Persuasive Letter - Gabriel's 11+ Writing Lab

Task Type: Persuasive Letter

What's the Task?

Persuasive writing is your chance to be convincing! Usually, this task involves writing a letter to someone (like a headteacher, a local council, or maybe even a wildlife park manager) trying to get them to agree with your point of view or take a specific action. For example, you might need to persuade the council to create a new wildlife crossing for adventurous hedgehogs, or convince a zoo to improve the habitat for its snow leopards. You need to present strong arguments, use evidence (even if you make it up!), and use powerful language to sway your reader. Remember the formal letter layout!

Exam Success Checklist

To write a powerful persuasive letter, make sure you include:

Clear Purpose: Is it obvious what you want the reader to think or do right from the start? State your aim clearly.
Strong Arguments: Have you given clear reasons why the reader should agree with you? Aim for at least three good points.
Evidence/Examples: Can you back up your points? Use facts (even made-up ones for the exam!), examples, or short stories to support your arguments.
Persuasive Language: Are you using techniques like rhetorical questions (questions that don't need an answer, e.g., "Surely, we can all agree...?"), emotive language (words that create strong feelings), and strong modal verbs (e.g., 'must', 'should', 'will')?
Counter-Argument (Optional but good!): Briefly mention an opposing view and explain why it's wrong or less important. This shows you've thought carefully.
Formal Letter Layout: Have you included your address, the recipient's address, the date, a formal greeting (Dear Sir/Madam or Dear [Name]), paragraphs for your points, and a formal closing (Yours sincerely/faithfully)?
Correct SPaG: Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar must be accurate!

[Your Address]
12 Acorn Road
Anyshire
AN1 2BC

[Date]
3rd May 2025

The Planning Manager
Anyshire Council
Council Offices
Anyshire
AN3 4DE

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Proposed Development on Meadowlands Fields

I am writing to you today as a concerned young resident to strongly urge you to reconsider the proposed plan to build houses on Meadowlands Fields. While I understand the need for new homes, this development would destroy the vital habitat of the rare and wonderful Swift Fox, pushing these shy creatures closer to local extinction.

Firstly, Meadowlands Fields is one of the last remaining open grasslands in our area perfectly suited to the Swift Fox. These foxes rely on wide, open spaces to hunt insects and small rodents, and they dig their dens in the soft earth. Building houses here would completely eliminate their food source and shelter. Surely, protecting such a unique local animal must be a priority?

Furthermore, the Swift Fox is already a vulnerable species nationally. Recent wildlife surveys, like the one conducted by the Anyshire Wildlife Trust last summer, confirmed a small but stable population living right here in Meadowlands. Allowing this development would be a devastating blow to conservation efforts and send a terrible message about our town's commitment to biodiversity. Imagine the sadness if future generations could only see a Swift Fox in pictures!

Some might argue that the foxes can simply move elsewhere. However, suitable habitats are scarce, and forcing them out would likely lead to conflict with traffic or other predators. Is economic gain truly worth the potential loss of an entire species from our local landscape? I believe there are other brownfield sites within the town that could be used for housing, sites that wouldn't cause such irreversible environmental damage.

Therefore, I implore you to reject the current proposal and work with conservation groups to find a solution that allows for necessary development without sacrificing our precious wildlife. Protecting the Swift Fox habitat is not just about saving an animal; it's about preserving the natural heritage of Anyshire for everyone.

Thank you for considering my views.

Yours faithfully,

G. Writer
(A concerned resident)

Why it works: Clear purpose stated early. Uses formal letter layout. Presents strong arguments (loss of habitat, vulnerable species). Uses evidence (mention of survey). Includes persuasive techniques (rhetorical questions, emotive language like "devastating blow", "precious wildlife"). Briefly addresses a counter-argument (foxes moving). Formal tone and closing.

Persuasive Strategy: The P.E.E.L. Paragraph

A super way to structure the paragraphs containing your arguments is using P.E.E.L.:

Point: Start with a clear sentence stating your main point or reason. (e.g., Building on this land would destroy the foxes' only home.)
Evidence/Example: Back up your point with a fact, statistic, or example. (e.g., These foxes need open grassland to hunt, which the fields provide. The Wildlife Trust confirmed they live there.)
Explanation: Explain HOW your evidence supports your point. Why is it important? (e.g., Without this specific type of land, they cannot find food or raise their young safely, threatening their survival in our area.)
Link: Link this point back to your main argument or the purpose of your letter. (e.g., Therefore, protecting these fields is essential if we want to prevent the local extinction of the Swift Fox.)

Try building each of your main argument paragraphs using the P.E.E.L. structure for maximum impact!

Graphic showing the P.E.E.L. structure: Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation, Link

Build powerful arguments with P.E.E.L. paragraphs!

Diagram showing the correct layout for a formal letter including addresses, date, greeting, paragraphs, closing, and signature.

Remember the formal letter layout!

Ready to Practise?

Time to be convincing! Think of something you feel strongly about (related to animals or adventure perhaps?) and write a persuasive letter using the P.E.E.L. structure for your arguments. Find prompts in the Practice Zone!

Scribbles the monkey mascot looking persuasive

Monkebius says: "Be bold! Use strong reasons and good evidence, just like peeling a banana layer by layer with P.E.E.L., to convince your reader!"