stone unturned.\" Again, he's not agreed to help yet.

We are presuming that he will help.

And that's a persuasive technique in itself.

Really well done for spotting all those techniques at work.

So let's do our final task for the assessment.

We've now looked at several different persuasive techniques.

I'd like you to try and identify them in our example letter from Jean McAllister.

So you might want to have that next to you right now.

So I'd like you to reread the letter carefully, and write down two examples of each of these features.

Flattery, veiled threat, presumption, and a rhetorical question.

Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Great job.

Let's look at some examples of those persuasive techniques taken from the letter.

For flattery, maybe you said, \"I am certain that you and you alone will be able to solve this problem.

I have heard much of your kindness of those in desperate need.

If an esteemed detective such as yourself,\" using your meticulous techniques and extraordinary brain power, \"And I'm convinced that you will see the solution instantly.\" We're saying positive things about Holmes to try and persuade him to help us.

What about veiled threat? Maybe you found, \"I'm certain that without your help, they would deteriorate further.

It would be a great shame if you were to tarnish your impeccable reputation by refusing to help.\" In this instance, we're saying these are the negative consequences if you choose not to help, that's a veiled threat.

What about presumption? Maybe spotted, \"I'm certain, Mr. Holmes, that you will have more luck.

I'm already looking forward to hearing what I'm sure will be an illuminating explanation.

I know that you'll be desperate to help a family in great distress.

In fact, I already feel relieved simply knowing that you are considering the matter.\" Well, he's not considering the matter.

He don't know what he's doing if he read this letter, we are presuming that he is.

So that's persuasive.

What about rhetorical questions? We've got, \"Who else but the remarkable Sherlock Holmes could solve this baffling puzzle, and would you not agree that this is the most puzzling and intriguing matter?\" So we can see that letter was jam-packed with persuasive techniques and you've done a fantastic job to identify them all.

They're gonna be so useful to us as we go to write our letters in the future.

Let's review our learning in this lesson.

We've said that a persuasive letter will contain elements of both explanation and persuasion.

We've said that the letter will be written in the first person with a formal tone if written to a figure of authority, an important person like Sherlock Holmes.

We've said that a range of persuasive techniques can be used to increase the pressure on the reader to act.

And we agreed that Sherlock Holmes would only want to solve cases which required his skills.

So he would only take on interesting puzzles that would challenge his mind.

I hope you found learning about these persuasive techniques really useful and I hope you enjoyed reading our example letter to Sherlock Holmes.

That's the kind of letter we're gonna be aiming to write in the future.

I hope to see you again in a future lesson.

Goodbye.

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